“AlgaEurope 2021 held successfully in a digital format”
AlgaEurope 2021 took place in an online format between December 7th and 10th. This four-day conference, organized by EABA and DLG Benelux and supported by EU industries, is one of the most global comprehensive conferences addressing scientific, technological and business-related topics in the Algae Biomass sector.
AlgaEurope 2021 underlined once again how well embedded the conference is within the algae sector. Some impressive numbers of AlgaEurope 2021: 5 virtual tours, 116 Speakers, 61 E-Posters, 292 Delegates, 34 Nationalities, 38 EABA Members and 138 submitted abstracts!
Each conference day was opened with a presentation by an invited keynote speaker, these keynote speakers included: Mario Tredici (University of Florence, Italy), Céline Rebours (Moreforsking AS, Norway), Patrick Sorgeloos (Ghent University) and Alison Smith (Professor of Plant Biochemistry & Head of the Department of Plant Sciences at University of Cambridge). Thematic and scientific sessions followed and included topics such as Algae Biology, Production to Technology and Processing, Algae Initiatives in the EU, Algae for Food and Health, Algae Biorefinery and multi-use approaches, and Funding and Investors. In addition to the thematic and scientific sessions special features were highlighted such as the Young Algaeneer's Corner, A4F - Round Table, European Union - Young Algaeneers Innovation Award: Prize distribution, virtual tours and a number of panel discussions. On day 3, December 9th, Lorella De La Cruz Iglesias, Deputy Head of Unit - Blue Economy Sectors, Aquaculture and Maritime Spatial Planning at the European Commission, handed out the European Union - Young Algaeneers Innovation Award to: Nicola Lai of Algoliner (Germany) which won the gold award, Fengzheng Gao of Wageningen University (The Netherlands) won the silver award and Alessia Manca & Giacomo Fais of the University of Sassari & Cagliari (Italy) the bronze award. The European Union - Young Algaeneers Innovation Award were funded by the European Commission.
Jean-Paul Cadoret, EABA President states: “The organizers are particularly happy to not only see a high number of participants (despite the current digital conditions) but also, and perhaps especially, to see a succession of a young generation who presented work of high standards. This edition was also an opportunity to extend the spectrum of talks in this 2021 conference by inviting pioneering experts and stakeholders in the investment field and of course, by strengthening links with the entire European ecosystem, starting with the European Commission. The importance now assumed by the annual AlgaEurope conference is the obvious expression of the dynamics of the sector in its different
components, all complementary. The future will require us to take this growth into account and there is no doubt that next year's edition will see a step to be taken, and, even if the digital way will no longer disappear, as much as possible in a face-to-face setting.”
