Launch of the UK Seaweed Network in the Houses of Parliament

By Sophie Wood, Programme Manager, UK Seaweed Network

The UK Seaweed Network is officially up and running! Launched at a Parliamentary Reception in December, the new initiative aims to sustainably accelerate the growth of the seaweed sector across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Network is hosted by Seaweed Scotland (previously Scottish Seaweed Industry Association) to ensure close alignment and collaboration across the UK and to capitalise on the knowledge developed there.

Those in attendance at the launch reflected the mix of organisations that the UK Seaweed Network hopes to bring together - growers, harvesters, processors, retailers, researchers, policymakers and environmental groups – to build momentum for the industry.

Opening Talk by Angus MacDonald MP

The Network’s launch was supported by Angus MacDonald MP, who opened the reception with an inspiring introduction and emphasised the importance of innovation-led growth, particularly for coastal and rural communities. Government support across the whole of the UK is needed in order to address many of the challenges facing the seaweed industry, including fragmented policy and licensing processes, a lack of investment and limited processing infrastructure.

Support from Westminster and the devolved parliaments would also help their own interests given the role that seaweed can play, as part of a broader nature-based approach, in helping to meet the UK’s socio-economic and environmental commitments domestically and under numerous international and UN frameworks such as the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Indeed the Government has previously recognised the importance to the UK of seaweed (macroalgae), expressing support for growth of the industry in policy documents such as the English Aquaculture Strategy.

Panel Session with Emily Kostas (UCL), Martin Sutcliffe (UK Agri-Tech Centre), Francesca Batt (WWF-UK), Jen Reed (UCL)

The current success of companies such as Notpla, winners of the Earthshot prize in 2022, demonstrates that the potential is there and that innovation is a critical piece of the puzzle. The company was represented at the Network’s launch by Humphrey Atkinson, who highlighted that the conditions are ripe for the further development of seaweed in the UK. However, Sarah Hosking from Unilever reminded us that many of the markets the seaweed industry is trying to enter are much further ahead in terms of processing infrastructure and asked how the seaweed economy can be fast-tracked to deliver impact in a short space of time.

I strongly believe that the answer partly lies in collaboration. The UK Seaweed Network provides an opportunity for just that – collaboration and coordinated action, acting as one voice for the industry and supporting it in tackling the barriers that continue to hinder seaweed-based products from entering mainstream markets at scale.

Awareness and acceptance of seaweed across the UK is another of the challenges that the industry currently faces. This is something else that the UK Seaweed Network hopes to address, reminding us of the wide and varied history of seaweed in the UK and demonstrating to the public the many different ways that seaweed is already in our lives (for example, have you eaten yoghurt or ice cream lately? Or used a face

cream? The chances are it had seaweed-derived ingredients in it!).

Workshop 2/5 on the development of the UK Seaweed Network at UCL

What struck me at the launch for the Network was the passion and enthusiasm of many of those I spoke to. Whether they have been harvesting or growing seaweed, creating dyes or seaweed crisps from it or researching the many varieties of seaweed, the nutrients they contain, properties they hold and potential uses they offer, there was a sense of excitement and anticipation. Perhaps that was a reflection of my own feelings. I believe the launch of the UK Seaweed Network marks an important step forward for the industry as a whole: a signal that momentum is building to turn seaweed from an often overlooked natural asset into a cornerstone of the UK’s sustainable future. To borrow a phrase from a renowned colleague, join the seaweed revolution! Visit our website for more information: https://www.ukseaweed.org/

Note: The UK Seaweed Network has been developed in partnership with Seaweed Scotland, WWF-UK, UK Agri-Tech Centre, the Fishmongers' Company, and University College London, bringing together expertise in sustainability, innovation, industry development, and marine science. This has been strengthened by significant funding support from WWF-UK through their ‘Unlocking the Power of Seaweed’ Project, funded by The National Lottery Climate Action Fund, and UCL Innovation & Enterprise.