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Species of the genus Ulva are used for human consumption due to their nutritional qualities and we assess a new filamentous species, Ulva tepida. A critical step is to quantify the yield and quality of biomass over multiple harvests to ensure consistency throughout the production cycle. To do this, ropes were seeded with U. tepida and harvested fortnightly over 6 weeks of outdoor cultivation with biomass yield and quality quantified for each harvest. This cycle was repeated a further two times. The yield of biomass was not significantly different between harvests (13.6–23.0 g dry weight (dw) m-1 rope), however, the final harvest was highly variable. Consequently, we recommend a production cycle of two harvests. The quality of biomass, as determined by the key biochemical parameters for these two sequential harvests, was consistent. Carbohydrates were the major component (45 % dw) and were primarily dietary fibre (27 % dw) consisting of insoluble (18 % dw) and soluble (9 % dw, equates to ulvan) fibre, with consistent values between harvests. Protein, as the sum of amino acids (17 % dw), was also consistent between harvests. Similarly, the content of ash (31 % dw) and lipids (3 % dw), as well as the composition of minerals and fatty acids was consistent. These results quantify, for the first time, no negative effects of multiple harvests on the yield and quality of biomass and support this technique to optimise productivity and quality.

An estimated 6% of human greenhouse gas emissions are the result of enteric methane production by cows. Asparagopsis taxiformis, a semi-tropical alga, is one solution. Supplementation of this alga to cows at a small percentage of their daily intake has reduced methane emissions by over 98% in trials. This success has led to multiple commercialization attempts globally, although no Asparagopsis taxiformis company has yet proved its viability. This thesis investigates the commercial viability of factory Asparagopsis taxiformis production, via a case study. The focal firm is Swedish start-up Volta Greentech, the first and only factory-based Asparagopsis taxiformis producers. This work draws on grounded theory and stakeholder theory perspectives to elicit key opportunities and barriers facing the case-study firm. Data was collected from interviews with 26 key external stakeholders and 7 team members, 2 multi-day observations of company operations, a workshop with the team and extensive literature and grey paper review. Three major barriers - production of Asparagopsis taxiformis, risks associated with Asparagopsis taxiformis and competition from other enteric-methane-reducing measures were identified and investigated further. Six short-term opportunities were also identified and investigated. These are political support, celebrity endorsement, a new funding mechanism for the Asparagopsis-taxiformis-fed cow-products, collaboration with other algae experts, symbiotic production mechanisms in the factory and capitalizing on alternative uses of Asparagopsis taxiformis. This investigation concludes that Volta Greentech is a radical and innovative venture, and a useful model for understanding factory produced Asparagopsis taxiformis production. This case is used to highlight how and why support should be provided for such innovative ventures.

With seaweed resources certainly not inferior to those of Japan or any other country, and probably much superior, the United States may be. said practically to ignore these valuable products except at a few points on its extensive coast. Statistics recently gathered give the paltry sum of $35,000 as the value of the marine algre prepared in the United States in one year. The business is practically restricted to Massachusetts, and is addressed to a single species, the "Irish moss" {('hondrux crin- pus). Considerable quantities of seaweeds are used as fertilizer on farms adjacent to the coast, but this is not a commercial enterprise. In Monterey and Santa Barbara counties, Cal., the Chinese fishermen dry certain algse for food, medicine, and fertilizer; in 1899 the quantity prepared was 35,K24 pounds, valued at $896. There is undoubtedly a good opportunity to develop the seaweed industry of every section of the United States coasts, and to establish a profitable trade in the various species and preparations of marine alga? along the new lines indicated in the foregoing paper on the Japanese seaweed industry, as well as by increasing the output of the species already sparingly utilized. To this end the following information and suggestions are offered in regard to some of the useful alga? of the United States.

Rapid and frequent air service to Hawaii has brought about a stronger west- ernization in food choices and food habits than was possible 30 or 40 years ago. The transport of more fresh foods from the Orient is also possible. Western fast- food establishments such as McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken are pa- tronized as heavily as similar places in California. They have nearly entirely replaced "saiinin stands" of pre-World War II where a bowl of noodles and a bamboo stick of barbecued meat could be had quickly. Chinese restaurants are the favorite choice of students in ethnobotany at the University of Hawaii (polls taken in 1976, 1977), but there is no question that a hamburger or hot dog is everyone's favorite food, regardless of ethnic background.