Hidden Champion of the Ocean: Seaweed as a Growth Engine for a Sustainable European Future

As Europe grapples with multiple challenges, including climate change, ocean health, and economic instability, the ambitious European Green Deal aims to build a resilient, sustainable, and equitable Europe. To realize this ambition, novel regenerative industries are needed, with seaweed (macroalgae) emerging as a promising resource. The European seaweed sector, though currently minor, holds the potential to transform into a dynamic and significant industry that offers numerous environmental and social advantages. 

The Seaweed for Europe coalition, established in 2020, is at the forefront of driving this change, with over 40 organizations from across Europe contributing to its mission. The coalition's priority is to raise awareness of seaweed's potential among the right audience, thereby removing existing roadblocks to the industry's growth. The report underscores seaweed's extraordinary potential to contribute to the SDGs and the Paris Agreement while emphasizing the need for sustainability at the industry's core. It outlines key steps to tackle the industry's challenges and promotes sustainable and fair growth.