Seaweed, as a primary producer and carbon sink, is already “saving the world.” Without thoughtful research and regulation around the growing industry of seaweed farming we risk the collapse rather than growth of its ecological capacities. An inclusive, appropriately scaled coastal seaweed industry could significantly benefit our food systems, but the direction of travel of much seaweed-related investment and ‘ blue economy’ sector development is pointing towards corporate, large-scale operations. This session is convened by Greenhorns/Seaweed Commons, a collective of wild harvesters, marine biologists and small scale seaweed mariculturalists who are committed to participating in an inclusive governance of the seaweed commons.  

During this session we will dive into the littoral zone to cover algae 101. We will learn about wild algae forests, the evolutionary history of micro-algae, about the algae blooms caused by nitrogen/phosphorus loading of waterways, about algae as a fertiliser, algae carbon speculation and algae-industrialization for biofuels. We will share information on the global supply chains and seaweed workers, and the concerns about how these production methods will fare in a changing climate.  We will cover the cultural and ecological implications of organic farmers’ use of seaweed-based feed and fertilisers. This panel is for any farmer to gain the algal literacy you’ll need to participate as a confident advocate for rules that protect our oceans and local economies and spur knowledge-sharing between mariculturalists, land farmers and food systems activists and actors.