More and more efforts for seaweed cultivation are appearing across Europe. Whilst most production of seaweed stems from wild harvesting as opposed to farming [1], the demand from consumers is rising as it’s nutritional and culinary uses are more commonly known. Not only is this favourable to the consumer but at a time where sustainable farming is vital to protecting the environment, seaweed production provides a green alternative that gives back to the planet.
Seaweeds are the future
In a world where consumers are increasingly looking for plant-based alternatives the seaweed market has expanded considerably with expectations to grow globally from $15 billion (2021) to almost $25 billion by 2028[2]. Seaweed is relatively new in Europe and thus Asia dominates production –99.4% of seaweed produced via aquaculture globally stems from Asia [3]. Nevertheless, seaweed is a familiar product to many costal European countries. With the increasing popularity of Asian foods, a cuisine which often uses seaweed as an ingredient and food, as well as its supplementation use, the demand for seaweed is growing [2].
Sustainable action
Each year we are seeing greater effects of our industries on the environment. In 2015, the United Nations created 17 sustainable development goals, an urgent call for action against poverty and mistreatment of the planet [4]. The nutrition and supplement industry affects many of these goals from the plastics used in packaging and the farming of raw materials. This is where seaweed aquaculture and wild harvesting provides what many are calling a ‘Blue revolution’[5]. An environmentally friendly alternative farming method, which has considerable benefits to oceans, its ecosystems and ultimately the planet.
Fixing our planet with seaweed
Seaweed’s ability to be a carbon sink provides new opportunities for sustainable farming. These highly autotrophic communities photosynthesise significantly more CO2 ¬than the respiring organisms release in the ecosystem. The seaweed then sinks to floor storing carbon in deep sea sediments or is harvested for its commercial use. If this market continues to grow as expected the potential for carbon capture could be around 2.48 million tons of CO2 per year and could exceed over 6% of global carbon capture. It’s important to note, whilst these numbers are relatively small, seaweed aquaculture only occupies around 0.004% of the costal ocean and has potential for exponential expansion in Europe [6].
Photosynthesis helps reverse ocean acidification, a process where CO2 dissolves directly into seawater. Ocean acidification has shown to have serious effects on many ecosystems from coral reefs to a variety of marine animals and could slowly alter food chains and our food supplies [7]. lowering the pH. Seaweeds metabolise the CO2 and sink it, elevating the pH [8].
Seaweed, also has uses as a biofuel, replacing fossil fuels, again denting carbon emissions.
A natural answer to improving your health
With these new and exciting developments to grow the seaweed the industry and increasing harvests of seaweed, the access to seaweed for its nutritional benefits is a priority for consumers. As highlighted by World Iodine deficiency day, awareness of iodine’s significance as a micronutrient, it’s importance for our physiology and even more so during pregnancy, is becoming recognised by the public. Regardless, the stats still stand- 2 billion people worldwide have insufficient iodine intake and up to 84% of pregnant women globally are iodine deficient [9]
The fortification of food products is a broadly used and effective means to increase levels of generally lacking micronutrients [10]. The Puresea® seaweed ingredient range is a natural, plant-based source of iodine. PureSea® seaweed is sustainably wild harvested in the pristine sea lochs around remote isles of the Scottish Outer Hebrides. Adding PureSea® to your products allows the use of six European Food standards Agency (EFSA) approved Health Claims surrounding:
- Energy-yielding metabolism
- Cognitive function
- Thyroid function
- Skin health
- Growth of children
- Functioning of the nervous system
To view our full range of Puresea® ingredients click here, or contact us here
PureSea® is available in a range of formats, allowing ease of use in a variety of applications.
[1] Loctier. D, ‘Blue revolution’: How farmed seaweed is good for us and the planet, [internet] (26/10/2022), https://www.euronews.com/green/2020/06/09/seaweed-farming-an-economic-and-sustainable-opportunity-for-europe
[2] CBI Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The European market potential for seaweed, [internet] (14/02/2022), https://www.cbi.eu/market-information/fish-seafood/seaweed/market-potential#:~:text=There%20is%20an%20increasing%20demand,in%20ethnic%20and%20mainstream%20retail.
[3] S W K van den Burg, H Dagevos, R J K Helmes, Towards sustainable European seaweed value chains: a triple P perspective, ICES Journal of Marine Science, Volume 78, Issue 1, January-February (2021), Pages 443–450, https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsz183
[4] United nations, The 17 Goals, [internet] (2022) https://sdgs.un.org/topics/oceans-and-seas
[5] Loctier. D, A Cry of Kelp: How farming seaweed is good for people and the planet, [Internet], (25/10/2022), https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/10/25/blue-revolution-how-farmed-seaweed-is-good-for-us-and-the-planet
[6] Center for biological diversity, OCEAN ACIDIFCATION, [Internet], Unknown date, https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/endangered_oceans/index.html
[7] Duarte, C., Wu, J., Xiao, X., Bruhn, A., & Krause-Jensen, D. (2017). Can Seaweed Farming Play a Role in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation? Frontiers in Marine Science., 4, Frontiers in marine science, Vol.4.
[8] Britton D, Cornwall CE, Revill AT, Hurd CL, Johnson CR. Ocean acidification reverses the positive effects of seawater pH fluctuations on growth and photosynthesis of the habitat-forming kelp, Ecklonia radiata. Scientific Reports [Internet] (2016) ;6(1):26036. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep26036
[9] Candido AC, Morais NDSD, Dutra LV, Pinto CA, Franceschini SDCC, Alfenas RDCG. Insufficient iodine intake in pregnant women in different regions of the world: a systematic review. Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism [Internet] 2019;63(3):306–11. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.20945/2359-3997000000151
[10] Santos JAR, Christoforou A, Trieu K, Mckenzie BL, Downs S, Billot L, et al.. Iodine fortification of foods and condiments, other than salt, for preventing iodine deficiency disorders. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews ( 2019);2019(2).