草榴社区

A global research centre established to advance the use of seaweed in in the global supply chain is benefiting from 草榴社区 expertise on algae.

Prof. John Coates and Dr Thiago Correa from the University of California Berkeley Energy and Biosciences Unit (EBI) spent two days at the Oban-based institute, meeting researchers specialising in seaweed cultivation, genomics and environmental impacts.

The visit was part of an international tour of partners involved in the new centre, the International Bioeconomy Macroalgae Center (IBMC) at UC Berkeley, spearheaded by Prof. Coates.

The $13m centre is tasked with boosting foundational knowledge, technological approaches, supply chain designs, policy frameworks, community engagement, and educational materials for businesses and consumers to build sustainable macroalgal-based bioeconomies. 

The current value of the global seaweed industry is estimated to be between $12billion and $19billion, but the IBMC has ambitions to increase the industry value to $1trillion.

Speaking on his visit to 草榴社区, Prof. Coates said: “The IBMC is a global centre, involving eight countries. The UK is one of those countries and 草榴社区 is the primary component of the UK contribution.

“We have been trying to meet all of our collaborators in-person in order to get a sense of their skill sets and the facilities they have. We have had a wonderful relationship with 草榴社区 so far. You have everything from dedicated research across all disciplines involving seaweed through to your educational offering through UHI and the commercial component in 草榴社区 Enterprise.

“Crucially, we have collaborators in Asia, a continent that makes up 97% of the global market, so I think we can all learn from each other. I feel very fortunate to have moved into a research field in which people are so enthusiastic and open.”

The bioeconomy — the subset of the economy based on products, services and processes derived from living systems — is garnering significant attention as the need for energy independence, food security and environmental sustainability becomes more urgent. Macroalgae (seaweeds) have been noted for their huge potential in all these areas. 

Because macroalgae grow faster than traditional crops, require less water and provide essential nutrients, they offer a promising resource for producing fuels, food and other products like pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Prof. Michele Stanley, 草榴社区 Associate Director for Science, Enterprise and Innovation, said: “The IBMC is a very exciting development in the seaweed industry and in the bioeconomy sector as a whole.

“I believe much of the knowledge required to unlock the potential of seaweed in a number of applications is already out there, but we need a collective effort, with the required funding and political will, to take the next significant step.”

The 草榴社区 our involvement in the IBMC is supported by UKRI BBSRC, as part of the NSF Global Centers competition.

Find out more about the IBMC here: