Helena Abreu

Helena Abreu

Land-based cultivation / Product development

Helena Abreu, Ph.D. is a marine biologist specialized in seaweed, with over 20 years of international experience in sustainable aquaculture, applied research, innovation strategy, and policy engagement in the blue economy. She was the co-founder and director of ALGAplus from 2011 until 2023, where she led its development into one of Europe’s reference points for organic-certified seaweed production and its application in food, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and other emerging sectors at both commercial and research scales.

Currently, Helena works as a Senior Seaweed Specialist at Bantry Marine Research Station (Ireland) and as an independent consultant, supporting research, innovation, and industry engagement in seaweed cultivation and market development.Her expertise spans:

  • Land-based cultivation systems – from lab-scale trials to 300 m² raceways – with extensive work on red (Porphyra spp., Gracilaria spp., Palmaria palmata) and green (Ulva spp., Codium tomentosum) seaweeds
  • At-sea cultivation experience with brown seaweeds such as the kelps Alaria esculenta and Saccharina latissima
  • Domestication protocols for high-value seaweed species, enabling full-cycle cultivation and improved biomass quality
  • Implementation of integrated, controlled production systems with traceability from nursery to sale, improving operational efficiency, yield, and cost control
  • Product and market development for food, cosmetics, and biotech applications
  • Direct collaboration with manufacturers on product development and go-to-market strategies
  • R&D strategy, proposal development, and technical evaluation
  • Policy and regulatory engagement within the seaweed and aquaculture sectors
  • Seaweed literacy for consumers, end-users, regulators, and prescribers

Helena has promoted and participated in multiple successful collaborative funded projects, securing significant support through competitive funding calls and driving multi-stakeholder cooperation across science, industry, and policy. She is a member and former President of the International Seaweed Association Council (2019–2028), Strategic Advisor to the Global Seaweed Coalition since its inception in 2020, and part of the European Algae Biomass Association team since December 2025.

Helena holds a Ph.D. in Biology, focused on seaweed ecophysiology and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, completed through the University of Porto (Portugal) , University of Connecticut (USA), and Universidad de Los Lagos (Chile).

She is fluent in Portuguese, English, French, and Spanish.

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