Across the globe, approximately 1.3 billion people depend on livestock for their livelihood, making up 40% of the total agricultural output’s value. At the same time, 1.5 billion cows are raised annually for meat, and there is a significant need to enhance the productivity of livestock production to alleviate economic and food insecurity for people in need.
However, this livestock industry, unfortunately, brings enormous gassy challenges, functioning as a pivotal driver of global warming and climate change. Methane, primarily from a burp, is a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide, and about 15 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions come from this sector. In 2021, Sweden’s agricultural industry produced 3.6 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents of methane and 2.9 million metric tons produced by cattle digestion.
However, research and scientific studies have unveiled the remarkable potentiality of certain seaweed species, primarily the red and brown varieties, to reduce methane emissions when added to livestock feed. Basically, seaweed contains specific compounds, such as bromoform and dibromoacetic acid, which have been shown to inhibit the activity of methane-producing microbes in a cow’s stomach. By interfering with these microbes, seaweed effectively reduces methane production. Scientists have found that as little as 2% of dried seaweed in cows’ diets can cut 95% of their methane emissions, enhancing their digestibility and productivity.
Surprising big data indicates that if just 10 per cent of global ruminant producers adopted this solution as an ingredient to feed their livestock, it would have the same impact on our climate as removing 100 million cars from the world’s roads and potentially increase livestock productivity, creating enough food to feed an additional 23 million people. Besides, methane is better at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, with an atmospheric lifespan of 12 years. So, if we reduce methane emissions now, we can reduce the agricultural industry’s contribution to global warming in the near term.
At present, nearly 97.1% of the world’s supply is derived from offshore and onshore farming, with just 2.9% from wild harvesting, and over the last few years, the global seaweed market has experienced robust growth. In the preceding year, it was valued at about USD 18 billion and projected to be $48 billion by 2030. Currently, China, Indonesia, and the Philippines dominate the global seaweed market, accounting for over 90% of its production, while developed countries are showing notably growing interest and engagement in this industry. They are conducting extensive research and development activities as there are enormous latent potentialities yet to be discovered. Besides, within a very short time, countries like Australia, the USA, New Zealand, Sweden, and Norway will incorporate seaweed into livestock feed as the most environmentally sustainable means to address methane emissions. So, this is undoubtedly proceeding to unleash a vast seaweed market in the upcoming days, whereby, by making well-timed and informed decisions and actions, we can secure a significant portion of it.
As a coastal belt country, the warm and tropical climate of Bangladesh is suitable for seaweed growth. Additionally, the nutrient-rich waters of the Bay of Bengal also support seaweed cultivation. Besides, geographically, Bangladesh has a coastal line of 710 km and covers more than 30% of the total cultivable lands, accommodating around 39 million people. However, unfortunately, right now, about 53% of that area is affected by salinity. Consequently, a significant number of inmates are migrating to non-saline areas due to unemployment, poverty, and food insecurity problems. But by availing ourselves of the opportunity of large-scale seaweed cultivation, we can mitigate these growing economic, social, and environmental challenges, providing sustainable income generation.
Currently, in Bangladesh, there are a few places, namely Saint Martin’s Island, Nuniarchara, Inani Beach, and Reju Khal, engaged in seaweed cultivation and producing about 400 tons of wet-weight seaweed per annum. However, we can have 60 million metric tons of seaweed from every 5,000 square kilometres. Since the sector is struggling with challenges like limited technical expertise, inadequate infrastructure, and the need for better access to seeds and markets, we are failing to exploit our total capacity. Hence, initiatives like quality training programs, research collaborations, and infrastructure development are desperately needed to upscale the industry. In this situation, the government and private sectors should come forward with their visionary plans, policies, and investments to set an example of how coastal communities can harness the potential of their natural resources to create a more resilient and prosperous future.
Author- Golam Rabbani
