Europe's big plans for seaweed

Europe's next green crop - 19th September 2022

It may not be the first crop you associate with European farms, but some aquaculturists, or sea farmers, want to start cultivating seaweed extensively throughout the North Sea.

Not solely a food for soups like ramen, seaweed is very versatile. As well as being used as feed for livestock, this aquatic plant is also fertiliser for crops, and an additive in cosmetics. Used as biofuel, a way of trapping CO2 or even a type of biologically friendly packaging that reduces our reliance on plastics, seaweed is proving its versatility.

Already valued at around $40 billion, proponents of European seaweed production have reasoned that that figure may more than double, to $95 billion, by 2027. Europe accounts for a mere 0.8 percent of the world's seaweed, whereas 97 percent originates from Asia.

Programme Director for Seaweed for Europe, Adrien Vincent explained, “While Europe’s seaweed sector today remains small, the conditions are favourable to grow it into a vibrant, innovative and sizeable industry with a variety of social and environmental benefits.”

With current funding at $277 million from the European Union (EU), seaweed farming in Europe could look forward to a possible increase in funding. Seaweed harvesting projects have already been initiated by Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, although some in Europe are pushing for larger scale production. Meanwhile, 400 square kilometres of sea area has already been allocated for seaweed cultivation by the Dutch government.

Not everyone is on board with mass seaweed production, especially ecologists. It has been argued that favouring one species over others could have dire consequences on the ecosystem, such as diminishing stocks of phytoplankton. A vital food source for fish, these small creatures are essential for the diets of seals and porpoises.

The Seaweed Company, a leading Dutch enterprise, is convinced that mass production of seaweed is the way of the future. Founder Joost Wouters stated "Scale and speed is our mission. To be sustainable from the financial, social and ecological side, you need a lot of seaweed."