Background
The seaweed industry is witnessing unprecedented growth and transformation, driven by increasing recognition of its economic, environmental, and nutritional benefits and unprecedented global market demand. As a versatile and sustainable marine natural resource, seaweed is integral to various sectors, including food, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels. The FAO GLOBEFISH project is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and the Seaweed Dialogue - provides a timely moment to hold this discussion.
The event will evaluate the status, market dynamics, and future trends of seaweed production and trade, focusing on both food and non-food applications. Furthermore, the recent publication "An Ocean of Opportunities: The Potential of Seaweed to Advance Food, Environmental, and Gender Dimensions of the SDGs", released by UNCTAD, highlights the significant role seaweed can play in achieving sustainable development goals. This publication underscores seaweed's potential to contribute to food security, environmental sustainability, and gender equality, reinforcing the importance of this dialogue.
Objectives:
- Assess the status of the global seaweed industry.
- Explore market dynamics, including demand and supply trends.
- Identify emerging trends and opportunities within the industry.
- Discuss technological advancements driving the growth and sustainability of seaweed products.
- Foster collaboration among stakeholders to promote sustainable practices and innovative solutions in the seaweed sector.
Tentative Programme
Moderator: David Vivas Eugui, Chief of Section a.i., Trade, Environment, Climate Change & Sustainable Development Branch at UNCTAD.
Keynote speaker: Stefania Vannuccini, Senior Fishery Officer, FAO
Panellists:
Food applications:
- Topic: Current market dynamics and consumer demand trends in the seaweed industry.
Speaker: Mr Vincent Doumeizel, Senior Advisor on the Oceans, United Nations Global Compact and Advisor to the Global Seaweed Coalition (online participation) - Topic: Emerging trends and technological advancements shaping the future of seaweed products — multi trophic aquaculture: Seaweed Island.
Speaker: Mr Philip GU, Founder & CEO at Stemcell United Limited.
Non-food applications:
- Topic: Innovative applications in non-food uses of seaweed.
Speaker: Ms Debra Sadranu, Founder of Nama Fiji, Cosmetics (online participation) - Topic: Seaweed as non plastic substitutes.
Speaker: Ms Hoa Doan, Head of Impact and Sustainability, Notpla. - Topic: Developing Sustainable Seaweed Value Chains
Speaker: Mr Nima Bahramalian, Industrial Development Expert, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Interactive Session and Q&A
David Vivas Eugui is Chief (a.i) of the Trade, Environment and Sustainable Development Branch at UNCTAD.
Previously, he was a Senior Economic Affairs Officer in UNCTAD’s Trade Negotiations and Commercial Diplomacy Branch, Deputy Programmes Director at the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), Senior Attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Attaché for Legal Affairs at the Mission of Venezuela to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Staff Attorney at the Venezuelan Institute of Foreign Trade. David is an international expert with more than 20 years of experience on legal and economic issues.
He has worked as an advisor and consultant for various institutions, international and national organizations and has lectured on intellectual property, trade, oceans economy and environmental law at the University of Strasbourg (CEIPI), Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina), Universidad Javeriana (Colombia), Maastricht University (the Netherlands), WIPO Distant Learning Academy, and University of Business and International Studies (Switzerland).
He holds a JD from the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, an LLM from Georgetown University and a Master in Transnational Business from the Universidad Externado de Colombia.
Vincent Doumeizel is Senior Adviser on the oceans to the United Nations Global Compact as well as director of the Food Programme at the Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
A self-described optimist and global citizen, Vincent has in recent years devoted himself to promoting a food revolution and environmental solutions based on sea resources, especially seaweed. Vincent leads the charitable objectives of the Foundation through the funding of innovative projects to drive safety in the food supply chain.
Partnering with the UN, FAO, World Bank, WWF, universities, NGOs and large brands, Vincent released the “Seaweed Manifesto” and now co-leads the Global Seaweed Coalition with the objective to scale up the seaweed industry safely in order to address some of the world’s most important challenges, such as hunger, global warming, pollution and poverty.
Related
Programme
Project
Event
- Side event at UN High Level Political Forum 2024: How seaweed contributes to achieving each of the goals under review
- Speakers’ corner event – An ocean of opportunities: The potential of seaweed to address food security, environmental sustainability, and gender empowerment
