Livestream Science: Seaweed

Marine biologist Annette Bruhn talks about seaweed below sea level, seaweed forms spectacular underwater forests that are important for marine life and the climate of the globe. New research shows that seaweed can also help solve future challenges in health, food, climate and environment.

Below sea level, seaweed grows in a multitude of different colors, shapes and sizes. The kelp forests that grow along the world's coasts are just as important to marine ecosystems as forests are to life on land. From the poles to the equator, seaweeds provide both food bases and hiding places for countless marine organisms — fish and small animals, for example. At the same time, seaweed contributes to keeping both the marine environment and climate in balance as seaweed absorbs nutrients from seawater, absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere, produces oxygen and counteracts ocean acidification.

Since the dawn of time, people around the globe have exploited seaweed as a resource — for food, feed, fertilizer, gunpowder and materials. In today's world, we face several major challenges — climate crisis, food crisis, biodiversity crisis and a new geopolitical agenda. Seaweed is often mentioned as a solution that can save the world — but can it really be true?

Seaweeds aren't actually plants -- seaweeds are algae. Come and hear what seaweed and algae really are for some creatures. What distinguishes them from plants and animals? And how do you grow seaweed — both in the sea and on land? Also hear about the sustainable solutions seaweed can contribute in the future — both when it comes to climate, biodiversity and the food of the future. And get the chance to taste the future as we dive into the taste universe of seaweed.

Read more about Annette Bruhn
Senior Researcher in Marine Ecology, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University

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