What Hortimare does

Hortimare BV is a Dutch seaweed breeding and propagation company headquartered in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands, operating globally across Europe, North America, South America, and Southeast Asia. The company supplies commercial seaweed farmers, aquaculture ventures, and research institutions with controlled, high-quality starting material — gametophyte cultures, sporophytes, and seeded twine — for brown (kelp), red (Palmaria, Asparagopsis, Gracilaria), and green (Ulva) seaweed species. Its underlying technology stack consists of proprietary protocols covering the full seaweed life cycle: spore extraction, gametophyte propagation, clean culture establishment, sporophyte induction, direct seeding with binder protection, land-based raceway cultivation, and selective breeding using traditional (non-GMO) plant-breeding methods. A central technical asset is the company's genebank of 7,000+ kelp gametophyte clones from approximately 100 populations and 300+ red algae lines, supplemented by 150+ Asparagopsis strains maintained for over six years.

Hortimare monetizes through four primary streams: (1) seedling supply (gametophytes, sporophytes, seeded twine), billed as a bio-input sale; (2) fee-for-service multi-year breeding programs targeting biomass, growth rate, polysaccharide content, flavor, and phytohormone production; (3) turnkey hatchery and nursery design, build, and operation services, including water-system engineering and on-site training; and (4) ecosystem services tied to kelp forest restoration. Pricing is quote-based, tailored by species, volume, timeline, and service scope, with multi-year contract cadence. Go-to-market is consultative and relationship-driven, executed through direct B2B engagement, industry conferences (notably Seagriculture EU), content marketing, and embedded roles within publicly funded research consortia (NWO, EU Horizon Europe, Horizon MISS, CORFO, TKI BBE).

The customer base spans enterprise aquaculture operators (Australis Aquaculture/Greener Grazing, GreenWave), growth-stage startups (Seaweedland, Huiro Regenerativo), SMEs (Cornish Seaweed Company, Mungo Murphy's Seaweed Company), and academic/government research institutions (Wageningen University, NIOZ, University of Galway, Fachhochschule Kiel). Notable operational footprints include an established Chile hatchery producing up to 10 km of seeded rope, a Southern New England nursery with GreenWave producing 14.5 km of line, and a Scottish production hub under development. Recent strategic moves include elevation of COO Floor van Eelen to acting Managing Director following Haik van Exel's mid-2024 transition, entry into the EU Horizon-funded COMBO project for pharmaceutical-grade seaweed, and expansion of the Asparagopsis program with a team member embedded in Vietnam for two years.

Name

Hortimare

Legal name

Hortimare BV

Website

https://hortimare.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hortimare BV is a Netherlands-based seaweed breeding and seed supply company that provides controlled gametophyte cultures, seeded twine, breeding programs, and turnkey hatchery services to commercial seaweed farmers, aquaculture operators, and research institutions worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Seaweed Seed Supply and Aquaculture Technology

NAICS

Aquaculture (1125), Aquaculture (11251)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Seaweed & Algae Aquaculture (incl. microalgae) (AFAEAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seed Stock Production for Seaweed & Microalgae (Spores, Seedlings, Inoculum) (AFAEAKAI), Aquaculture Breeding & Genetics Services (e.g., broodstock improvement) (AFAEAJAN), Aquaculture Farm Services & Operations Support (net cleaning, diving, grading, harvesting) (AFAEAAAM), Live Feed & Hatchery Inputs Production (Artemia, Rotifers, Copepods, Microalgae Cultures) (AFAEAKAJ), Algae & Seaweed Proteins (Microalgae/Spirulina, Macroalgae) (AFAJAHAF)

Keywords

• Seaweed seed supply
• Seaweed breeding programs
• Aquaculture hatchery design
• Gametophyte propagation technology
• Marine ecosystem restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Heerhugowaard

