Resources
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ANNUAL REPORT
Download the summary of our Annual Meeting held on October 5th at the Maison de l’Océan in Paris. The meeting was an opportunity to look back at the Coalition’s substantial achievements from its first two years in operation, to present the roadmap for the coming years, and to feature member achievements. Watch the replay here.
MEDIA
Senior industry leaders announce the launch of the first global seaweed coalition ! The Financial Times, in partnership with Lloyd’s Register Foundation, was delighted to present this public dialogue. This digital event discussed the convergence of investment and interest around seaweed and what needs to be done to establish critical infrastructure, regulations and technologies to power the safe restoration of oceanic environments.
Watch this UNFSS Science Days Side Event, co-convened by the Coalition and the Zanzibar Seaweed Cluster Initiative! After tracing the evolution of seaweed cultivation through today, from wild to domesticated for five crop seaweeds, we highlight future research challenges in promoting restorative seaweed aquaculture, including in Africa, and its role in eliminating hunger, touching on topics such as nutrition, environmental impact, and novel species.
Seaweed and “Carbon”, everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask! Our Scientific Council member Professor Catriona Hurd shares the results of her extensive research on Seaweed and Carbon Dioxide Removal. Moderation by Nichola Dyer, Senior Advisor and GSC Secretariat Manager.
Second GSC Scientific Webinar with Professor Thierry Chopin, expert in ecophysiology and biochemistry of seaweeds and a pioneer of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA). The IMTA multi-crop diversification approach (fish, seaweeds and invertebrates) could be an economic risk mitigation and management option to address pending climate change and coastal acidification impacts, hence increasing the resilience of the aquaculture sector and coastal communities. This extremely flexible concept can be applied worldwide to open-water and land-based systems, marine and freshwater environments and temperate and tropical climates.
COMMUNICATION TOOLS
Download and share our leaflet, with a presentation of the Coalition, its objectives, funding and scope of action, available in the following languages:
REPORTS
Seaweed Farming: Assessment on the Potential of Sustainable Upscaling for Climate, Communities and the Planet (UNEP)
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) recognizes the growing global interest in seaweed farming as a potentially scalable ocean-based solution to climate change that may provide environmental and social co-benefits as part of the advancement of resilient and climate smart aquaculture. To critically examine this potential, the report “Seaweed Farming: Assessment on the Potential of Sustainable Upscaling for Climate, Communities and the Planet” delivers an in-depth literature review and situational analysis scientifically assessing the potential for the sustainable expansion of seaweed farming to deliver climate benefits with minimal environmental and social risks. The report collates and scrutinizes existing research on the quantifiable climate benefits as well as the associated environmental and social risks and benefits of global seaweed farming. The scope of the report includes an investigation into the full value chain of seaweed farming with an emphasis on the potential for climate benefits realized through various natural and commercial use pathways, and the feasibility of upscaling global farmed seaweed production. The findings are synthesized in a situational analysis with a SWOT design (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) for sustainable expansion of global seaweed farming.
Access the report here
The Global Status of Seaweed Production, Trade and Utilization – (UN FAO)
This FAO report is an update of the status of the global seaweed market: production figures from culture and capture, the size of the international market for seaweed and its commercially important extracts, the leading nations by region, developments in processing and utilization technology, and innovations, challenges and forecasts for the industry.
As it is not possible to feature all individual countries of importance in the seaweed sector, several have been selected as being representative of the different regions of the world: Asia (China, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand); South America (Chile); Europe (Denmark, the European Union); and Africa (Morocco, South Africa and Zanzibar (Tanzania). The sections on Chile, China, Denmark and South Africa are based largely on previous studies commissioned by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Access the report here.
PEGASUS – Phycomorph European Guidelines for a Sustainable Aquaculture of Seaweeds
Domestication of the oceans is widely regarded as a possible solution to increase food and could be one of the next most important developments in human history. By 2050, the edible bioresource biomass will have to satisfy the 9 billion people predicted to live on the planet. Seaweed aquaculture can help to address global challenges related to nutrition, health and sustainable circular bio economy. Today, there is growing need for development, improvement and diversification of seaweed aquaculture practices in Europe, a continent characterised by its large coastal territory and wide range of climates.
The estimated value of the global seaweed production industry is more than ~ 8B€ (for 30Mt) and is continuing to expand. Seaweed are thus a promising bioresource for the future and the demand for high-value seaweed-derived compounds (cosmetics, food) is growing in Europe. However, European production lags behind Asian countries despite its large exclusive economic zone, its high seaweed biodiversity and its international leadership in fundamental research on seaweed genomics, genetics and cutting-edge techniques. Therefore, European industries involved in the development of sustainable seaweed aquaculture need to be supported. The 200p technical document “PEGASUS” highlights the current state of European seaweed production and pinpoints challenges for the development of this sector in the current European context. It proposes recommendations for short-term and long-term improvements at different levels of the chain.
Access the report here.
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Seaweed as a growth engine for a sustainable European future (Seaweed for Europe)
Seaweed for Europe’s new report shows the economic potential of an expanded seaweed market in Europe could be worth €9 billion in just a decade. The report also finds that the seaweed industry could create up to 115,000 jobs in Europe by 2030 and deliver significant environmental and health benefits. Targeted investment, regulatory streamlining, increased research and development of new applications based on seaweed will be needed to unlock this opportunity.
Access the report here.
SOMOS: Technical standards for safe production of food and feed from marine plants and safe use of ocean space
Somos, a study into safety at sea, has been laucnhed as part of a partnership between Lloyd’s Register Foundation, Wageningen University & Research and TNO. The study has half a million pounds at its disposal to investigate safety aspects of combined activities at sea. The focus of Somos is on renewable energy production in combination with seaweed, used not only for food but also feed, bio-chemicals, energy and other valuable products. The grant was awarded by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, which aims to contribute to the enhancement of resilient marine resources for tomorrow’s world population.
Access the study here.