Join our virtual inaugural e-learning series to learn about the burgeoning global seaweed sector. In four live sessions, we’ll explore innovative practices and emerging markets across sectors, showing how the public, private, and research sectors contribute to thriving value chains.

Register here: Register Here

Register here: 

Nature-based climate solutions in the world's oceans can play an important role in conservation and carbon abatement efforts worldwide.

Assessing blue carbon solutions

McKinsey’s new report,Blue Carbon: The potential of coastal and economic climate action, sizes blue carbon NBS and measures their impacts, costs, and likely access to future funding. It highlights the latest scientific research and leverages McKinsey analysis to estimate abatement or conservation potential on a 2050 timeline. Deep dives on kelp reforestation and bottom trawling show how economies of scale in these emerging solutions could help reduce costs.

If fully implemented, the established class of solutions would offer 0.4 to 1.2 metric gigatons (Gt) of annual CO2 abatement, or between 1 and 3 percent of total current annual emissions (Exhibit 1). That potential jumps to approximately 3 GtCO2 of annual abatement (about 7 percent of total current annual emissions) if the solutions in the emerging category, such as large-scale seaweed farming and bottom-trawling management, were to be fully confirmed and implemented. Nascent solutions might add another 1 to 2 GtCO2 of annual abatement potential in the longer term, but the science remains highly uncertain. To put these numbers into context, annual human emissions are currently around 40 GtCO2.

Please visit the website to read the full article:

McKinsey & Company (Julien Claes, Duko Hopman, Gualtiero Jaeger, and Matt Rogers), 2022, Blue carbon: The potential of coastal and oceanic climate action, available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/sustainability/our-insights/blue-carbon-the-potential-of-coastal-and-oceanic-climate-action

Connection Details https://worldbankgroup.zoom.us/j/92142565320?pwd=b7jwqOhaNzSOsVzFi2wjb4V8eEUJga.1

Meeting ID: 921 4256 5320    Passcode: $9%aV23Xij

Seaweed covers around 3.4 million square kilometres of ocean area worldwide and stores an estimated 175 million tons  of carbon annually – equivalent to 10% of the emissions from all cars in the world. To many scientists,  seaweed could join the likes of mangroves and wetlands to become a vital tool in climate change mitigation efforts.

The seaweed industry brims with untapped potential extending far beyond its current uses and contributing to the human diet, aquaculture feed, and hydrocolloid thickening agents. The World Bank estimates growth potential could be as much as US$11.8 billion by 2030.

In this webinar, experts from the Republic of Korea will share perspectives on the country’s highly successful seaweed industry and potential environmental benefits, providing examples of how seaweed can deliver sustainable solutions for a livable planet for future generations.

Joined by speakers from leading research universities and public research think-tanks, this webinar will cover the following topics:

• The role of seaweed in blue carbon storage
• The preservation of ecological diversity of seaweed species
• The role of seaweed forests in blue carbon storage

Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) technology which integrates seaweed into a biofloc system to manage water quality.

Aquaculture is predicted to supply the majority of aquatic dietary protein by 2050. For aquaculture to deliver significantly enhanced volumes of food in a sustainable manner, appropriate account needs to be taken of its impacts on environmental integrity, farmed organism health and welfare, and human health. Here, we explore increased aquaculture production through the One Health lens and define a set of success metrics — underpinned by evidence, policy and legislation — that must be embedded into aquaculture sustainability. We provide a framework for defining, monitoring and averting potential negative impacts of enhanced production — and consider interactions with land-based food systems. These metrics will inform national and international science and policy strategies to support improved aquatic food system design.

Stentiford, G.D., Bateman, I.J., Hinchliffe, S.J. et al. Sustainable aquaculture through the One Health lens. Nat Food 1, 468–474 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-020-0127-5

Please visit the website to read the full article:

Sustainable aquaculture through the One Health lens | Nature Food

Join Online

https://worldbankgroup.zoom.us/j/94457952910?pwd=VUhxMktpYmo2bnlrTGV2UDNtS2xTdz09

Meeting ID: 944 5795 2910

Passcode: &Zt%73PVAi

Seaweed is an industry brimming with untapped potential that extends far beyond its current uses as human consumption, aquaculture feed, and hydrocolloids. Emerging seaweed markets estimate their growth potential could be up to US$11.8 billion by 2030.

In particular, the biodegradable packaging market is projected to grow from USD 105.26 billion in 2024 to USD 140.66 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 5.97%, while the global plant-based food market is expected to reach 77.8 billion U.S. dollars by 2025. Notably, the cultured meat market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 51.6% from 2023 to 2030.

The Republic of Korea has made a huge success in the seaweed private sector ranking first with a market share of 70.6% of the global $918 million dollars-worth seaweed market.

