Seaweed Farms are Capable of Becoming an Important Biofuel Source in United Kingdom

A new report from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in the UK suggests that seaweed farms could be a vital source for biofuel production.

In the report, seaweed was deemed important since its cultivation does not compete for land and freshwater with crops. Seaweeds possess important qualities for biofuels feedstock such as high productivity, fast growth and high polysaccharide content. Macroalgae could also offer a sink for CO₂, and cultivation and the harvesting of seaweeds could play an important role in reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Although seaweeds have been harvested for food, feed and fertilizers in the UK for centuries, seaweed farming does not have a long history. However, in recent years, there has been increasing interest in seaweed culture, driven by research into algal biofuel technologies.