Seaweed polysaccharides
Project overview
This project aims to develop powerful, low-impact crop protection products using ulvans - immune-boosting polysaccharides from native and naturalised NZ seaweed. Alongside this scientific work, M膩ori-led ethical frameworks will be developed ensuring both scientific innovation, and fair culturally grounded use of marine-derived taonga. We aim to deliver a pipeline for high-tech, sustainable seaweed-based crop protection products, advancing Aotearoa New Zealand鈥檚 environmental, economic, and innovation goals. It will build domestic capacity in seaweed farming, manufacturing, and science, offering new career pathways for M膩ori, enhancing ecosystem resilience, and fostering climate leadership.
Key researchers:
- - Research Aim Lead
- - Research Co-ordinator
- - Iwi Research Fellow
- - Senior Research Fellow
- - PhD Candidate
This project is funded by the MBIE Endeavour Fund and led by the UoW Coastal Marine Field Station.
Research outputs
Dhanda, S., Lee, E., Livermore, T., Paton, A.J., Westenberger, P., Williams, C., Milliken, W., Nesbitt, M., Begum, N. and Hudson, M. (2026). Exploring the legal, policy, ethical and practical implications of digitisation of botanical and fungal collections. Plants, People, Planet.