Behind its successful growth, Korea has been striving to develop new and cutting-edge solutions of advanced technologies in the seaweed industry to improve production and productivity and explore seaweed’s extensive potential. At the center of Korea’s innovation are research institutes and academic researchers who are leading the advancement of the seaweed industry by leveraging Korea’s comparative advantage in technology.

KIOST (Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology) is one of Korea’s leading think tanks in marine science and technology, with several technology-based partnerships with domestic and overseas research institutes. KIOST is known for developing technology to achieve multiple cropping of seaweed, the first of its kind in Korea, which promotes the growth of seaweed and thus reduces seaweed cultivation time.

Chosun University’s Marine Healthcare Effectiveness & Evaluation Center is a renowned academic knowledge bank well-known for its researchers who are actively leveraging digitalization and AI in their research and exploration of seaweed’s potential beyond human consumption, from cosmetics to health supplement markets.

Join Online

https://worldbankgroup.zoom.us/j/94457952910?pwd=VUhxMktpYmo2bnlrTGV2UDNtS2xTdz09

Meeting ID: 944 5795 2910

Passcode: &Zt%73PVAi

Seaweed is an industry brimming with untapped potential that extends far beyond its current uses as human consumption, aquaculture feed, and hydrocolloids. Emerging seaweed markets estimate their growth potential could be up to US$11.8 billion by 2030.

In particular, the biodegradable packaging market is projected to grow from USD 105.26 billion in 2024 to USD 140.66 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 5.97%, while the global plant-based food market is expected to reach 77.8 billion U.S. dollars by 2025. Notably, the cultured meat market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 51.6% from 2023 to 2030.

The Republic of Korea has made a huge success in the seaweed private sector ranking first with a market share of 70.6% of the global $918 million dollars-worth seaweed market.

Behind its successful growth, Korea has been striving to develop new and cutting-edge solutions of advanced technologies in the seaweed industry to improve production and productivity and explore seaweed’s extensive potential. At the center of Korea’s innovation are research institutes and academic researchers who are leading the advancement of the seaweed industry by leveraging Korea’s comparative advantage in technology.

KIOST (Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology) is one of Korea’s leading think tanks in marine science and technology, with several technology-based partnerships with domestic and overseas research institutes. KIOST is known for developing technology to achieve multiple cropping of seaweed, the first of its kind in Korea, which promotes the growth of seaweed and thus reduces seaweed cultivation time.

Chosun University’s Marine Healthcare Effectiveness & Evaluation Center is a renowned academic knowledge bank well-known for its researchers who are actively leveraging digitalization and AI in their research and exploration of seaweed’s potential beyond human consumption, from cosmetics to health supplement markets.

Join Online

https://worldbankgroup.zoom.us/j/94457952910?pwd=VUhxMktpYmo2bnlrTGV2UDNtS2xTdz09

Meeting ID: 944 5795 2910

Passcode: &Zt%73PVAi

Seaweed is an industry brimming with untapped potential that extends far beyond its current uses as human consumption, aquaculture feed, and hydrocolloids. Emerging seaweed markets estimate their growth potential could be up to US$11.8 billion by 2030.

In particular, the biodegradable packaging market is projected to grow from USD 105.26 billion in 2024 to USD 140.66 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 5.97%, while the global plant-based food market is expected to reach 77.8 billion U.S. dollars by 2025. Notably, the cultured meat market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 51.6% from 2023 to 2030.

The Republic of Korea has made a huge success in the seaweed private sector ranking first with a market share of 70.6% of the global $918 million dollars-worth seaweed market.

Behind its successful growth, Korea has been striving to develop new and cutting-edge solutions of advanced technologies in the seaweed industry to improve production and productivity and explore seaweed’s extensive potential. At the center of Korea’s innovation are research institutes and academic researchers who are leading the advancement of the seaweed industry by leveraging Korea’s comparative advantage in technology.

KIOST (Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology) is one of Korea’s leading think tanks in marine science and technology, with several technology-based partnerships with domestic and overseas research institutes. KIOST is known for developing technology to achieve multiple cropping of seaweed, the first of its kind in Korea, which promotes the growth of seaweed and thus reduces seaweed cultivation time.

Chosun University’s Marine Healthcare Effectiveness & Evaluation Center is a renowned academic knowledge bank well-known for its researchers who are actively leveraging digitalization and AI in their research and exploration of seaweed’s potential beyond human consumption, from cosmetics to health supplement markets.

