Highlights
- Seaweed production globally has grown rapidly in recent decades.
- Most growth was in Asia, but there have been production increases in Africa and Latin America.
- There is growing attention to the potential for seaweed to provide non-terrestrial nutrients without the need for land, freshwater, or chemicals.
- This paper explores opportunities and challenges relating to the farming and commercialization of seaweed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
- Data gaps and coverage impede a full understanding of trends and patterns in what is produced or consumed .
- There appears to be potential for seaweed-related activities to grow in many coastal LMICs.
- That said, such activities would contribute more to food security through income effects than as inputs to diets
- Seaweed can be a high-value export crop contributing to LMIC food security by increasing export potential and household purchasing power.
Author
Patrick Webb, Natalie Somers, and Shakuntala Thilsted
Date
April 2023
Research Themes
Seaweed
Agriculture
Food
Nutrients
Trade
Climate change
Publisher
Global Food Security
Link
Click here to access the report
Publication Type
Journal Article