Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2026
Abstract
Total DNA quantification in seaweeds is paramount important and it enables selective breeding and physiological understanding. Measuring DNA content identifies genetic quality and potential in candidate organisms for aquaculture development, supporting the selection of strains with faster growth, higher nutrient profiles, or enhanced stress tolerance. Since DNA content reflects cell ploidy levels the number of chromosome sets quantification reveals how ploidy influences seaweed growth rates, stress responses, metabolic efficiency, and environmental adaptation. Seaweed of the genus Ulva widely known as sea lettuce, is a high protein content and fast-growing plant and can grow in wide range of climate. Ulva fenestrata stands out as a premier candidate for sustainable aquaculture, notable for offering exceptionally high levels of bioactive vitamin B12, balanced essential amino acids, and efficient nutrient bioremediation and serves as a versatile feedstock for functional foods, animal feed additives, and eco-friendly biomaterials.
Abstract
The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima has received intense scientific attention over the last decade due to their great potential to be utilized as human food, biomolecules, feed, and feed additives. In Norway as well as in other coastal European countries, the commercial-scale farming of the sister species S. latissima has been widely successfully demonstrated within the past decade. Norway has nutrient-rich seawaters, diverse seaweed biodiversity, and conducive geographical structure which can favor aquaculture of this species at commercial scale. Development of Karyotyping and systematic analysis of an organism’s chromosome composition is crucial for seaweed breeding programs because it provides essential genetic information that directly impacts crop improvement, selection efficiency, and biotechnological applications. Therefore, breeders can identify distinct cytotypes (organisms with different chromosome numbers) and use this knowledge to select genetically diverse parents for crosses, which increases the likelihood of producing plantlets with desirable agronomic traits including accelerated maturation, structural robustness, stress resilience, vigorous growth, and elevated nutrient accumulation.
Abstract
Palmaria palmata is a protein-rich red seaweed containing essential amino acids and bioactive compounds with potential applications in aquaculture nutrition and fish health. In this study, liquid extracts enriched in soluble compounds were obtained through mechanical fractionation of P. palmata. The recovered fractions were characterized for their lipid and amino acid composition and evaluated for cytotoxic and immunomodulatory response in salmon head kidney-derived SHK-1 cell line (Salmo salar) cell lines as a first step towards assessing their suitability as functional ingredients for aquaculture feed applications.
Abstract
There is growing interest in simple and resource-efficient recovery strategies that maximize pigment yield while minimizing chemical inputs and processing intensity. Mechanical fractionation using twin-screw press offers a promising approach by releasing soluble intracellular compounds into a liquid fraction while simultaneously generating a solid fraction that can be further valorized. In this study, freshly harvested P. palmata biomass was mechanically fractionated prior to ammonium sulfate precipitation, dialysis, and freeze-drying to produce a phycoerythrin. This approach aims to maximize R-PE recovery through low-input processing while reducing chemical consumption and energy requirements compared with conventional extraction methods. The distribution and recovery of R-PE within the generated process streams were evaluated to assess the potential of mechanical fractionation as a primary recovery step in phycoerythrin extraction.
Abstract
Brown seaweeds are rich in sulphated polysaccharides, minerals, proteins, and other bioactive compounds suitable for cascading biorefinery. Ascophyllum nodosum, an abundant North Atlantic species, contains fucoidan, laminarin, and mannitol with potential food and feed applications. Efficient utilisation requires fractionation strategies that recover target compounds while enabling further valorisation of the remaining biomass. Here, a food-compatible process using water and citric acid was applied to recover fucoidan- and alginate-rich fractions and retain residual biomass for further use. Material distribution, concentration efficiency, and recovery were evaluated across the process, which recovered 57.3% of the initial dry biomass as value-added products.
Abstract
Mechanical dewatering using a twin-screw press not only reduces biomass moisture content but also facilitates the partitioning of valuable biochemical components between liquid and solid fractions. While mechanical dewatering is commonly applied as a low-energy pre-treatment step, its potential as a fractionation strategy for brown seaweed biorefinery remains largely unexplored. Pressure-driven separation generates a liquid fraction containing soluble compounds and a solid fraction enriched in structural biomass components. In this study, different pre-treatments were combined with twin-screw pressing to evaluate their influence on the distribution of protein-bound amino acids, fucose, and uronic acids in Alaria esculenta. The results demonstrated distinct partitioning patterns, with higher concentrations of all three component groups generally retained in the solid fraction, highlighting the potential of mechanical dewatering as an initial fractionation step in cascading seaweed biorefinery. This approach aims to establish mechanical dewatering as a scalable, low-energy entry point for downstream processing, supporting efficient valorization and zero-waste processing.
Abstract
Brown seaweed A.nodosum has been widely used for feed and biostimulant purposes for many years. However, due to its high-water content (ranging >80% MC) it presents challenges like increasing costs of transportation and storage for downstream processing. Therefore, an effective dewatering step is essential to reduce the moisture content, concentrate the biomass and improve handling and processing efficiency. Mechanical dewatering is commonly applied as a pretreatment step in biorefining as it removes readily mobile water and reduces the moisture available for microbial deterioration during handling and storage. However, the efficiency of mechanical dewatering can be limited by the strong water-holding capacity of seaweed tissues and cell-wall components, resulting in substantial residual moisture in the pressed biomass. In this context, this study evaluates calcium chloride (CaCl2 ) and magnesium chloride (MgCl2 ) as pretreatment agents prior to hydraulic pressing of A. nodosum, assessing their effects on dewatering efficiency and the partitioning of protein-bound amino acids between the liquid and solid fractions.
Authors
Lampros LamprinakisAbstract
The valorization of seafood by-products is often framed as a technical opportunity, yet adoption in practice depends on whether small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can embed new systems in their operational, economic, spatial, and regulatory realities. Drawing on survey-based evidence from Greek fisheries and seafood enterprises, the analysis identifies key operational and economic constraints and translates them into a configurational model of adoption credibility for blue SMEs. In the proposed TIDE framework, adoption credibility depends on alignment across four distinct dimensions: Technological Fit, Institutional Enablement, Deployment Fit, and Economic-Organizational Fit. The framework links firm-level conditions with techno-economic performance metrics, including cost–benefit indicators (e.g., CAPEX/OPEX per unit, avoided disposal costs, payback period) and system optimization variables, such as throughput variability and process efficiency. The theoretical insights illustrate that optimal valorization outcomes depend on the alignment between system design and SME-specific constraints, particularly in relation to deployment models (on-site units, shared hubs, and mobile services). The study provides a structured approach for integrating cost–benefit analysis and technical optimization with real-world adoption conditions, offering practical guidance for designing scalable, low-CAPEX/OPEX valorization solutions.
Authors
Karen Ane Frøyland SkjennumAbstract
The widespread use of per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) over the past several decades has resulted in extensive soil contamination. Soil serves as a significant reservoir and a potential long-term source of PFAS. While the high stability and persistence of PFAS facilitates accumulation in soil, some PFAS, such as several perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), exhibit relatively high mobility allowing them to leach into the surrounding environment and possibly travel long distances. Remediation of contaminated sites is necessary to avoid severe environmental and human impacts. Soil stabilization represents a non-destructive soil remediation method which involves incorporation of binding materials (sorbents) into the contaminated soil to reduce contaminant leaching and bioavailability.
Abstract
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