Study on the potential of drift algae

This project aimed to confirm whether the so-called drift algae of the St. Lawrence River had any real valorization potential. This study covered the detection and evaluation of fixed and drift algae stocks, the assessment of the composition and quality of drift algae stocks, the evaluation of recovery and processing costs, as well as a summary assessment of the commercial potential of their valorization.

The seaweed, sourced from the Bas-Saint-Laurent (Lower Saint-Lawrence) and Côte-Nord (North Shore) regions, was then cleaned and dried at the OrganicOcean facility. The different batches were then analyzed to determine their microbiological and chemical quality.

Overall, the study demonstrated the great potential of drift algae for a number of applications at a reasonable processing cost. One of the challenges in setting up a sustainable algal resource chain lies in implementing tools that enable quick and efficient identification and harvesting to ensure quality biomass.