Seaweed Potential as a marine vegetable and other opportunities by Barry Lee January 2008 RIRDC Publication No 08/009 RIRDC Project No CON-9A © 2008 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 1 74151 598 X ISSN 1440-6845 Seaweed: Potential as a marine vegetable and other opportunities Publication No. 08/009 Project No. CON-9A The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication. This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. However, wide dissemination is encouraged. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the RIRDC Publications Manager on phone 02 6271 4186 Researcher Contact Details Barry Lee Connectica International PO Box 294 Gymea Australia 2227 Phone: 0418 230393 Fax: 02 9545 2687 Email: [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6271 4100 Fax: 02 6272 4199 Email: [email protected]. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in January 2008 Printed by Canprint ii Foreword Today in both Asian and western markets, the average consumer unknowingly consumes seaweed-derived products on an almost daily basis. These may range from processed foods, dairy products and cosmetics to garden fertilisers, pharmaceuticals and medicines. With such a breadth of industry applications, this project collates and consolidates information about the world seaweed industry based upon information from the International Seaweed Symposium, Japan (2007) and recent Australian industry research. The report is focussed primarily upon identifying the food research applications for seaweeds and seaweed products, especially those which may be used as marine vegetables. However, this report has also identified other research opportunities or seaweed applications which may provide additional broad benefits for rural Australia. The importance of this report is that it provides baseline statistical and research information for the international and Australian seaweed industry, and identifies the numerous market applications for seaweed products. It will be a useful basis for those contemplating investment or formulating policy and will help to inform RIRDC as it plans its research and development priorities into the future. This project was funded from RIRDC Core Funds which are provided by the Australian Government. This report, an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 1700 research publications, forms part of our Asian Foods R&D program, which aims to support industry in its drive to develop new products and markets and to gain competitive advantage through productivity in, and achieving price premiums for, Australian production. Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online through our website: downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/fullreports/index.html purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/eshop Peter O’Brien Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Acknowledgements Connectica International wishes to acknowledge the assistance and support of the following individuals and organisations with the compilation of this report: Mr Greg Jenkins Challenger TAFA, WA Mr Gavin Partridge Challenger TAFA, WA Mr Bruce Ginbey Challenger TAFA, WA Dr Craig Sanderson Consultant Dr Joe Herbertson Crucible Group (The) Assoc Professor Ravi Fotedar Curtin University Mr Vivek Kumar Curtin University Mr Robert Gott Dept of Primary Industries, Water and Environment Tasmania Mr Andrew Sharman Dept of Primary Industries, Water and Environment Tasmania Mr Paul Garrott Marinova Pty Ltd Dr Helen Fitton Marinova Pty Ltd Mr Derek Cropp Marinova Pty Ltd Professor John West Melbourne University Dr Leon Loftus Melbourne University Professor John Beardall Monash University Professor Michael Borowitzka Murdoch University Dr Geoff Allan NSW Department of Primary Industries Dr Pia Winberg Sustainable Seafood Pty Ltd Dr Gary Ellem University of Newcastle Abbreviations ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics AUSVEG Australian Vegetable and Potato Growers Federation A$ Australian Dollars CSIRO The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation HAL Horticulture Australia Limited IAAS Integrated Agri-Aquaculture Systems IMTA Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture ISS International Seaweed Symposium (Japan 2007) $M $ Million NAC National Aquaculture Council NCEFF National Centre of Excellence for Functional Foods NHMRC National Health and Medical Research Council NSW New South Wales OFA Omega-3 Fatty Acids QLD Queensland RIRDC Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation SA South Australia SARDI South Australian Research and Development Institute US$ United States of America Dollars VIC Victoria WA Western Australia iv Contents Foreword ..............................................................................................................................................iii Acknowledgements.............................................................................................................................. iv Abbreviations....................................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables, Figures and Plates ...................................................................................................... vi Executive Summary ...........................................................................................................................vii What the report is about?..................................................................................................................vii Who is the report targeted at?...........................................................................................................vii Background ......................................................................................................................................vii Aims/Objectives ...............................................................................................................................vii Methods used...................................................................................................................................viii Results/Key findings .......................................................................................................................viii Implications.....................................................................................................................................viii Recommendations ............................................................................................................................xii 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 What’s in a Name – Marine Vegetables? ..................................................................................... 1 1.3 The Consumer Today ................................................................................................................... 1 1.4 Objectives..................................................................................................................................... 2 1.5 Method.......................................................................................................................................... 2 2. Seaweeds and Consumers – An Overview...................................................................................... 3 2.1 What are Seaweeds?..................................................................................................................... 3 2.2 The Global Seaweed Industry ...................................................................................................... 3 2.3 The Australian Seaweed Industry................................................................................................. 4 2.4 Seaweeds and Australian Rural Research ...................................................................................