Weighing up the wonders of seaweed farming

A superfood, a sustainable source of fuel and an overall environmentally-friendly industry; there's plenty to like about seaweed farming! But following some recent unsuccessful planning applications in the UK, it seems that 'green' credentials alone may not be enough to ensure industry growth. As seaweed farmers grapple with issues of scaling up and cost in the UK and Europe, will the industry ever realise its full potential? And what else should be done to win public approval? In this episode, we unpick these issues and explore the future of seaweed farming with SAMS social scientist Dr Suzi Billing and Rhianna Rees of the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association. The Ocean Explorer podcast is produced by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), an ocean research charity and partner of UHI based in Oban. In each episode, we take a deep dive into marine science topics with SAMS scientists and special guests. Interested in working or studying with us, or helping with our work? Visit www.sams.ac.uk to find out more.