The Groupe Roullier brings together global agricultural innovation in Saint-Malo
On 2 April, for one day, the Palais du Grand Large in Saint-Malo became a hub for global agricultural innovation. We hosted the 3rd edition of the Innovation Awards Roullier, our international innovation competition dedicated to sustainable agriculture, which this year focused on the theme ‘Sea to Farm: marine resources as sustainable alternatives for agriculture’.
In total, over 250 people from around the world attended the event to discover the 12 finalist projects and the winners in person. With over 50 entries from 17 countries, this 2025–2026 edition confirms the competition’s growing influence and its role as an essential catalyst for sustainable agricultural innovation.
A collective drive fuelled by a committed ecosystem
Throughout the day, a succession of speakers took to the stage, illustrating the diversity and richness of the ecosystem mobilised around the Innovation Awards Roullier. Alongside Sophie Bigaignon, Chair of the Executive Board, and Thomas Georgelin, Deputy CEO of the Group, numerous speakers from the academic, institutional and business worlds came to share their expertise and convictions.
The morning was notably marked by a presentation from Helena Abreu, an internationally renowned algae specialist, whilst the afternoon featured a round table discussion on the link between research and impact, bringing together a diverse range of figures from the worlds of science and innovation.
Two key figures also spoke: Grégoire Chauvière Le Drian, Head of the European Investment Bank’s France office, and Clément Beaune, High Commissioner for Strategy and Planning, who provided further insight into the challenges of financing and transition.
“Sea to Farm”: the ocean has been nourishing the land for over 65 years
Drawing on our deep-rooted Breton maritime heritage, this edition of the Innovation Awards Roullier reaffirmed a common thread running through the history of the Groupe Roullier since 1959: agricultural innovation inspired by the sea – from the pioneering maërl to today’s seaweed-based biostimulants and fertilisation solutions. The projects submitted to the Innovation Awards Roullier powerfully illustrated the strategic potential of marine resources in addressing agricultural and environmental challenges. Through their bold approaches, students, researchers and entrepreneurs have redefined the link between marine ecosystems and sustainable agriculture, and demonstrated the diversity of research avenues and practical applications that exist in this field.
A rigorous selection process and supported projects
The projects were assessed by an international jury comprising scientific and industrial experts, based on four complementary criteria: scientific and technical excellence, implementation potential, environmental and economic impact, and the quality and commitment of the teams.
Three prizes were thus awarded, each corresponding to a different stage of project maturity and accompanied by tailored support:
• The Exploration Award was awarded to SEA4FEED, led by José Prates (University of Lisbon). This project, currently in the early research phase, has been awarded a research collaboration contract with the Groupe Roullier worth up to €300,000 to accelerate its development and transition to practical applications.
• The Scale up Award was awarded to MARFERT, developed by Junio Costa (Verde Acqua). This solution, which has already been tested, will receive support to accelerate the project and financial aid of €50,000.
• The Young Talent Award was awarded to BIOMAT-MAERL, led by Matilde Baruffaldi (Università degli Studi di Padova). This project receives a grant of €10,000 as well as a mentoring programme for the winner.
In addition to these grants, all winners benefit from increased visibility and opportunities for collaboration with the Group’s teams and subsidiaries, to support the development and implementation of their projects.
Find out more about the competition and the winning projects
Roullier Innovation Awards: a catalyst for innovation since 2018
Since their inception, the Innovation Awards Roullier have aimed to foster dialogue among stakeholders in agricultural innovation. By bringing together researchers, start-ups, institutions and students, the competition helps to foster collaborations and accelerate the development of solutions in areas such as soil nutrition, plant and animal health, and agri-food applications.
The 2025–2026 edition continues this momentum by highlighting initiatives that, each in their own way, contribute to the evolution of agricultural practices.