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Main findings
Safe and responsible seaweed domestication could lead the path in restoring ocean diversity and sustainably feeding the world. There are many avenues for seaweed to contribute to achieving SDG2 beyond direct human consumption. Seaweed is part of the global ecosystem. It can be used to feed land and ocean animals and participate in the planet’s biodiversity. Seaweed can boost nature-positive food production, advance equitable livelihoods and promote social, gender, and economic equality. Growing seaweed has high potential to help combat climate change. It is a nutritious food source, high in
... Leer máscarbohydrates, necessary minerals, and vitamins. Over 20% of all aquaculture production is seaweed. The seaweed domestication process should be “eco-evolutionary,” using integrated knowledge of ecology and genetics to promote sustainable seaweed production. The future of seaweed domestication should be based on sustainable management practices. Management practices remove competitors and modify species' environments, which maintains the species' evolutionary potential without reducing genetic diversity. Long-term domesticate-domesticator interaction eventually leads to mutualistic coevolution. There is research and development on improving seaweed biomass yield by selective breeding and non-genetic morphology modification. Current research is focused on improving seaweed light harvesting by optimizing the morphogenesis and physiology of the plant. For communities impacted by overfishing, seaweed production could be an alternative. Current seaweed harvesting and cultivation methods are very labor-intensive, inefficient, and low-tech. There is a need for innovative solutions to pull the industry “out of the Stone Age”. Seaweed farming creates jobs for coastal communities, particularly women, advancing social, gender, and economic equality. A transparent seaweed production industry will protect the producer, consumer, and the environment. Climate change poses a growing challenge to native seaweed domestication. High water temperature promotes the growth of diseases and epiphytes. New strains were imported from the Philippines to maintain the seaweed industry in Tanzania. There is limited research on native seaweed strains in Tanzania and the environmental impact of imported strains. There is a lack of seaweed food products in Western markets. The seaweed food market is limited by low shelf-life, low consumer awareness, and acceptance. There is a need to streamline the supply and demand side of seaweed as a sustainable food source. Seaweed domestication needs clear guidelines to avoid genetic and environmental pollution while providing safe, socially, and economically responsible opportunities for the communities. Leer menos
Línea(s) de Acción: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Palabras clave: Data & Evidence, Environment and Climate, Governance, Innovation, Policy, Women & Youth Empowerment