Thank you for your article highlighting the wonders of seaweed as a crop that can be sustainably grown and harvested at sea (Sea-farmed supercrop: how seaweed could transform the way we live, 19 April).
The article used an example from Sweden, but the seaweed industry is already growing at pace around our own shores. The Scottish Association for Marine Science in Oban, an independent marine research laboratory and part of the University of the Highlands and Islands, will help the industry grow with the launch of our Seaweed Academy on 26 April.
The Seaweed Academy, the UK’s first dedicated seaweed industry facility, will use our research knowledge to offer advice to startups, train workers and help businesses develop.
Seaweed farming has a low-carbon footprint, using no fresh water and with minimal land-based infrastructure. Indeed, we have been running trial seaweed farms for more than 10 years.
Globally, the seaweed farming industry has been growing exponentially and is estimated to be worth around $15bn (£12bn) per year. As your article stated, the vast majority of this activity is in Asia. However, there is huge growth potential in Europe, with growing demand for seaweed from gourmet restaurants to livestock feeds. The macroalgae is already used extensively in food ingredients, agriculture, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
We are keen to share the knowledge that we have gained over decades of research in the hope that seaweed can become a thriving industry for coastal communities around the UK.
Prof Nicholas JP Owens
Director, Scottish Association for Marine Science
