Carrageenan is a gelling agent extracted from red seaweeds and it has multiple applications in the food processing and other industries. Increasing demand for carrageenan has led to rapid expansion of carrageenan seaweed (primarily Kappaphycus and Eucheuma) farming in tropical areas. This expansion is expected to continue, but many issues need to be addressed to enable the sector to develop its full potential in contributing towards sustainable livelihoods, human development and social well-being. Including six country case studies and a global synthesis, this document provides a comprehensive and balanced assessment of the economic, social and governance dimensions of carrageenan seaweed farming. Information and insights provided by this document should facilitate evidence-based decision-makings in both the public and private sectors.

This book collates the latest information on Kappaphycus and Eucheuma seaweeds. The edited volume provides an important companion to anyone studying or working with what is the world’s largest cultivated marine plant biomass. The contributing authors have excelled in providing information on production and present and future uses of these carrageenan-bearing seaweeds. Important elements of taxonomy, distribution and methods of cultivation and processing are presented to the reader in an accessible and easily understood format. The book provides a number of valuable opinions on value addition and MUZE technologies which highlight value-chains associated with these important red algae.

The seaweed revolution is a fresh hope for tomorrow. Seaweed develops in water everywhere, from the eternal glaciers to lagoons heated by the sun, from seas saturated with salt to the fresh water of our rivers.

Key Features The most comprehensive resource available on the biodiversity of algal species, their industrial production processes and their use for human consumption in food, health and varied applications. Emphasis on basic and applied research, addressing aspects of scale-up for commercial exploitation for the development of novel phytochemicals (phytochemicals from algae). Addresses the underexplored and underutilized potential of chemicals from marine sources for health benefits. Each chapter, written by expert contributors from around the world, includes a Dictionary of Terms, Key Facts, Summary Points, Figures and Tables, as well as up-to-date references. The second book in this two-volume set explores phycoremedation applications, and the sustainable use of algae for biofuels and other products of economic value. It also looks at aspects such as macro- and micro algal impact on marine ecosystem and remote sensing of algal blooms. The commercial value of chemicals of value to food and health is about $6 billion annually, of which 30 percent relates to micro and macro algal metabolites and products for health food applications. As a whole, the two volumes explore the aspects of diversity of micro and macro algal forms, their traditional uses; their constituents which are of value for food, feed, specialty chemicals, bioactive compounds for novel applications, and bioenergy molecules. Bio-business and the market share of algae-based products are also dealt with, providing global perspectives.

Algae, including seaweeds and microalgae, contribute nearly 30 percent of world aquaculture production (measured in wet weight), primarily from seaweeds. Seaweeds and cmicroalgae generate socio-economic benefits to tens of thousands of households, primarily in coastal communities, including numerous women empowered by seaweed cultivation. Various human health contributions, environmental benefits and ecosystem services of seaweeds and microalgae have drawn increasing attention to untapped potential of seaweed and microalgae cultivation. Highly imbalanced production and consumption across geographic regions implies a great potential in the development of seaweed and microalgae cultivation. Yet joint efforts of governments, the industry, the scientific community, international organizations, civil societies, and other stakeholders or experts are needed to realize the potential. This document examines the status and trends of global algae production with a focus on algae cultivation, recognizes the algae sector’s existing and potential contributions and benefits, highlights a variety of constraints and challenges over the sector’s sustainable development, and discusses lessons learned and way forward to unlock full potential in algae cultivation and FAO’s roles in the process. From a balanced perspective that recognizes not only the potential of algae but also constraints and challenges upon the realization of the potential, information and knowledge provided by this document can facilitate evidence-based policymaking and sector management in algae development at the global, regional and national levels.