Our thinking

Seaweed is making waves

22 November, 2024

Seaweed might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to climate solutions, but it’s quickly becoming a frontrunner. Long loved in Asia, this versatile ocean crop is making waves in the UK, but not just as a snack. From fertilisers to animal feed to packaging for fast food, seaweed’s potential is huge.  

Two companies are leading the charge. In Wales, Câr-Y-Môr, the UK’s first community-owned ocean farm, is cultivating seaweed that absorbs carbon as it grows. But that’s not all – when used as a biostimulant for crops, research suggests it can increase resilience to extreme events such as floods and droughts. If you’re not in the market for fertilisers, check out their shop to get your hands on some Kelpchup and Sweet Seaweed Chill sauce. 

Further south, Algapelago is growing a network of seaweed farms – “alga-pelagos” – to unlock seaweed’s potential as a sustainable material for applications in agriculture, skincare, biomaterials and biorefining. Their 120-hectare site in North Devon is the largest kelp cultivator in the UK – and their upcoming products will range from feed additives to raw kelp, as well as important natural capital solutions, such as blue carbon and biodiversity net gain credits.  

Why the excitement? Seaweed farming doesn’t require land or fresh water, making it one of the most sustainable crops out there. By harnessing its potential, companies like Câr-Y- Môr and Algapalego are sequestering carbon, improving the marine environment and providing sustainable products for regenerative agriculture and beyond.  

By Bertie Bateman