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Seaweed Seedling Supply: Hortimare supplies seaweed seedlings (gametophytes, sporophytes, seeded twine) to commercial farmers and research institutions. This is the core revenue stream, providing the starting material that enables farmers to scale cultivation. Deliveries include kelp, red algae, and green algae species with tailored specifications.
2. Breeding Programs: Fee-for-service breeding programs targeting specific desirable characteristics (biomass, growth, polysaccharide content, flavor) for clients. These are multi-year, labor-intensive programs built on the company's genebank foundation.
3. Technical Support & Hatchery Development: Design, building, and operation of hatchery and nursery systems with corresponding protocols for on-site clients. Includes turnkey solutions, water system design, training, and ongoing cultivation support from spore extraction through outplanting.
4. Ecosystem Services: Supply of starting material and technical expertise to support marine ecosystem restoration and ecosystem service validation projects, including kelp forest regeneration initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hortimare supplies high-quality seaweed starting material (gametophyte cultures and seeded twine) and the technical expertise required to scale commercial seaweed cultivation. The company maintains one of the world's largest gametophyte gene banks with over 7,000 kelp clones and 300+ red algae lines across ~100 populations, and provides breeding programs, hatchery and nursery design, direct seeding technology, and turnkey cultivation solutions to seaweed farmers, research institutions, and ecosystem restoration projects worldwide.

Product overview

Hortimare is a specialized seaweed breeding and seed supply company offering a comprehensive portfolio of services: Seed Supply (providing high-quality starting material for brown, red, and green seaweed species), New Species Domestication (developing protocols for commercially valuable species), Breeding Programs (selective breeding for desirable traits), Technical Support (hatchery and nursery system design and operation), and Ecosystem Services (supporting marine ecosystem restoration). The company maintains over 7000 unique gametophyte clones and 300+ lines of diverse red algae, serving farmers and researchers across the globe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Seed Supply Leading seed supplier offering high-quality starting material for commercial seaweed farmers and research institutions, covering brown, red, and green seaweed species including Saccharina latissima (sugar kelp), Alaria esculenta (winged kelp), Palmaria palmata (dulse), Asparagopsis spp., and Ulva spp. Delivered as gametophyte cultures for direct seeding and as seeded twine for ocean farming.
• New Species Domestication Service that bridges the gap between research and large-scale production by domesticating commercially valuable seaweed species. Develops standardized pipelines to assess feasibility and scale new species including Dictyota dichotoma, Laurencia sp., Osmundea sp., and Gracilaria spp. for pharmaceutical, food, and feed applications.
• Breeding Programs Fee-for-service selective breeding programs targeting desirable characteristics for clients, including biomass, growth rate, polysaccharide content, flavor, and phytohormone production. Uses traditional plant-breeding methodologies adapted for seaweed (no genetically modified varieties). Currently active in Saccharina latissima, Alaria esculenta, and Macrocystis pyrifera.
• Technical Support and Hatchery Development Comprehensive technical support service covering hatchery and nursery system design, building, and operation. Includes turnkey solutions, direct seeding technology with binder protection, land-based raceway cultivation systems, water system design, protocol development, on-site training, and ongoing cultivation support from spore extraction through farm outplanting.
• Ecosystem Services Supply of starting material and technical expertise to support marine ecosystem restoration and ecosystem service validation projects. Includes kelp forest regeneration initiatives, biodiversity support, and contribution to quantifying the environmental impact of seaweed cultivation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% spool success rate for GreenWave in years 2 and 3 of the partnership, versus variable results with wild seed
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered major, secondary, minor and core.

