seaweed farming
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Seaweed farms face hurdles in scaling up across the US
The seaweed farming industry, once promising for its climate benefits, now faces declining investment, regulatory gaps and financial strain, threatening its growth in the U.S.
In short:
- Seaweed farming, once a rising sector with climate potential, is suffering from dwindling investment and market instability.
- Major challenges include high startup costs, a lack of federal guidelines and the complexity of large-scale ocean farming.
- U.S. seaweed farmers also face competition from better-funded European and Asian farms, where government support is stronger.
Key quote:
“We are in what I call the ‘valley of disappointment.’”
— Steven Hermans, founder of Phyconomy.
Why this matters:
Seaweed has vast potential for carbon capture, sustainable food production and replacing petroleum-based products. However, without proper investment and regulation, this growing industry may struggle to thrive, limiting its positive environmental impact.
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Watch: Can seaweed be a solution to help curb climate change?
Five years ago, Sam Elsom shocked his friends and family when he quit his job as a fashion designer to set up a seaweed farm in Tasmania, inspired by the potential of a special strain to radically reduce methane emissions in livestock.
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Is there potential for seaweeds to help solve the climate crisis?
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