Hi David, I think what you mean is that there is not enough demand in food ingredients in the short term to grow millions of tonnes of seaweeds like they do in Asia. We can all agree. The case that is generally being made is that food is a necessary first step that has both *enough* demand and a high-*enough* price point to move the industry forward far *enough* in terms of infrastructure and efficiency to drive down the costs far enough to make commodities like eg. bioplastics a possibility. Feed additives and biostimulants are the next step on that ladder down towards commodities.
This is a great summary of the situation, Steven. It seems things are destined for slow, steady growth given the interdependence of seed availability, farm capacity, processing capacity, and markets. A rapid expansion of one of these building blocks is possible, but not economical, so all have to grow together.
Not mentioned was the farm leasing conundrum and the logjams that have been experienced in nearly all permitting jurisdictions. In order to expand production, growers may find it easier to amend existing leases rather than establishing new acreage. New farm equipment designs with closely spaced, pretensioned growlines can expand a farm’s potential tenfold while providing reduced capital costs per foot of growline.
I don't see seaweed farming being sustainable as human food ingredient. OK, in Asia. But not here.
Which leaves where will the demand come from? Nutraceuticals, biostimulants, animal feed additives, bioplastics?
Hi David, I think what you mean is that there is not enough demand in food ingredients in the short term to grow millions of tonnes of seaweeds like they do in Asia. We can all agree. The case that is generally being made is that food is a necessary first step that has both *enough* demand and a high-*enough* price point to move the industry forward far *enough* in terms of infrastructure and efficiency to drive down the costs far enough to make commodities like eg. bioplastics a possibility. Feed additives and biostimulants are the next step on that ladder down towards commodities.
This is a great summary of the situation, Steven. It seems things are destined for slow, steady growth given the interdependence of seed availability, farm capacity, processing capacity, and markets. A rapid expansion of one of these building blocks is possible, but not economical, so all have to grow together.
Not mentioned was the farm leasing conundrum and the logjams that have been experienced in nearly all permitting jurisdictions. In order to expand production, growers may find it easier to amend existing leases rather than establishing new acreage. New farm equipment designs with closely spaced, pretensioned growlines can expand a farm’s potential tenfold while providing reduced capital costs per foot of growline.
Thanks, Clifford, great point you made there.