Building a safer seaweed sector
Grantees 2024
Become a member
For generations, seaweed has remained one of the great untapped resources. But a revolution is coming.
The Global Seaweed Coalition is a global partnership established by Lloyd’s Register Foundation in partnership with the UN Global Compact (UNGC) and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) to oversee the safety and sustainability of the seaweed sector as it scales up.
Dollars
Size
In the 10 years to 2015, the annual value of the seaweed market doubled in size.
Times
Our oceans have the potential to produce 15 times more seaweed by 2050.
People
This growth could provide employment for 150 million people around the world.
The world’s fastest growing food production sector
Seaweed is the world’s fastest growing food production sector, with a current annual value of $9bn. In the 10 years to 2015, it doubled in size as the world started to recognise the role seaweed can play in securing food systems for an expanding global population.
This is just the start: our oceans have the potential to produce 15 times more seaweed by 2050, securing employment for millions of people in every continent, absorbing carbon to help fight the climate crisis and providing essential nutrition to meet the needs of the world’s growing population.
But with growth come challenges.
Our objectives
Consumer safety
Defining commonly agreed safety standards for seaweed products used by consumers
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
Ensuring scaled-up production and processing of seaweed is sustainable and restores ecosystems.
OPERATIONAL SAFETY
Ensuring the welfare of workers is protected at every stage of the seaweed value chain
Latest news & events
Seaweeds and Climate: Why do we need a UN Global Seaweed Initiative?
GSC Climate Week event 3:30-5:30 pm EDT, September 22, UNGC Boardroom, New-York Background: Seaweeds help mitigate climate change by absorbing CO2 and nutrients from the ocean, serving as a source material for bioplastics and potentially biofuels that reduce reliance...
Supporting seaweeds and their myriad contributions to advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and beyond
Side-event at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 2025 16 July 2025 09:30 - 11:00 hrs. UNCTAD New York Office New York, United States of America Seaweeds are a powerhouse for advancing multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including...
Madagascar, Indonesia, France, UN entities & Global Seaweed Coalition announce support for the creation of a UN Global Seaweed Initiative at the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference, Nice, France
A coalition of governments, UN entities, and partners has announced the development of a United Nations Global Seaweed Initiative (UNGSI) — a collaborative platform to promote global efforts for safe and sustainable development of the seaweed sector supported by...
La Baleine event at UNOC3: Towards a UN taskforce on seaweed
10 June 2025, 10:15 - 11:15 hrs. Palais des Expositions, Green zone, Nice, France This session details the UN Taskforce on Seaweed - an initiative bringing together partners to unlock the potential of seaweed for sustainable food systems, climate resilience, and...
Shaping a Sustainable Future for Seaweed in a Regenerative Blue Economy
June 7, 11:30am – 1:00pm, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco Seaweed holds immense potential for regenerating the blue economy, contributing to climate resilience, food security and sustainable livelihoods. This event offers a unique opportunity to highlight the untapped...