• University of GalwaymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Lead coordinator of the COMBO project (EU RIA Horizon 2023, 2024-2027), exploring molecular techniques for cultivating novel seaweed species (Laurencia pinnatifida, Dictyota dichotoma) for high-value pharmaceutical applications. Prof. Olivier Thomas leads the project. Hortimare contributes seed stock and expertise for land-based cultivation trials with Mungo Murphy's Seaweed Company in Ireland.
• Mungo Murphy's Seaweed CompanysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Irish land-based aquaculture facility collaborating in the COMBO project to prepare facilities for cultivation of Laurencia pinnatifida and Dictyota dichotoma. Cultivating seaweed in combination with established abalone cultivation allows return of seawater cleaner than it entered the system.
• CNRS (France)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024French national research agency participating in the COMBO project consortium, contributing marine biodiscovery expertise alongside University of Galway, Wageningen University, DTU, and other partners.
• Wageningen University & Research (NL)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in the COMBO project contributing metabolic engineering and plant pathology expertise to the consortium exploring OMICS technology and microbiome research for seaweed domestication.
• Technical University of Denmark (DTU)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in the COMBO project contributing technical and scientific expertise to the consortium exploring novel seaweed species cultivation for pharmaceutical applications.
• University of Angers (France)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in the COMBO project, contributing marine biodiscovery and biotechnology expertise to the consortium.
• University of Cape Town (South Africa)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in the COMBO project, led by Dr. Maggie Reddy PhD, contributing sampling expertise and global strain collection from Cape Town and the Pacific Ocean.
• University of Tours (France)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in the COMBO project contributing expertise in marine chemistry and natural product research.
• Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in the COMBO project contributing Iberian marine biodiversity and seaweed research expertise.
• Fundación Medina (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in the COMBO project contributing natural product discovery and marine bioactive compound screening expertise.
• Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partner in the COMBO project providing scale-up and pilot facility capabilities for seaweed processing and bioactive compound extraction.
• Huiro RegenerativocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2023Partnership since December 2023 to build Macrocystis pyrifera (giant kelp) farming communities in Chile's Los Lagos region, working with IPMAPY. Hortimare provided hands-on support and established a standardized hatchery within two months, producing up to 10 km of sporophyte-covered rope. Maria José de la Fuente (Huiro Regenerativo Founder) stated this enabled a Macrocystis hatchery and nursery capable of producing up to 10 km of sporophyte-covered rope in just six months.
• Fachhochschule Kiel / FINO 3minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023German university of applied sciences leading the offshore cultivation pilot in the ULTFARMS project. Hortimare supplied seeding material of a local strain and provided consulting on seeding, cultivation materials, and design for 80 km offshore saccharina cultivation.
• NIOZ (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2022Lead organization of From Sea to Society (FS2S) project (NWO-funded, 2022-2026) combining seaweed and mussel cultivation. Hortimare supplies seed stock for kelp crosses, facilitates field trials, and shares expertise. Hortimare scientists (Jessica Schiller, Gabriel Montecinos Arismendi, Brigit Reus) co-authored the first FS2S publication. Project also includes 13 other partners across industry, research, and government.
• Westerdijk Institute (Netherlands)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2022Dutch research institute specializing in mycology. Partner in From Sea to Society (FS2S) project, contributing expertise in marine fungi for biorefinery of seaweed biomass.
• ØrstedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2022Offshore wind energy company partner in the FS2S project, exploring integration of seaweed and mussel cultivation with offshore wind farm infrastructure.
• Wageningen University & ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Collaboration through SEASEEDS project (NWO-funded, 2022-2026) to improve sugar kelp attachment in direct seeding. Hortimare provides gametophytes, sporophytes, expert advice, and farm trial support. Hortimare researchers and SEASEEDS PhD students interact frequently, identifying novel methods to improve adhesion. Hosts approximately 75 Wageningen students annually for facility excursions. Tijs Ketelaar (WUR) described the collaboration as exactly what is needed to drive seaweed cultivation technology in North-Western Europe.
• North Sea FarmersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Dutch industry association for seaweed farmers. Hortimare participates as a member and collaborator, including involvement in the Zeewierseeder project (Provincie Zuid Holland, 2023-2024). North Sea Farmers serves as a link between seaweed farmers and research institutions.
• DeltaresminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Dutch research institute for water, subsurface, and infrastructure. Partner in both SEASEEDS and ULTFARMS projects, contributing expertise in offshore cultivation systems and ecosystem carrying capacity research.
• GreenWavecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Since 2022, partnership to establish a kelp seed bank and nursery in North America using gametophyte propagation technology. Hortimare provided hands-on technical assistance for nursery reconstruction, water system redesign, and protocol implementation. GreenWave successfully produced 100% of spools in years 2 and 3, achieving yields up to 30 kg/m. Bren Smith (GreenWave Co-Founder) quoted that the improved seed resulted in control over timing and quality, with farmers seeing doubling of yields vs. spore seeding.
• SeaweedlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership since 2022 to develop scalable, land-based seaweed farming using raceway technology at Seaweedland's facility at Hortimare's location. Species focused: Palmaria palmata, Ulva spp., Gracilaria spp., and Asparagopsis spp. Seaweedland serves as a testing ground for identifying optimal species and refining solutions for upscaling, with 70-meter raceways holding over 150 m³ of water. Seaweedland CEO Sven Rusticus described the partnership as unique and essential to their mission.
• The Cornish Seaweed CompanysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022UK-based seaweed company that served as the test site for Palmaria palmata seeded twine cultivation trials in 2024. Successfully grew large, uniform P. palmata blades on test lines. Led to scaling up of trials at multiple new sites in different countries. Part of the Palmaria palmata domestication program.
• GiMaRISminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Research partner in the SEASEEDS project contributing expertise in seaweed biology and marine ecosystem research.
• The Seaweed CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaborator in the SEASEEDS project, providing commercial seaweed farming perspective and field trial capabilities for sugar kelp attachment research.
• Jumbo SupermarketsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Dutch retailer partner in the SEASEEDS project, providing market and consumer demand perspective for sugar kelp product development.
• BrandfriendminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner in the SEASEEDS project providing branding and communication expertise for the sugar kelp sector.
• Prof. Olivier De Clerck (Ghent University)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Academic collaborator in the SEASEEDS project, contributing expertise in seaweed biology and algal systematics.
• Dr. Thomas Wichard (University of Jena)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Academic collaborator in the SEASEEDS project contributing expertise in algal ecology and microbiome research for sugar kelp cultivation.
• Dr. R. Nijland (Wageningen University)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Academic collaborator in the SEASEEDS project contributing expertise in developmental biology and cell biology for sugar kelp research.
• Greener Grazing / Australis AquaculturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership since 2021 to accelerate ocean-based commercial cultivation of Asparagopsis taxiformis. Jointly developed protocols for maintaining over 150 strains of A. taxiformis and A. armata. Hortimare has one team member based in Vietnam for two years. Josh Goldman (Australis CEO and Greener Grazing Project Lead) stated that teaming up with Hortimare brings unique technical and operational capacity to leverage seaweed for climate change.

