The Finnish Ministry of the Environment has granted approximately €6 million in funding to over 20 projects that promote nutrient recycling—particularly in the Archipelago Sea catchment area. These initiatives aim to reduce nutrient runoff, improve the quality and use of recycled fertilizers, and strengthen Finland’s self-sufficiency in nutrient management, all while enhancing the health of our aquatic ecosystems.
We’re proud to share that Origin by Ocean is one of the recipients of this funding. With this support, we are moving ahead with our project: Commercializing the cultivation of bladderwrack and nutrient removal from the Baltic Sea.
Tackling eutrophication with a regenerative solution
The Baltic Sea is one of the most polluted seas in the world, suffering from chronic eutrophication due to excessive nitrogen and phosphorus runoff. These nutrients fuel harmful algal blooms, deplete oxygen levels, and disrupt marine biodiversity.
Our project addresses this challenge head-on by cultivating Fucus vesiculosus, commonly known as bladderwrack — a native brown macroalgae that naturally absorbs nitrogen and phosphorus as it grows. By harvesting the cultivated algae before it decomposes and releases nutrients back into the water, we ensure permanent nutrient removal from the marine environment.
Bladderwrack is the largest brown seaweed in the Baltic Sea and plays a vital ecological role. It forms underwater forests that stabilize coastlines, provide habitats for marine life, and serve as natural biofilters, improving water quality. It also acts as a carbon sink, capturing CO₂ and contributing to climate change mitigation.
A multifaceted response to the Baltic Sea’s challenges
Recognizing the untapped potential of bladderwrack, Origin by Ocean has developed and patented a sustainable method for its cultivation. Our technique accelerates bladderwrack’s natural reproductive cycle —without genetic modification — enabling scalable production without harming wild populations.
The project unfolds in several key phases:
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Cultivation: Bladderwrack seedlings are grown in controlled land-based environments and later transferred to the sea using custom-designed infrastructure. This approach ensures sustainable scale-up and ecological safety.
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Nutrient binding: As the algae matures, it absorbs excess nitrogen and phosphorus from the water and stores them as valuable bioactive compounds.
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Harvesting and biorefining: The biomass is harvested and processed using Origin by Ocean’s patented biorefining technology. This yields high-value, biodegradable ingredients for applications in cosmetics, food, and specialty chemicals. Residual biomass is repurposed for animal feed or as a growing substrate—supporting a circular economy.
Bladderwrack is a key feedstock for our entire product portfolio, delivering high concentrations of bioactive compounds ideal for replacing fossil-based raw materials.
Our technology is rooted in a deep understanding of bladderwrack’s ecophysiology, enabling us to optimize its growth and maximize impact — without compromising natural ecosystems.
Dr. Ari Ruuskanen, Lead Biomass Activist at Origin by Ocean pioneers groundbreaking, patented methods for sustainable Bladderwrack cultivation in the Baltic Sea, driving significant ecosystem restoration efforts.
Science meets the sea
The hatchery and nursery of bladderwrack is based at our R&D and laboratory facilities in Espoo. Supported by this new funding, we’re now moving our “bladderwrack babies” from lab to sea, and establishing sea trials in collaboration with Livia’s fish school in the Archipelago Sea. These sites support controlled research, marine farming trials, and ongoing monitoring of growth, nutrient uptake, and ecological impact.
Over the coming months, we’ll refine our cultivation and harvesting cycles and collect data critical for long-term deployment.
Looking ahead
We aim to establish a full-scale commercial production plant in Finland by 2028 and to fully utilize cultivated bladderwrack from the Baltic Sea as a feedstock by 2032. Looking beyond Finland, we see this model being replicated in other regions struggling with eutrophication, offering a scalable solution to a global problem.
At Origin by Ocean, we believe that the world’s most urgent environmental problems are also its most valuable industrial challenges. This project is a concrete example of how science, nature, and business can work together to regenerate marine ecosystems while creating economic and social value.
We’re deeply grateful to the Ministry of the Environment for supporting this next step in our mission. Together, we’re transforming the Baltic Sea — from problem to solution, from degradation to regeneration.
Additional reading: The Finnish Ministry of the Environment: Ravinteiden kierrätyksen edistämiseen noin kuusi miljoonaa euroa, painopisteenä hankkeet Saaristomeren valuma-alueella
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Origin by Ocean
Heikki Heiskanen
Chief Operating Activist
heikki.heiskanen@originbyocean.com
+358 44 370 2994