Summary

According to the Australian Seaweed Institute, the Australian National seaweed sector has the ability to create up to a $1 billion industry opportunity for Australia that will create thousands of new jobs and valuable ecosystem services. To realise this opportunity many stakeholders across Industry, Government, Investors, customers and researchers need to come together. The project will clearly identify and define an accelerated and tangible pathway for Governments, investors such as AgriFutures and industry to deliver a $10m per annum industry from National Seaweed by 2025.
This project lays the foundations for the formation of the National Seaweed Industry Cluster by engaging key players in a strategic planning workshop, analysis and modelling to develop the National Seaweed Industry Strategic Plan. The outcome will have a mobilised industry cluster with a clear position on the industry opportunity, pathway to development and RD&E priorities to progress with investors and the industry.
This project will conduct a workshop that attracts a wide range of experts that deliver and project the latest innovations, a clear understanding of the options to realise growth opportunities and working together to raise the ambition on the big picture opportunity for the Industry and the pathway to realising this.

Program

New and Emerging Industries

Research Organisation

Australian Seaweed Institute Pty Ltd

Objective Summary

This project will develop an Australian National Seaweed Industry Blueprint consisting of a Research, Development and Extension Strategic Plan and a clear plan of action for investment and ecosystem services that will, at a minimum, deliver a $10 million Gross Value of Production (GVP) per annum industry by 2025 This includes a mobilised industry cluster with a clear position on the industry opportunity, pathway to development and RD&E priorities to get there.
Key components include:
1. Engage stakeholders in a virtual workshop by May 2020 consisting of key representatives to determine opportunities for growth and the priority research, development and extension (RDE).
2. Verify Economic, Social and Environmental opportunity for the industry in the workshop and through industry research
3. Identify gaps and barriers to industry development that builds on previous works assessing the seaweed sector.
4. Identify seaweed research, development and extension (RD&E) needs and prioritise these with key recommendations for investors considering traditional and novel applications for the Australian seaweed industry.
5. Empower the development of a cluster group to influence and collaborate for industry development considering both current and future growth opportunities for the seaweed market.
6. Define a clear action plan for Industry Development.