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Article | REF: BIO9040 V1

Tropical macroalgae: a sustainable resource for the future

Authors: Mayalen ZUBIA, Lydiane MATTIO

Publication date: January 10, 2019

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ABSTRACT

The seaweed industry is expanding rapidly. The largest market is for human food and more than 93% of the production comes from seaweed farming, an activity largely dominated by Asian countries. This article outlines the tropical seaweed sector (market, production and uses) which represent important economic and innovation opportunities. The diversity of tropical seaweeds offers remarkable potential for valorization for the human food and phycocolloid industries, for the health and well-being sector and for sustainable industries. These topics are addressed and illustrated using specific examples.

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AUTHORS

  • Mayalen ZUBIA: Associate Professor University of French Polynesia, UMR-EIO, Faa'a, Tahiti, French Polynesia

  • Lydiane MATTIO: Consultant, Brest, France - Honorary Research Associate University of Cape Town, South Africa

 INTRODUCTION

Today, seaweed is a booming industry, practiced in some fifty countries and accounting for almost 50% of mariculture production, with a growing market making a significant contribution to the blue economy. The largest market for seaweed-based products is the human food sector, with phycocolloids for the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. However, the properties of seaweed are highly diversified, and the potential uses are remarkable, ranging from anticancer and nutraceutical molecules to fertilizers and biofuels, as well as environmental remediation and bioplastics.

Although large-scale seaweed aquaculture and the seaweed industry is a common practice and a valuable source of income in Asia, it is still in its infancy in other parts of the world, and in particular in many tropical countries, which boast a diversity of seaweeds that remains largely untapped. This diversity represents major economic, innovation and sustainable development opportunities, particularly for improving the livelihoods of tropical coastal communities.

This article presents an overview of the current tropical macroalgae industry and explores the trends, challenges and development opportunities for this industry.

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KEYWORDS

Valorization   |   algae   |   Blue Economy   |   Seaweed farming

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