Seaweed serves as a sustainable and nutritious food source, offering substantial environmental benefits such as carbon capture and habitat restoration, making it a powerful tool to mitigate but also to adapt to climate change. Additionally, the seaweed industry holds considerable economic promise for food and non-food products, particularly coastal communities in developing countries, by creating jobs and fostering inclusive growth. Seaweed can also be cultivated in an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture involving other living marine resources.
Over the past two decades, the global seaweed sector has tripled in size and doubled in value, reaching more than 35 million tonnes (wet weight) in 2022. Today, seaweed represents half of marine aquaculture production by volume, with exports valued at US$1.2 billion. Yet despite this growth, the sector remains under-supported and lacks the coordination, standards and dedicated governance needed to fully deliver on its potential and contribute to SDGs.
At the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), the United Nations Global Seaweed Initiative (UNGSI) was announced by Madagascar, Indonesia and France, with support from UNCTAD, UN Global Compact-the Global Seaweed Coalition, FAO, UNIDO and UNESCO-IOC, alongside private sector, scientific and civil society partners following a recommendation from the 5th United Nations Ocean Forum.
The UNGSI will be launched at UNGA80 in September 2025 by an enlarged coalition of Members States and partners.
Objective
The objective of this event is to explore the multifaceted benefits and opportunities of regenerative and low carbon aquaculture with a focus on seaweed aquaculture. By examining its potential to enhance trade, mitigate and adapt to climate change, bolster food security and circularity, and drive sustainable development, the event aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of seaweed’s role in achieving SDGs 2, 13, 14 and 17.
The event will feature a series of policy makers, UN agencies and scientific expert presentations in the form of interactive panel discussions, highlighting successful case studies and innovative practices from around the world. Participants will gain insights into the latest research, policy frameworks, and market trends driving the seaweed sector.
Expected outcome
The event will allow participants of a better understanding of the potential of multitrophic and circular seaweed cultivation, processing and trade to response to multifaceted food, climate and development challenges that can be replicated and scaled up in a developing country context.