Dr Nigel Bradly
CEO, EnviroStrat Ltd, Level 3, 23 Britomart Place, Auckland, New Zealand.
New Zealand has a rapidly evolving seaweed sector with innovation operating at a small scale, constrained by an underdeveloped supply chain and a regulatory framework that is not fit for purpose. A project funded by the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge has developed the framework for a sustainable seaweed sector. Its purpose is to:
guide the development of a thriving, high-value seaweed sector that provides meaningful economic, environmental, social, and cultural benefits.
The project has reviewed the current state of the seaweed sector in three research outputs:
- Stocktake and characterisation of New Zealand’s seaweed sector: market and regulatory focus.
- Species characteristics and Treaty of Waitangi considerations.
- Environmental effects of seaweed wild-harvest and aquaculture.
The research was reviewed with stakeholders and summarised into an overarching framework, incorporating:
- Priority Markets and Value Pathways
- Supply Chain Priorities
- Business Models & Investment
- Sector Development Risks
- Regulatory Priorities
- Knowledge Priorities
- Sector Leadership Priorities
A pragmatic, phased strategy for New Zealand seaweed producers will focus on unmet demand in existing markets, progressively developing higher value products where technology, scale, investment, and intellectual property permit. Priority markets for NZ seaweed product and services include health & beauty; human food; animal feed supplements, biostimulants, and ecosystem services. Each market has product pathways to higher value, and some have significant unmet demand due to seaweed supply chain constraints. Priority local species for supply vary according to the target market. Significant constraints to sector development and responses have been identified for the supply chain and supporting building blocks.