An $8 million grant program has supported industry to scale up production of the methane-inhibiting seaweed, Asparagopsis.
Methane from livestock digestion accounts for about 71% of Australia's agricultural emissions and 13% of Australia's total emissions, according to the latest National Inventory Report.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Policy Group Deputy Secretary Matt Lowe said Developing Australia's Seaweed Farming Grant Program activities are expected to generate increasing economic returns over the next 30 years.
"It is reducing barriers to investment and supporting research expertise and capability of the nascent Australian seaweed industry," Mr Lowe said.
"The program is rapidly increasing the production of methane-inhibiting seaweed for the benefit of our growers, our consumers, our scientists and researchers and, ultimately, our planet."
The 2-year program has funded:
- The temporary establishment of a National Hatchery Network (NHN) operating out of James Cook University in Queensland and the South Australian Research Development Institute. The NHN refined seaweed-production techniques and published evidence-based guidance on seaweed cultivation, such as a hatchery manual and technical reports.
- Ten research, development and extension projects to accelerate seaweed production. Projects focussed on market analysis and economic modelling, including identifying carbon credits schemes, value-chain innovation, industry governance and the development of online portals and databases to boost connections between industry and researcher organisations.
- Support for the 2025 Seagriculture Asia-Pacific conference hosted by the Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance (ASSA) in Adelaide and an industry-led visit to South Korea's world-class seaweed production facilities last year. Both activities supported Australia's seaweed industry to make valuable international connections with seaweed farmers and researchers to enhance collaboration.
The grant program, which began in June 2023, was delivered by ASSA and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
"The program delivered groundbreaking research and development outcomes and, importantly, built a strong foundation for the seaweed industry that will benefit the economy, climate, farmers and communities across Australia into the future," Mr Lowe said.
