The European seaweed sector transitions from harvesting wild stocks only to harvesting and farming seaweed. This transition comes with the need to rethink the role of the European sector on the global scale; insight is needed into the organization of, and innovation in, the global seaweed value chain. This article presents results from our study on value chains using Gereffi’s conceptual framework. A systematic review of scientific publications published between 2010 and 2020 was executed for five markets: pharmaceuticals, bioplastics, biostimulants, alginate and cosmetics. It is concluded that innovation in the use of seaweed takes place across the globe and thus that a focus on high-value applications alone will not set the nascent European seaweed sector apart from established producing regions such as Asia. The studied global value chains are organised around strong lead firms that require suppliers to produce according to codified product characteristics. The European seaweed sector needs to increase the collaboration and develop joint efforts to develop safe and sustainable products that meet the demands of regulators, lead firms and consumers. Stronger coordination in the value chain will facilitate further business development, by stimulating collaboration and innovations.
Digital library
-
-
Fifteen or twenty years ago, it was easy for pastoralists in Samburu, Kenya, to find water for their Zebu cattle, a livestock breed that has adapted over centuries to the region’s hot temperatures and arid landscape. But today things have changed. Water is increasingly scarce, and in 2010 and 2011 severe drought across eastern Africa killed thousands of animals, including 60 percent of herds in parts of Kenya and Ethiopia. The drought also fueled or intensified conflicts over grazing and water rights between many of the region’s communities.
In Russia, meanwhile, wheat farmers experienced the worst drought in over a century in 2010: one-quarter of the country’s wheat crop was lost, and forest fires raged across more than a million hectares. At the height of the drought, Russia’s then-President Dmitri Medvedev, who previously had voiced skepticism about climate change, urged, “What’s happening with the planet’s climate right now needs to be a wake-up call to all of us.”
-
The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of ultrasound (US), alone or in combination with mild heating and/or EDTA towards reduction of As, Cd, I, and Hg content of Laminaria hyperborea. Concentrations of As, Cd, I, and Hg of 56.29, 0.596, 7340, and <0.01 mg kg−1 of dry weight, respectively, were found in L. hyperborea blades. Treatment with US at 50 ◦C increased approx. 2-fold the amount of As released, although did not affect significantly the content of Cd or I, as compared to control (no US) samples. Reducing the temperature to 8 ◦C significantly decreased the effect of US, but heating at 80 ◦C did not cause a significant effect as compared to treatments at 50 ◦C. On the other hand, treatment with 0.1 N EDTA at 50 ◦C enhanced the percentage of Cd released by approximately 7-fold, regardless of sonication. In the present work, the combination of US and EDTA at 50 ◦C for 5 min led to a significant reduction of the As (32%), Cd (52%) and I (31%) content in L. hyperborea, thus improving the product’s safety for consumers.
-
Inorganic ion compositions in brown algae, with special reference to sulfuric acid ion accumulations
Cellular pH estimated from cell extract pH and the ion compositions of major inorganic ions (Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+,Cl-, Br-, N03-, S042-) were studied by ion chromatography in 61 species of 10 orders (Dictyotales, Desmarestiales, Ectocarpales, Chordariales, Scytosiphonales, Dictyosiphonales, Cutleriales, Sporochnales, Laminariales and Fucales) of Phaeophyceae. Three species in the order Dictyotales, Dictyopteris sp., Spatoglossum solierii (Chauv.) Kiitzing and umaria stipitata Tanaka et K. Nozawa, were newly found to be highly acidic (pH 0.6 and 1.4 within cells), in addition to previously reported dictyotalean species, Dictyopteris latiuscula (Okamura) Okamura, D. prolifera (Okamura) Okamura, D. repens (Okamura) B~rgesen and Spatoglossum crassum J. Tanaka. They all contained high concentrations of S042- perhaps within the vacuoles. Furthermore, Delamarea attanuata (Kjellman) Rosenvinge (Dictyosiphonales) and Thalassiophyllum clathrus (GmeI.) P. et R. (Laminariales) were shown to contain relatively high concentrations of S042- balanced by relatively high concentrations of Ca2+.
