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, Māori-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’s environmental, economic, and innovation goals. It will build domestic capacity in seaweed farming, manufacturing, and science, offering new career pathways for Māori, enhancing ecosystem resilience, and fostering climate leadership.
Key researchers:
- Prof Maui Hudson (opens in a new tab) - Research Aim Lead
- Natalie Kusabs (opens in a new tab) - Research Co-ordinator
- Danny Paruru (opens in a new tab) - Iwi Research Fellow
- Dr Janette Hamilton-Pierce (opens in a new tab) - Senior Research Fellow
- Michela Anderson (opens in a new tab) - PhD Candidate
This project is funded by the MBIE Endeavour Fund and led by the UoW Coastal Marine Field Station. (opens in a new tab)
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. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.70227 (opens in a new tab)