Through the proposed International Bioeconomy Macroalgae Centre (IBMC), researchers at UC Berkeley will build on current knowledge to develop technology, infrastructure, and policy to support the establishment of the sustainable global seaweed industry.
Interest in the potential of seaweed as a sustainable resource is growing globally, particularly in the US. To this end, the centre seeks to support the developing seaweed industry as it fulfils its broad potential.
“The IBMC’s goal is to harness the biochemical richness, evolutionary significance, favourable physiology, rapid growth, and industrial scale-up potential of seaweed to drive innovation, sustainability and economic development in the global bioeconomy,” said John Coates, director of the EBI, as reported by UC Berkeley News.
“With our expert partner institutions from the U.S., Canada, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom, IBMC will contribute to a sustainable future by offering new opportunities for economic growth while also addressing critical environmental challenges,” he added.
Once operational, research at the IBMC will build upon current knowledge of macroalgae cultivation to increase our understanding of species traits and geographical distributions; desirable properties for breeding and production; and sustainable cultivation, harvesting, and refinery techniques. Other research at the centre will focus on the development of the post-harvest supply chains and policy frameworks.
The centre will also place a significant focus on community engagement and education, whilst also creating the space to learn from Indigenous and coastal communities with knowledge of macroalgae and its cultivation.
“Macroalgae have been managed and valued by coastal communities and Indigenous people since time immemorial as important sources of food and indicators of ecosystem health,” said Dan Okamoto, an assistant professor of integrative biology at UC Berkeley.
“Through this centre we will have opportunities to both serve and learn from our partners from across the Pacific and beyond, including communities, First Nations and Tribes that are key stewards and knowledge holders of marine macroalgae. We aim to help serve their needs and steer the project towards equitable and just outcomes and purposes,” he added.
The funding for the centre comes from the National Science Foundation, along with partner agencies located in the US, Canada, Japan, Finland, the Republic of Korea, and the UK as part of the Global Centres competition – a scheme to fund research centres focussing on overcoming global challenges via the bioeconomy. In total, the competition is granting over $80 million to six research centres, including the IBMC.
