Sustainable Futures Center | ImpacTalk
Note: This article is based on the recording of the ImpacTalk hosted by the Innovation X Hub.
The emerging Blue Economy is reshaping the paradigm of sustainable development, placing oceans and coastal ecosystems at the heart of regenerative economic growth. Among its most underappreciated resources, seaweed stands out as a strategic asset with diverse applications and high value potential.
Recently, the Sustainable Futures Center—one of the impact centers within the Innovation X Hub at Porto Business School—hosted a seminar on “Blue Bioeconomy,” bringing together experts from multiple fields to explore the economic, ecological, and technological value of seaweed. The session showcased both the state of scientific and business advancements and the gap between potential and strategic realisation in Portugal.
A Globally Underestimated Resource
Professor Leonel Pereira from the University of Coimbra, a global authority on seaweed biology, set the stage with a rigorous scientific overview of the biodiversity and functionality of these species. He was followed by Ruben Jorge, CEO of WeDoTech, who presented technological solutions for seaweed valorisation. Their insights converged on a key message: “blue forests”—dense underwater beds of macroalgae—are multifunctional assets with applications far beyond food or fertiliser.
With over 2,000 km of coastline and one of Europe’s largest Exclusive Economic Zones, Portugal has a wealth of natural capital that remains largely untapped. Historically, coastal communities used seaweed (sargassum) as fertiliser—a practice now in decline, ironically at a time when demand for sustainable natural solutions is higher than ever.
Pathways to Economic Valorisation
The versatility of seaweed is remarkable:
– Agriculture: biofertilisers and biostimulants that improve soil health and crop resilience.
– Animal feed: enhanced digestion and reduced methane emissions in ruminants.
– Food industry: from direct consumption—such as nori, kombu, and sea lettuce—to innovative products like seaweed-enriched canned foods (e.g., Triteia).
– Cosmetics and pharmaceuticals: extraction of bioactive compounds such as alginates (E400–405), agar (E406), and carrageenans (E407), valued for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and moisturising properties.
– Construction: innovative materials, including natural insulators made from dried seaweed and carbon-sequestering bricks developed from sargassum.
The concept of a seaweed biorefinery was highlighted as one of the most promising pathways, enabling maximum value extraction from a single resource based on circular and sustainable models.
Ecosystem Services: The Invisible Capital
Beyond industrial applications, blue forests provide high-value ecosystem services: they serve as marine nurseries, filter nutrients, reduce coastal erosion, and play a crucial role in carbon capture. Like terrestrial forests, seaweed absorbs CO₂ through photosynthesis and significantly contributes to global oxygen production—one reason oceans are increasingly referred to as the planet’s true “lungs.”
Barriers to Strategic Valorisation
Despite the recognised potential, the absence of a clear national strategy continues to limit sectoral development. Critical gaps persist:
– Lack of systematic mapping of seaweed beds.
– Fragmented legislative framework and overlapping regulatory responsibilities.
– Absence of incentives and a cohesive public policy vision.
– Lack of regulation for the sustainable management of invasive species such as Rugulopteryx okamurae, whose spread is already affecting the Algarve region.
These weaknesses contribute to seaweed being seen more as an environmental burden than as an economic and ecological opportunity.
Towards a New Approach: The seminar reinforced the urgent need for an ambitious, coordinated vision that fully integrates the Blue Economy through the sustainable valorisation of seaweed. This requires:
– Investment in applied research and knowledge transfer between academia, business, and government.
– Technical training for public administration professionals.
– Creation of economic incentives tied to environmental conservation.
– Support for pilot projects and entrepreneurial initiatives in key sectors.
The Blue Economy is not an abstraction—it is a tangible opportunity to turn Portugal’s coastline into a hub for sustainable innovation, with real impacts on the economy, the environment, and society. Blue forests are ready to become the next chapter in the ecological transition—all that’s missing is the boldness to embed them fully into national development strategies.
