Deltares is an independent knowledge institute for applied research in the field of water and subsurface. Deltares is developing knowledge regarding the quality of soil and water systems and making that knowledge available through model and information systems for policymakers, managers and users. The system knowledge is also being used for sustainable natural solutions as an alternative to the traditional hard hydraulic engineering approach, for technological innovations to improve the protection of water on soil systems, and for the exploitation of ecosystem services. Moreover, Deltares has developed ecosystem models that can both be used to ascertain the local production carrying capacity for seaweed (how much can you produce given the local environmental conditions), the ecological carrying capacity for seaweed (i.e. how much can you produce without having a negative impact on the environment) and also how can seaweed be combined with other types of aquaculture (e.g. mussel farming or fish farming) to increase yield and reduce environmental impact.