A guest blog by Dr Seaweed.

As we launch the full range of seaweed supplements from Dr Seaweed we have a guest blog from Doctor Seaweed® (aka Dr Craig Rose). A marine biologist who is passionate about sharing the health benefits of seaweed. In this blog we focus on their sustainability practices and how they ensure that their harvesting of seaweed doesn’t have a negative impact.

Like any other plant life, seaweed take in carbon and expel oxygen, making it a valuable asset for protecting the environment. However, the environmental impact of seaweed goes much deeper than this. For one thing, seaweed’s exponential growth rate means it can absorb huge quantities of carbon, and research has shown that a kelp forest can absorb as much as 20 times more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than the same area of forest on land[ref]. Research in California has also shown that farming seaweed from a small area on the coast could offset the carbon emissions from the entire states farming industries[i].

When most of us think about farming, we think about it being done on land. And while seaweed farms may not be as commonplace as those on land, they do exist globally – even in the UK. In fact, our very own seaweed is harvested from the pristine waters of the Scottish Outer Hebrides.

There are countless uses for seaweed after harvesting, including in food, skincare and even for medicinal purposes. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, more than 30 million tonnes of seaweed are produced every year, with the industry worth an estimated £5 billion globally[ref].

At Doctor Seaweed’s Weed & Wonderful, we’re proud to be part of the sustainable seaweed revolution and put environmental consideration at the forefront of our seaweed farming process. Our Organic seaweed is sustainably wild harvested around the remote islands of the Scottish Outer Hebrides. These pristine waters are carefully monitored and managed, and our seaweed is carefully dried and milled using proprietary technologies.