2024: Seaweed for Climate Mitigation / Removing Barriers to Scaling up in Southeast Asia by Improving Macroalgae Quantity and Quality
Seaweed may play a significant role in the transition to a low-carbon economy. It can be converted into products that can sequester carbon directly, such as building materials; biofuels and bioplastics derived from seaweed may be able to substitute for fossil fuel-based products; and seaweed has been shown to directly suppress greenhouse gas emissions when used as a supplement in cattle feed and a soil amendment in rice paddies. Cornell researchers will explore barriers to scaling up seaweed-based products for climate mitigation, particularly at cultivation sites in the Philippines, where seaweed quantity and quality are in rapid decline. Ice-ice disease is a primary cause of this decline, and researchers will work with local collaborators to develop strategies to reduce disease loss, support farmer livelihoods, and increase climate-mitigating products from seaweed.
Investigators: Jenny Goldstein (Cornell CALS/Global Development), Ian Hewson (Cornell CALS/Microbiology)