New manifesto outlines vision for future of seaweed industry

Seaweed has the potential to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The Seaweed Manifesto defines a vision for the seaweed industry: an upscaled, responsible and restorative seaweed industry, playing a globally significant role in food security, climate change mitigation, and support to the marine ecosystem, as well as contributing to job creation and poverty alleviation. The document also explores the challenges and barriers for the responsible development of the industry.

The Seaweed Manifesto has been initiated by Lloyd's Register Foundation and the work has been actively supported by the Sustainable Ocean Business Action Platform of the United Nations Global Compact. It is a result of a broad cooperation with invaluable input from several organizations. The collaborative development of the manifesto aims to create increased interest and active contributions to the responsible development of the industry. 

“UN Global Compact’s Action Platform for Sustainable Ocean Business is committed to convene leading actors from business, academia, government institutions to determine how ocean industries can advance progress towards the Global Goals. The untapped potential of the seaweed industry might not be met without new thought-leadership and convening power to improve knowledge and expertise, develop new funding initiatives and influence policy makers and consumers”, said Erik Giercksky, Head of Sustainable Ocean Business at United Nations Global Compact.

Seaweed has the potential to contribute to many of the solutions for a more sustainable world. The manifesto is suggesting concrete initiatives that can bring the seaweed industry forward towards our common vision.

 “The development of this visionary document has been a truly collaborative effort. Lloyd’s Register Foundation will use the manifesto to raise awareness on the seaweed potential applications and convene others around its focus on safety, recognising the need for regulation, certification and standards. The launch of the manifesto marks just the beginning of a journey!” said Vincent Doumeizel, Director Food Programme, Lloyds Register Foundation.

The seaweed manifesto is available online at www.seaweedmanifesto.com, where people also can state their support to the manifesto and our common vision for the seaweed industry.

The manifesto will be launched at Seaweed Day, 4^th of June at 16:00 CET. For more information and to register, please go to: [LINK]