Over one million coastal Indonesians engage in seaweed aquaculture, a unique and growing global industry for production of carrageenan and agar, direct consumption, and animal feeds, among other uses. Carrageenan and agar, refined from red seaweeds, are used as ‘texturizers’ or thickeners primarily within foods and cosmetics, but have growing utility within areas such as animal feeds and pharmaceuticals. Indonesian seaweed farming presents a significant economic opportunity with the potential to be managed in a more sustainable manner. The Nature Conservancy’s (The Conservancy’s) vision is for seaweed aquaculture to grow in harmony with marine conservation objectives, support livelihoods in coastal communities throughout Indonesia, and provide ecosystem services for habitat and nutrient bioremediation – to encourage increased sustainability through the three dimensions of economic, social, and environmental. In response to the rapidly growing global market for carrageenan seaweeds, the environmental challenges and opportunities of seaweed farming, and the essential livelihoods that seaweed farming currently provides in Indonesia, The Conservancy presents this seaweed aquaculture guide for seaweed purchasers, conservation organizations working in seaweed, and seaweed farmers in Indonesia that are seeking to reduce environmental impacts, and to encourage sustainable livelihoods1 by improving the value of farmed seaweed through better farming and post-harvesting practices. This guide is divided into four main parts: (1) an introduction providing pertinent background regarding Indonesia in the context of carrageenan seaweeds; (2) a guide for seaweed buyers seeking to increase the sustainability of their supply chains; (3) a guide for conservation practitioners working in seaweed aquaculture for environmental, economic, and social gain; and (4) an illustrated guide for farmers to improve seaweed farming practices.

Please visit the website to read the full article:

The Nature Conservanc, et al., 2019, COASTAL CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE  LIVELIHOODS THROUGH SEAWEED  AQUACULTURE IN INDONESIA: A Guide for Buyers, Conservation Practitioners, and Farmer, available at: Indonesia Seaweed Guide (ykan.or.id)

Over one million coastal Indonesians engage in seaweed aquaculture, a unique and growing global industry for production of carrageenan and agar, direct consumption, and animal feeds, among other uses. Carrageenan and agar, refined from red seaweeds, are used as ‘texturizers’ or thickeners primarily within foods and cosmetics, but have growing utility within areas such as animal feeds and pharmaceuticals. Indonesian seaweed farming presents a significant economic opportunity with the potential to be managed in a more sustainable manner. The Nature Conservancy’s (The Conservancy’s) vision is for seaweed aquaculture to grow in harmony with marine conservation objectives, support livelihoods in coastal communities throughout Indonesia, and provide ecosystem services for habitat and nutrient bioremediation – to encourage increased sustainability through the three dimensions of economic, social, and environmental. In response to the rapidly growing global market for carrageenan seaweeds, the environmental challenges and opportunities of seaweed farming, and the essential livelihoods that seaweed farming currently provides in Indonesia, The Conservancy presents this seaweed aquaculture guide for seaweed purchasers, conservation organizations working in seaweed, and seaweed farmers in Indonesia that are seeking to reduce environmental impacts, and to encourage sustainable livelihoods1 by improving the value of farmed seaweed through better farming and post-harvesting practices. This guide is divided into four main parts: (1) an introduction providing pertinent background regarding Indonesia in the context of carrageenan seaweeds; (2) a guide for seaweed buyers seeking to increase the sustainability of their supply chains; (3) a guide for conservation practitioners working in seaweed aquaculture for environmental, economic, and social gain; and (4) an illustrated guide for farmers to improve seaweed farming practices.

Please visit the website to read the full article:

The Nature Conservanc, et al., 2019, COASTAL CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE  LIVELIHOODS THROUGH SEAWEED  AQUACULTURE IN INDONESIA: A Guide for Buyers, Conservation Practitioners, and Farmer, available at: Indonesia Seaweed Guide (ykan.or.id)

China represents world seaweed industry and its development in terms of total cultivated production and consumption market. Fujian and Shandong provinces contribute 42% and 32% of the total annual cultivated seaweed. Among 7 main popular cultivated seaweed species in China, Kelp (Saccharina (Laminaria) Japonica) has been accounting for majority of the total annual production in China, 98% in 1950s and still 68% nearly 1.5
million tons (dried weight) today.

China national government has been encouraging and supporting seaweed industry since early of 1950s. Today, seaweed cultivation and its industrial processing are under pressure of historical strict environment protection regulations concerning coastal marine ecology, total biomass, water pollution and conflicts to other offshore industries.

Kelp seedling, cultivation, food processing and market have been developed smoothly from few hundred tons to an industrialized industry today. However, this industry still appears plain, labor intensive, less mechanical operation but still more manual work. Seedling companies are countable in both north and south. Many large and small companies in north and countless families’ operation units in south are competing on kelp farming and processing business.

Kelp industrial processing industry started from 1950s mainly for producing iodine. During 1980s – 1990s, hundreds of factories competed on this business. Under pressure of sourcing kelp raw materials, freshwater sources, water pollution, environment protection regulations and its serious enforcement, this industry suffered through tough restructure process and lots of factories were shut down. Today, some of survived
factories or companies grow into national or world leading players, not only scale of factories and quantity of alginates production, but also quality of products and world class up-to-date innovative R&Ds and new products.

