Let's imagine a future where humanity cultivates the riches of the oceans to feed the world, even in times of incredible crises. Seaweed, a versatile aquatic crop, could play a vital role in addressing current sustainability challenges, while offering a solution to potential future threats to global food security, such as sun-blocking volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts or a
nuclear winter
result of nuclear attacks.
It was these scenarios that motivated the Alliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters (ALLFED) and our research partners at the University of Canterbury, Louisiana State University and Diliman University in the Philippines to explore the potential of seaweed as a resilient food source in situations where sunlight is suddenly reduced. We call these “abrupt reduction in sunlight scenarios,” or ERALS. The study, published in the scientific journal
Earth's Future,
identifies algae as a highly adaptable food source, capable of providing essential sustenance for the population, animal food and a source of energy in situations where conventional supplies decline. They could rise not only as a mere temporary solution, but as a sustainable staple.
There are vast ocean areas suitable for rapid expansion of algae cultivation, even under conditions of significantly reduced sunlight.
Although seaweed alone would not cover all nutritional needs, it has the potential to be a primary food option in times of crisis. Other studies have highlighted resilient adaptive foods such as leaf protein, greenhouse crops, and gas and biomass proteins. However, rapidly scaling up production of these emerging technologies in sufficient quantities to prevent global famine would pose a major hurdle, highlighting the need for off-the-shelf, low-tech food solutions. Algae are a promising candidate to fill this gap. They grow fast, are nutritious, and have been highlighted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for decades as a valuable addition to the world's food supply. With the right vision and preparation, it would be possible to rapidly expand seaweed aquaculture when necessary.
In our study, we adopted a two-phase methodology to understand how algae could contribute to the world's diet. First, we worked to predict how algae would grow around the world under the type of conditions that would occur in a scenario of abrupt reduction in sunlight. We then used those growth rates to calculate how fast we could increase algae production. We based our growth model on a species of red algae known for its ability to adapt well to diverse conditions and evaluated the potential for rapid deployment of seaweed farms focusing on rope production, recognizing that it is the fundamental component of seaweed systems. low-tech seaweed cultivation.
The real challenge is how quickly we can build these algae farms
We found that there are vast ocean areas suitable for rapid expansion of algae cultivation, even under conditions of significantly reduced sunlight. Although we cannot live on algae alone, with proper planning and the use of the most fertile areas, algae cultivation could produce the equivalent of 45% of the world's demand for food for human consumption (partly as food, and partly part as feed and biofuel) after an expansion period of only nine months. The real challenge is how quickly we can build these algae farms so that they have a significant impact on the world's food supply. Investing now could be crucial to avoiding global hunger in the face of an abrupt reduction in sunlight.
What is remarkable about algae is that its benefits go beyond possible future solutions, it can also reinforce food security today: algae cultivation offers a simple, versatile and ecosystem-friendly method to efficiently produce nutritious food. Additionally, research suggests that growing algae in optimal ocean zones could help sequester atmospheric carbon, thereby helping to mitigate climate change.
Considering the threat of future crises, investing in infrastructure now is crucial. Improving the resilience of the food system is essential to protect against hunger after a disaster. We must identify and develop resilient foods that can be relied on for years. Therefore, increasing seaweed production could be a game-changer, offering immediate benefits to human and environmental health, while acting as a hedge against the effects of a global food catastrophe.
Algae may not be a panacea, but its potential is evident. By adopting the ancient practice of seaweed harvesting, we could take an important step towards resilience and sustainability in times of uncertainty.