FAO and the Universidad Austral de Chile seek to promote macroalgae cultivation in Latin America

According to the report "The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024," for the first time, aquaculture production of aquatic animals surpassed capture fisheries. The same report indicates that the continued growth of aquaculture must be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, and it must expand in regions with food deficits without compromising the environment.  

In this context, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Aquaculture Institute of the Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh) held a regional meeting entitled "Status and perspectives of macroalgae culture in Latin America (ACUIALGAS)".   

Marine macroalgae aquaculture represents an industrial and food production sector capable of significantly increasing food security, mitigating climate impact, supporting livelihoods, opening business opportunities, and providing valuable ecosystem services.   

This regional meeting was attended by 30 speakers and experts in different aspects of macroalgae aquaculture from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The workshop was led by UACh academics Pedro Murúa and Ana Farias, and FAO Aquaculture Officers Alessandro Lovatelli and José Aguilar Manjarrez.  

The discussion focused on five pillars: the ecological, environmental and biosafety dimension; technological development; social and economic sustainability; consolidation of governance; and the perspective for food and other uses for the countries of the region. Through this, they were able to identify how existing strategies and policies in the region can support their development in Latin America.  

"Now more than ever, there is a global interest in helping the sustainable development of this industry. The meeting generated a series of recommendations to inform the countries so that they know what the experts recommend to guide the necessary actions for its development," said José Aguilar Manjarrez, FAO Aquaculture Officer in Latin America.  

Carlos Molinet, director of the Aquaculture Institute of the Universidad Austral de Chile, highlighted the benefits and uses of algae. "The use of algae in food in Latin America is something ancestral, but for different reasons, it was lost. Now, with the globalization of food, we are rediscovering its consumption. It has been proven that algae are a superfood and beneficial for our health".  

In addition, Molinet highlighted their use as food additives, which is expected to exploit their potential in other high-value industries such as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals over the years.  

The relevance of macroalgae in the global context  

Marine macroalgae aquaculture has recently attracted interest due to its potential to address important environmental, social, and economic challenges.   

Macroalgae are primary producers that offer a crop with a low environmental footprint and a range of ecosystem services. These include absorbing excess nutrients in coastal waters and creating habitats for other marine species.  

In terms of their global activity, they have experienced a marked upward trend in available volumes, with an average annual increase of 5.69 % from 2010 to 2020. However, in this period only 1.4% of the global share of macroalgae landings (capture and cultivation) corresponded to Latin America and the Caribbean, decreasing to 0.1% in the case of cultivation.   

Macroalgae production is well positioned to provide sustainable, equitable, and resilient livelihoods for coastal communities. It can contribute significantly to national and international food supply chains and has the potential to transform global food systems while mitigating the effects of climate change.