Scale indicators25 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Atlantic Sea Farms: Maine, US-based kelp farming company with vertically integrated seed-to-farm operations. Comparable as a North American kelp seed supplier and cultivator with a similar focus on hatchery-driven quality and reliability for commercial farmers.
• Ocean Rain Forest: Faroe Islands-based kelp cultivation company that combines ocean farming with seed-bank operations and selective breeding. Directly comparable to Hortimare as a European, science-led seaweed cultivator with a breeding/genetics emphasis.
• Symbrosia: Hawaii-based company focused on Asparagopsis taxiformis cultivation for livestock methane reduction. Directly comparable in the Asparagopsis value chain and shares Hortimare's downstream customer overlap with Greener Grazing.
• KelpBlue: South African kelp farming and processing company operating large-scale ocean cultivation with an emphasis on carbon and ecosystem services. Comparable as a vertically integrated seaweed operator serving both food and ecosystem-service markets.
• Cascadia Seaweed: British Columbia-based seaweed cultivator operating ocean farms and processing capacity across multiple species. Directly comparable as a North American seaweed farming business that depends on reliable seed supply and protocol expertise.
• The Seaweed Company: Dutch seaweed cultivation and processing company producing food and ingredient products from kelp and other macroalgae. A Netherlands-based industry peer and SEASEEDS collaborator with overlapping customer channels in European seaweed markets.

Broad incumbents

• Mara Renewables: Canada-based commercial microalgae cultivation company with proprietary strains and ingredient products for food, nutraceutical, and aquaculture feed. Adjacent comparable as a strain-IP-driven algae business serving similar downstream applications.
• AlgaEnergy: Spain-based microalgae biotechnology company producing ingredients for agriculture, food, and cosmetics. Broad incumbent in the broader algae sector with strain IP and cultivation technology, though focused on microalgae rather than macroalgae.

Emerging players

• Seakura: Israel/France-based seaweed company cultivating Ulva and other macroalgae for food applications. Comparable as a seaweed cultivator with land-based and ocean operations using macroalgae species that overlap with Hortimare's Ulva and Palmaria portfolio.
• Cawthron Institute: New Zealand-based independent science institute with a leading seaweed breeding and domestication research program (including selective breeding of Saccharina and other macroalgae). Comparable as a science-driven seaweed genetics organization operating in the same upstream niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hortimare