ASSA has developed and published the Australian Seaweed Industry Blueprint Implementation Plan (Blueprint) that identified the critical path activities to industry growth. This proposal is for enhancing the knowledge and expertiese of the Australian seaweed industry through those visiting Korea to see and discuss that country's well developed seaweed industry which is currently at a size similar to what the Blueprint seeks to achieve for Australia in coming years. The proposal seeks to fill a major gap identified in the farm technology space with preliminery discussions with Korean seaweed industry representatives highlighting that the country uses a variety of 'in sea' and 'on land' seaweed culture systems. The information attained from the delegation's visit to Korea will be dissemenated by producing a final report and through planned workshops and meetings with the broader Australian seaweed industry.

The ISS requires $150 K in sponsorship in addition to the $50 K seeding funding provided by Business Events Tasmania. To date we have a number of smaller sponsors and local aquaculture businesses supporting us through exhibitor stands.

As a Silver Sponsor, the FRDC will receive three complementary full registrations, plus conference dinner tickets, and a range of promotional materials including mention at the opening and closing ceremonies, and online visibility. Please see the attached document for a full list of entitlements that the FRDC will receive.

The 5 x industry bursaries will support key people, that have been identified by the International Seaweed Symposium organizing committee, to share their knowledge and experience with Australian seaweed industry representatives. The ISS committee and the conference organizers (Conference Design) will oversee the implementation of the bursaries. Names of people identified as prospective FRDC bursary recipients are listed in the attached document.

Output & Outcomes
Outputs may be knowledge, skills, process, practices, items/artefacts, publications, workshops, models, or technology that when adopted, will contribute to planned outcomes

The expected outcomes of sponsorship for the ISS are new national and international collaborations, new alliances, new ideas on how to progress the seaweed industry in Australia, identify new markets, increase investment into the Australian seaweed sector, and launch the emerging Australian seaweed industry into the global arena.

The major output from the conference is the Proceedings of the 24th International Seaweed Symposium, which is a substantial volume that contains peer-reviewed publications arising from conference presentations.

Extension

The legacy of the ISS in Tasmania, Australia, will be global recognition of seaweed research and development in this region, and the unique systems and seaweed flora that Australia has to offer. When held in regions where a seaweed industry is at an early stage (e.g. Chile 1995), the ISS has been pivotal in helping realize the full potential of the industry. Extension will, therefore, be through the transfer of new knowledge and skills that are gained at the ISS to Australian businesses and communities and raise awareness of the seaweed industry through media outlets and engagement with end-users.