Japanese demonstrate ecological potential of algae

The algae They are a food basic in Japanbut “kombu”, that the fisherman Ryoichi Kigawa transports in his boat, attracts particular attention thanks to its potential as an organic superculture.

The search for new uses for this marine plant, from sequestering carbon to reducing methane emissions from livestock, is in full swing, with several countries drawing inspiration from Asian experience in algae farming to develop their own industries.

Most of the “kombu” that Kigawa and his colleagues grow in the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo, is processed to be used in broths or salads.

But a part is also destined for the projects of the small company Sachiumi Heroes, whose objective is “preserve the ecosystem and fight against global warming”explains its founder, Tatsunori Tomimoto.

“The Japanese have been consuming seaweed for a long time, but we never seriously thought about growing it from an environmental or ecological point of view”indicates.

He “kombu” tIt takes only four months to harvest. Once uprooted, washed and dried, it is cut and sold.

Studies have shown that algae can enhance plant growth and “kombu” It is used as organic fertilizer.

At his tea plantation near Saitama, north of the capital, Ryutaro Matoba says he is eager to see the benefits on his crops.

“It will be two or three years before we see the effects of the fertilizer of algae in the quality of the tea. But I can already feel the difference to the touch of the ground. It’s less rough.” underlines.

Sachiumi Heroes seaweed is also used by spa establishments or to make bath salts. The company also supplies “kombu” to an aquarium – to feed the sea turtles – and to a cattle farm.

A study carried out in 2021 by the University of California showed that replacing part of the cows’ diet with a type of red algae allowed reducing their methane emissions by more than 80%.

mass farming offshore

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the global seaweed industry doubled between 2005 and 2015.

Most of the production takes place in Asia, especially China and Indonesia, where the algae are farmed on an industrial scale for the manufacture of products such as gels and food thickeners.

According to Henry Alexander, a British researcher who studies these marine plants in Japan, South Korea and Canada, the UK has a “huge potential” to produce algae for human and animal consumption.

In his view, this would reduce pressure on agricultural land and create jobs, while bringing environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration and deacidification of the oceans.

Among the markets there are also carbon offset projects, which take advantage of the ability of algae to rapidly absorb CO2.

Despite the enthusiasm of governments and companies to finance these projects, scientists warn that the oceans may not have enough capacity to remove significant amounts of CO2 from the air.

Rising ocean temperatures have made it more difficult to grow algae in countries like Japan, which are turning to more resistant strains.

For his part, Simon Funge Smith, a senior official in charge of fisheries at the FAO, warns against being too enthusiastic about algae and reminds us of the need to show a little “common sense”.

However, he sees great potential in the mass farming of offshore species and hopes that this area will continue to develop.

“We only grow a handful of species among hundreds of others”notes. “It is an area in which there is a lot of ongoing research and great interest in finding different uses”stands out.

Source: AFP