Growth in commercial seaweed farming could have profound benefits to land use, emissions reduction, water and fertilizer use, the Guardian reports, citing a study led by the University of Queensland. The study found that the inclusion of seaweed as 10% of human diets globally by 2050 would sufficiently reduce the amount of land needed for food by an area twice the size of France.

Where does our region stand? While seaweed cultivation and bioprocessing is still scarce in MENA and GCC areas — valued at nominal USD 28.9 mn in 2022 — Tunis made strides increasing its red seaweed harvest operations in 2021. Further afield, Africa is also eying potential growth in the seaweed production, with one study highlighting the continent’s unlocked potential given its position as the third-largest producer of red seaweed.

Why is this important? Seaweed production does not require arable lands, irrigation, or fertilizers, according to a 2021 study on benefits of seaweed farming in Tunisia, making it a climate-friendly food industry for regional countries battling water scarcity.