Why Global Interest in Seaweed? Can Seaweed Conquer the World?

Seaweeds, as vital primary producers, thrive in diverse marine environments and offer protection to coastal areas and marine life. The global seaweed industry has witnessed remarkable growth, producing 35.76 million tonnes valued at 14.7 billion USD in 2019, mainly driven by Asian seaweed cultivation. This growth showcases their ecological importance and potential as sustainable resource for many industrial applications. Seaweeds provide solutions to environmental challenges by mitigating marine nutrient pollution, combating eutrophication, reducing ocean acidification, treating wastewater, and sequestering carbon. Their cultivation represents an eco-friendly approach to marine environmental management. However, challenges like limited demand, site availability, labour shortages, and potential biodiversity impacts exist. Innovative approaches, such as integrated multitrophic aquaculture systems, offer solutions but need careful management. In the research community, seaweeds are gaining attention, with over 2800 research publications in 2021. They are recognized as functional foods, rich in essential nutrients. Seaweeds are a nutritional powerhouse, combating iodine deficiency, supporting cardiovascular health, and reducing inflammation. They also provide natural pigments with antioxidant properties and non-animal sulphated polysaccharides used in the food industry. Seaweeds have diverse applications, from human food to biofertilizers, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Their rich history of consumption in East Asia has led to growing global popularity due to their nutritional value and flavour-enhancing properties in foods. Seaweed polysaccharides like carrageenan, agar, and alginate offer sustainable, biodegradable solutions for green packaging. Furthermore, seaweeds are a source of bioactive compounds, with over 1200 new marine-derived compounds discovered annually. They have applications in treating neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular conditions, anti-photoaging, and gut microbiota modulation. Seaweeds offer a dual impact on human health, both through direct consumption and as eco-friendly biofertilizers in agriculture. Clinical studies are essential to validate their health benefits and maximize their potential for human well-being.