Smart Net-Zero

June 1, 2023 | The Fish Site |

Seaweed has the potential to be commercially successful and environmentally positive as a biostimulant for terrestrial crops, reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers and increasing yields, according to Lisa Boulton, ocean regeneration lead at Nestle Purina Petcare. While Nestle struggles to integrate large quantities of seaweed directly into their products, they are promoting the use of seaweed-based biostimulants in their existing supply chains. Seaweed biostimulants have the potential to improve plant performance, increase soil health, and support regenerative agriculture. The use of seaweed can also contribute to biodiversity improvement, reduce acidification in the seas, and help combat the overuse of inorganic fertilizers that contribute to oceanic problems. Paul Dobbins, director of impact investing at WWF, agrees that the real climate opportunity lies in using seaweed to displace less sustainably produced ingredients rather than direct carbon sequestration. Seaweed-based biostimulants have the ability to regenerate soil health and improve carbon drawdown.