A Versatile Natural Product

Seaweed.

As a child my only thought about seaweed was when we went to the beach on the Essex coast and we thought it was something nasty and slimy; to us as kids it spoilt our swimming in the sea and, at times, our enjoyment of playing on the sand.

But now, some 60 years later, I can appreciate what a fantastic product it is. Of course, over those years science has looked closely at seaweed to see what properties it has, and therefore what it can be used for.

My research shows that the UK is way behind some areas of the world when it comes to recognising and utilising the benefits of seaweed.

It is used as a foodstuff for us, as animal feed, fertilizer and is used in the manufacture of cosmetics. It can be used in waste water treatment and is a great substance to capture carbon from the atmosphere. It is becoming more common in the manufacture of clothing and also packaging.

I had no idea it was so versatile until I recently read a brief article about its uses so I decided to investigate further for myself.

I heard about an event dedicated to the stuff – the Wales Seaweed Festival.

At the festival in May, industry experts, conservationists, politicians, investors, educators, fishers, farmers, foodies and the wider community came together to discover the financial and environmental benefits that seaweed has to offer our communities and country as a whole.

There was a chance to visit a seaweed farm, where the product is being commercially grown to be used in various industries such as foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

There was an opportunity to hear about the health benefits of seaweed, and to taste dishes made with it and drinks infused and inspired by it.

There were many ways to learn about its history and its benefits such as coastal walks, boat trips, cooking demonstrations and seminars.

I can see that more festivals are planned around our coastline, in places like Devon and the Isle of Man, and it looks like we’re not the only nation that is holding these festivals.

There are thought to be thousands of species of seaweed; most need an attachment point and so are commonly found in rockpools and on reefs around the coast, but some are free-floating and can grow to 100 metres long.

In terms of seaweed being used in food products, there are many ways it is utilised. East Asia is the most popular area it is consumed in and is found in soups, salads, sushi and omelettes.

In Wales it is used to make laverbread.

Agar is found in red algae and has many uses. It is a jelly-like substance taken from the walls of the algae and can be found in some desserts and confectionery. It is used as a preservative in meat, fish and dairy products and also as a vegan gelatine, a thickener for soups and a clarifying agent in brewing. It can even be used as a laxative.

Seaweeds are used as animal feeds, and have been for centuries in Northern Europe but without any real nutritional benefits. However, adding seaweed to livestock feed can reduce methane emissions from cattle so there is some benefit!

Other uses include fertilizer and compost, and it has been proven to help beach erosion by burying seaweed in sand dunes.

Research is being done to see if seaweed can be converted to bioethanol. If it can, and is harvested considerately, this would be an environmental way to reduce the use of, or replace, fossil fuels.

As seaweed can capture carbon from the atmosphere it needs to be managed properly, but what a great resource for the planet. It is actually carbon negative.

Alginates can be used in many things, such as toothpaste, paints and cosmetics. In industry, it is used in the process of textile printing and paper sizing as well as adhesives dyes and explosives. They are found in wound dressings and have bio-medicinal properties.

Some diet pills use seaweed extract to help expand the stomach to make it feel fuller.

I’ve only scratched the surface here, talking in general terms, there’s much more to the subject than I’ve covered but I have found it fascinating that one product has so many uses.

So not just a nuisance to a kid on a beach!