Seaweed is eaten by humans and animals and used in cosmetics, shampoos, toothpastes and health-related products, as well as biomass for fuels. It is both wild-harvested and farmed across the globe.
The annual global seaweed haul is valued at about $6 billion.
Global seaweed production is up from 34.7 thousand tons in 1950 to more than 34.7 million tons today.
Seaweed farming is the fastest-growing sector of US aquaculture with Alaska producing 440 tons in 2021, up from only eighteen tons in 2017.
Seaweed is known for providing iodine to the diet, which benefits thyroid health. But it also has vitamins and minerals like B12 and zinc; disease-fighting carotenoids; antioxidants; and flavonoids that help protect against cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s or dementia.