More Seaweed, Less Problems

G'day,

What are your thoughts on seaweed?

Sure, you like it in your California roll. But beyond that...Well, a new research study has made a compelling case for a more seaweed-based world, and it looks kind of interesting. The authors state that increased adoption of seaweed farming, "could prop up food security, provide nutritious ingredients, address biodiversity losses and, crucially, help move away from land-based agriculture."

Why is this all important? Well, mainly because it will reduce our reliance on terrestrial crops and lower global agricultural greenhouse emissions. The study states that there is enough capacity in the ocean for seaweed to make up 10% of humans' diet. If we got up to that level of seaweed consumption, we'd potentially see a reduction of CO2 released in the atmosphere by 2.6 billion tons a year. At present, beyond its obvious applications in sushi and soups, seaweed is used frequently as a stabilizer in plant-based milk products and for giving a smooth and creamy texture to some real dairy products. But there are an increasing number of projects trying to profit on this largely untapped resource, including a company in New Zealand that is attempting to ferment microalgae to create meat-free charcuterie. Not sure we are totally on board with this, but respect the HUSTLE.