Seaweed is a high-yield crop, with productivity levels as high as dense terrestrial vegetation. It is the largest aquaculture crop in the world with more than 25 million tonnes of seaweed produced per annum, which is steadily increasing at a rate of 8 percent per year and represents a $US7 billion dollar aquaculture industry.

The versatility of seaweed, and diversity of its uses, is why a multi-faceted approach is so important to the Seaweed Research Group. In addition to seaweed being an important food source for a growing global population, there is also massive scope to increase the commercial side of the industry and to create positive environmental change at a grand scale.

With research focused on developing new avenues for seaweed industry growth in Australia and the Indo-Pacific, the Seaweed Research Group lives and breathes innovation with a demonstrated track record in developing technical solutions and new intellectual property for key industry challenges.

The work and key projects of the group can be broken down into the following disciplines:

• Aquaculture and fisheries
• Environmental science and ecology
• Molecular biology, -omics and natural product chemistry
• Health and nutrition
• Socio-economics and livelihoods
• Business and innovation

The Seaweed Research Group has technical skills and extensive experience in the design and management of land and sea-based farming of seaweed, including the domestication and scale up of native seaweeds under intensive culture, their taxonomy, and the molecular identification of strains. We use sophisticated environmental science and monitoring skills in the ecological assessment of seaweed aquaculture and natural resources in shallow coastal environments. These skills are also complemented by controlled environmental laboratories which explore the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on seaweed production.

Group members in the “omics” team explore the genomic, gene expression and metabolomics of target seaweeds, working hand in hand on the elucidation and quantitation of seaweed natural products in USC’s advanced instrument laboratory.

Research on the biological properties of seaweed products is integrated with assessments of health and nutrition. The group’s work on the nutritional composition of seaweeds through to consumer preferences and consumption patterns is facilitated by its integration of consumer-focused market research and public health nutrition capabilities.

Across the Indo-Pacific, the Seaweed Research Group works with governments on the socio-economic aspects of seaweed production and processing, leading to livelihood benefits for coastal communities. We run workshops and capacity building on innovation and entrepreneurship for developing new products and applications across the entire seaweed value chain.

For more information about the Seaweed Research Group’s projects and capabilities, please contact Nick Paul via email npaul@usc.edu.au.

The Seaweed Research Team comprises over 30 academics, students, and technical staff, renowned for their cross-disciplinary approach. From marine biologists to chemists, each member brings unique expertise, collaborating to unlock the secrets of seaweed resources. Meet the Team.

In Australia and across the globe, the Seaweed Research Group is training the next generation of seaweed researchers. Higher Degree Research (HDR) and Honours students with scholarships
are supported through research programs which are deeply embedded with industry, including targeted USC HDR scholarships, AusAwards and John Allright Fellows (ACIAR).

Interested students are invited to contact the relevant team member listed under Key members.

With a significant track record in translational research with the development of intellectual property and commercialisation, the Seaweed Research Group works closely with businesses on technical R&D at scale to create new opportunities for industry partners.