Leveraging EO 14801 to grow the U.S. seaweed industry

Abstract

Seaweed cultivation has the potential to improve marine ecosystems, aid in climate change mitigation, and increase healthy, low-input food products, as well as creating social and economic benefits for coastal communities. In the U.S., the seaweed industry is growing, but faces stagnation if the many barriers to expansion are not addressed. The challenges to growth include safeguarding marine ecosystems, increasing profitability, building out infrastructure, market creation, ensuring benefits to native and local communities, and funding for continued research in efficacy and safety. In 2022, the Biden Administration issued Executive Order 14801 for Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy. The directive includes goals and funding that align with the needs of a growing sustainable seaweed industry. This policy opportunity should be leveraged by the domestic seaweed industry and those groups trying to expand it to address challenges around infrastructure, research, tools creation, social license, market creation, and technology sharing. This paper shows the precise challenges facing the industry that can be addressed by specific aspects of the Executive Order.