University of the Philippines Diliman study reveals seaweed as a 'resilient' food solution

More and more studies are coming out that position seaweed as a viable food source for people in the coming years. In particular, a study conducted by the University of the Philippines Diliman Marine Science Institute (UPD MSI) has shown that seaweed can be a food source after a severe nuclear conflict.

The UPD MSI, along with a team of researchers from the Alliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters (ALLFED), Louisiana State University, and the University of Canterbury, recently published a study in the scientific journal Earth's Future that showed seaweed can still be cultivated in tropical oceans even if a nuclear war would block sunlight from reaching the Earth for years. In the model run by the team of researchers, it showed that the scenario lead to “increased vertical mixing and decreased phytoplankton production, providing more nutrients to the seaweed.”

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In a statement sent out by the UPD MSI, the institute said that seaweed can be “quickly scaled up to meet a substantial portion of global food application demand, reaching about 70% within just 7 to 13 months.” While human consumption of seaweed is limited to only 10 to 15 percent because of its high iodine content, seaweed can also be used for animal feed and biofuel.

This isn't the first study to show the viability of seaweed and algae as a food source. Back in July last year, Cambridge University scientists discovered that algae provides the B12 lacking in vegan diets.

The Guardian reports that experiments conducted by the researchers have shown that algae have a “remarkable” ability to accumulate B12, which manufacturers can use to make effective supplements of the vitamin.

Using algae to create these supplements is especially effective for vegans and vegetarians, who will want to take supplements that are naturally sourced. While there are already B12 supplements available in the market, they are either not as effective or not naturally sourced.

Back in 2022, Vincent Doumeizel, a senior advisor of the United Nations (UN) Global Compact and author of the book The Seaweed Revolution, said that seaweed could be the solution to world hunger, as approximately 12,000 known varieties of seaweed are edible and safe to consume.