Seaweed farming is being hyped as a major weapon in the fight against climate change — as a way to absorb atmospheric carbon, reduce methane emissions from cattle, provide feedstock for biofuels, and feed the world — no fertilizers, fresh water, or even land required.
But as Bridget Huber explains in FERN’s latest story, published with National Geographic, “a growing number of scientists, small-scale harvesters, and environmental groups” say important questions remain unanswered and the rush to build industrial-scale operations risks unintended consequences.
“While the North American seaweed industry remains tiny by global standards — 95 percent of farmed seaweed comes from Asia — it is the fastest-growing type of aquaculture in the U.S.,” Huber writes. “[A] new crop of seaweed startups, many funded by venture capital and tech industry players, is pouring millions into projects using seaweed to mitigate climate change.
“As climate change intensifies, people are panicking,” said Kristen Davis, a professor of civil and environmental engineering and earth system science at UC Irvine. Added to this sense of urgency is a culture clash between scientists and environmentalists who favor a more precautionary approach and the tech industry’s “fake it till you make it” ethos, she said.
“The clock is ticking, and people just want to move really fast.”