New research by Monash University and the University of the Sunshine Coast indicates that while seaweed farming has the potential to be a sustainable industry, Australia must overcome key challenges to compete in the growing global market.
The study, led by Dr Belinda Comerford from the Marine Evolutionary Ecology Research Group at Monash School of Biological Sciences, highlights the need for improvements in farming equipment and cultivation practices to boost commercial viability.
“We have seen global production of algal aquaculture like seaweed increase 4.3 times in the past 20 years,” Dr Comerford said.
“This is an industry with huge potential, and something a country like Australia is well positioned to leverage, with an abundance of coastal land that is suited to seaweed cultivation.”
Seaweed cultivation is seen as a potential contributor to achieving Australia’s net-zero targets, offering a low-resource and low-emission alternative to traditional Western farming practices. The versatile plant has applications in food, pharmaceuticals, building materials, and as an energy source.
Dr Comerford and her team conducted their research at the Bribie Island Research Centre in Queensland, where they studied the growth of seaweed in 1000-litre tanks.
One key finding of the study was that the artificial growing environments did not accurately mimic natural underwater light conditions.
The researchers observed that seaweed in tanks experienced inconsistent exposure to light, affecting growth efficiency.
“What we were able to do was discover just how different the patterns of light exposure between seaweed growing naturally and seaweed growing in our culture tanks were,” Dr Comerford said.
“This is really important because it allows us to provide advice to industry about optimum conditions.”
According to the research, optimising light exposure and stocking density in tanks could enhance yields and improve commercial viability.
The findings could inform best practices and lead to the development of more effective equipment, potentially giving the Australian seaweed industry the boost it needs.
“As with any commercial venture, maximising yields is critical to the viability of the operation, which in turn will help develop and sustain an Australian industry,” Dr Comerford said.
The full study is published in the Journal of Applied Phycology and can be accessed online at doi.org/10.1007/s10811-025-03462-8.