Benefit from continuous contribution from 4-5 generations Chinese scientists, researchers and professors, both fundamental and application R&D works on seaweed have achieved visible successes. National and provincial science & technology funds and seaweed industry have been keeping investing seaweed R&D projects, not only to help seedling, cultivation and food processing business sectors, but also to help alginates
and seaweed bioactive substances industry development and applications of these products.
 

Kelp food consumption took 80-98% of annual cultivated kelp during 1950s-early 1990s. From mid of 1990s to mid of 2000s, alginates industry competed 60% cultivated kelp raw materials while other 40% went for food. After year of 2005, market demands for kelp food and aquaculture feed increased gradually and steadily, taking 60% and 20% respectively. Alginates industry in China has to invest abroad for outsourcing kelp raw
materials in other foreign countries.

Not many but some leading industry players and R&D organizations could be important contacts and/or cooperation partners within seaweed industry. Based on understanding about mutual and common interests on seaweed industry between Norway and
China, a sorted expects could be valuable for Norwegian seaweed aquaculture business sector and its related R&D community in Norway. Seaweed industry in Norway needs to strategically figure out whether to export cultivated and harvested kelp raw materials to China for alginates and/or food industry, or, to cultivate,harvest and process it into kelp food and/or alginates in Norway first and then export it to China. In addition, issues like possibility of export kelp food products, kelp food products innovative development, possibilities of having private companies’ investments from China for joint venture kelp farm, joint venture kelp food and/or industrial processing factories in Norway, joint R&D cooperation on water treatment and pollution
management, etc., will be discussed and clarified as well.

hina, 98% in 1950s and still 68% nearly 1.5
million tons (dried weight) today.

China national government has been encouraging and supporting seaweed industry since early of 1950s.
Today, seaweed cultivation and its industrial processing are under pressure of historical strict environment
protection regulations concerning coastal marine ecology, total biomass, water pollution and conflicts to other
offshore industries.

Kelp seedling, cultivation, food processing and market have been developed smoothly from few hundred tons
to an industrialized industry today. However, this industry still appears plain, labor intensive, less mechanical
operation but still more manual work. Seedling companies are countable in both north and south. Many large
and small companies in north and countless families’ operation units in south are competing on kelp farming
and processing business.

Kelp industrial processing industry started from 1950s mainly for producing iodine. During 1980s – 1990s,
hundreds of factories competed on this business. Under pressure of sourcing kelp raw materials, freshwater
sources, water pollution, environment protection regulations and its serious enforcement, this industry
suffered through tough restructure process and lots of factories were shut down. Today, some of survived
factories or companies grow into national or world leading players, not only scale of factories and quantity of
alginates production, but also quality of products and world class up-to-date innovative R&Ds and new
products.

Benefit from continuous contribution from 4-5 generations Chinese scientists, researchers and professors,
both fundamental and application R&D works on seaweed have achieved visible successes. National and
provincial science & technology funds and seaweed industry have been keeping investing seaweed R&D
projects, not only to help seedling, cultivation and food processing business sectors, but also to help alginates
and seaweed bioactive substances industry development and applications of these products.
Kelp food consumption took 80-98% of annual cultivated kelp during 1950s-early 1990s. From mid of 1990s to
mid of 2000s, alginates industry competed 60% cultivated kelp raw materials while other 40% went for food.
After year of 2005, market demands for kelp food and aquaculture feed increased gradually and steadily,
taking 60% and 20% respectively. Alginates industry in China has to invest abroad for outsourcing kelp raw
materials in other foreign countries.

Not many but some leading industry players and R&D organizations could be important contacts and/or
cooperation partners within seaweed industry.Based on understanding about mutual and common interests on seaweed industry between Norway and China, a sorted expects could be valuable for Norwegian seaweed aquaculture business sector and its related R&D community in Norway. Seaweed industry in Norway needs to strategically figure out whether to export cultivated and harvested kelp raw materials to China for alginates and/or food industry, or, to cultivate, harvest and process it into kelp food and/or alginates in Norway first and then export it to China. In addition, issues like possibility of export kelp food products, kelp food products innovative development, possibilities of having private companies’ investments from China for joint venture kelp farm, joint venture kelp food and/or industrial processing factories in Norway, joint R&D cooperation on water treatment and pollution management, etc., will be discussed and clarified as well.

Please visit the website to read the full article:

Jiwu Zhang (Innovation Norway China), 2018, Seaweed Industry in China, available at: Seaweed Industry in China │ Innovation Norway China, Jiwu Zhang | Submariner Network for Blue Growth (submariner-network.eu)