-
Derivation of biofuel from microalgae biomass has been widely researched in the past few decades. Microalgae is capable of producing 58,700 litres oil per hectare that can generate 121,104 litres biodiesel per hectare, which seemingly a promising transition over conventional fossil fuels. Nevertheless, economic sustainability of com- mercial scale production of microalgae biomass is still in shadows of doubt, especially the cultivation and harvesting process. Apparently, the microalgae cultivation system has evolved from traditional open pond to various modern photobioreactor (PBR) designs. However, with regards to tubular and flat panel PBRs as the most ubiquitous systems for biofuel production at commercial level, extensive discussion on reactor config- urations and design betterment was presented in this review, along with precise technical comparison on cost and energy requirements for the cultivation systems. This review intended to serve as guideline for long term adoption of these well-established cultivation technologies in biofuel plants given the numerous economic benefits. Besides that, in attempt to lower the harvesting cost, potential use of various waste biomass as bio- flocculants to recover microalgae biomass was introduced in this review. This article also deliberates direction on potential policy interventions to produce microalgae biofuel in a more sustainable and cost-effective manners in near future.
-
Porphyra umbilicalis (laver) belongs to an ancient group of red algae (Bangiophyceae), is harvested for human food, and thrives in the harsh conditions of the upper intertidal zone. Here we present the 87.7-Mbp haploid Porphyra genome (65.8% G + C content, 13,125 gene loci) and elucidate traits that inform our understanding of the biology of red algae as one of the few multicellular eukaryotic lineages. Novel features of the Porphyra genome shared by other red algae relate to the cytoskeleton, calcium signaling, the cell cycle, and stress-tolerance mechanisms including photoprotection. Cytoskeletal motor proteins in Porphyra are restricted to a small set of kinesins that appear to be the only universal cytoskeletal motors within the red algae. Dynein motors are absent, and most red algae, including Porphyra, lack myosin. This surprisingly minimal cytoskeleton offers a potential explanation for why red algal cells and multicellular structures are more limited in size than in most multicellular lineages. Additional discoveries further relating to the stress tolerance of bangiophytes include ancestral enzymes for sulfation of the hydrophilic galactan-rich cell wall, evidence for mannan synthesis that originated before the divergence of green and red algae, and a high capacity for nutrient uptake. Our analyses provide a comprehensive understanding of the red algae, which are both commercially important and have played a major role in the evolution of other algal groups through secondary endosymbioses.
-
Rising global demand for seafood and declining catches have resulted in the volume of mariculture doubling each decade, a growth expected by the FAO to persist in the decades to come. This growth should use technologies with economical and environmental sustainability. Feed accounts for about half the cost in current high-volume fed mono-species aquaculture, mainly fish net pens or shrimp/fish ponds, yet most of this feed becomes waste.
The resulting environmental impact and rising feed costs therefore hamper further growth of such farms. As in certain traditional polyculture schemes, plants can drastically reduce feed use and environmental impact of industrialized mariculture and at the same time add to its income. These nutrient-assimilating photoautotrophic plants use solar energy to turn nutrient-rich effluents into profitable resources. Plants counteract the environmental effects of the heterotrophic fed fish and shrimp and restore water quality.
Today’s integrated intensive aquaculture approaches, developed from traditional extensive polyculture, integrate the culture of fish or shrimp with vegetables, microalgae, shellfish and/or seaweeds. Integrated mariculture can take place in coastal waters or in ponds and can be highly intensified. Today’s technologies are well studied and documented. They are generic, modular and adaptable for several culture combinations of fish, shrimp, shellfish, abalone, sea urchin and several species of commercially important seaweeds and vegetables. A 1-ha land-based integrated seabream–shellfish–seaweed farm can produce 25 tons of fish, 50 tons of bivalves and 30 tons fresh weight of seaweeds annually.
Another farm model can produce in 1 ha 55 tons of seabream or 92 tons of salmon, with 385 or 500 fresh weight of seaweed, respectively, without pollution. Preliminary calculations show a potential for high profitability with large integrated farms. Several freshwater integrated fish–vegetable farms and a couple of modern fish–algae–shellfish/abalone integrated mariculture farms exist today, and several additional farms are planned.
Three major international R&D projects promise to soon expand the horizons of the technology further. Therefore, modern integrated systems in general, and seaweed-based systems in particular, are bound to play a major role in the sustainable expansion of world aquaculture.
-
The sustainable, efficient production of biofuel can lead to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, lowered climate change impact and increased security owing to the fulfilment of global energy demands. Microalgae have been shown as an attractive feedstock for renewable fuel production, such as biodiesel and biogas. To date, more effort has been put towards the production of biodiesel using the lipid contents in algal cells, while less attention has been placed on biogas production through anaerobic digestion. However, anaerobic digestion has the potential to generate energy from waste residues and to mobilize nutrients enabling subsequent recovery and/or recycling. Therefore, anaerobic digestion is an area with strong potential for novel research focusing on the development of a sustainable integrated system of biodiesel and biogas production. The result is essentially a solar power plant, producing fuel with minimal inputs and a closed nutrient loop, a necessity for sustainable and cost-efficient production of biofuel. In this review we discuss relevant studies on biodiesel and biomethane production, including the potential improvements and advantages when using an integrated approach for biodiesel and biogas production with special focus on nutrient recycling.
-
Coastal aquaculture involves the cultivation of marine and brackish water species in ponds, protected Bays, Gulfs and Lagoons. Aquaculture became an important commercial food production since 1960s (Chua, 1986; 1994) and lateer in 1970s the aquaculture transformed rapidly with the success in breeding work of fish, shellfish, seaweed, artificial feed and genetic improvements. In particular Shrimp farming spread far and wide within three decades and became the prime export earning industry in many parts of the World (Liao, 1990). In the last two decades, many intensive aquaculture enterprises have suffered severe losses due to disease outbreaks (ADB and NACA, 1991) due to poor farm management. The quality of aquatic environment began to show a sign of unsustainability in many countries. U$ 1 billion dollar has been lost due to shrimp disease in Asia (FAO and NACA, 1995).
It was reported in many countries like Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, China and India. The environmental impact of aquaculture is becoming a matter of concern in the present scenario due to increase in industrialization, intensified aquaculture development, urbanization, population increase, pollution of coastal water due to sewage-industrial and agricultural waste. Intensification of culture practices has led to environmental deterioration both within the system and in the surrounding areas. The code of conduct for Responsible Fisheries evolved by the Food and Agricultural Organization, Rome in 1995 (FAO, 1995) is adapted by 168 countries including India. India is a signatory to implement many aspects besides the major issues related to aquaculture i.e. assessment for the discharge of effluents, use of drug and chemicals during aquaculture activities. Sustainability has become the major challenge to aquaculture development.
-
The Philippine Biofuels Act of 2006 mandates domestic gasoline blending with bioethanol at a rate of 5% by 2009 and 2010, and 10% by 2011 (by volume). Akin to most biofuel policies, the Act aims to increase fuel supply security, reduce emissions, and stimulate regional development. However, the majority of biofuels blended are imported due to conventional food market demand for biofuel feedstocks, and limited domestic biofuel production capacity. A promising alternative domestic bioethanol feedstock is macroalgae (seaweed) species, of which the Philippines is already a major global commercial producer. The advantages of using particular non-food macroalgae as a bioethanol feedstock include zero competition with agricultural food production, no freshwater requirement, high yields per area, zero fertilizer applications, and the pre-existing markets for bioethanol macroalgae wastes. Adaptation of existing macroalgae farming methods, customized to high-yielding non-food bioethanol precursor species, can enable rapid expansion into industrial-scale biofuel production, far exceeding terrestrial bioethanol yields in terms of per unit area. This work identifi es the regional availability and supply of appropriate macroalgae species suitable for bioethanol production, and explores integrated production synergies and challenges for an environmentally sustainable macroalgae bioethanol industry suitable for a number of Pacifi c island nations.
Pages
Marine Agronomy Group, CAFNRM, UH-Hilo
200 W. Kawili st., HI 96720, USA
Contact: Marine.Agronomy.Group@gmail.com
Funding for this web portal is provided by the World Wildlife Fund and the University of Hawaii-Hilo.