The Evolution Road of Seaweed Aquaculture: Cultivation Technologies and the Industry 4.0

Abstract

Seaweeds (marine macroalgae) are autotrophic organisms capable of producing many compounds of interest. For a long time, seaweeds have been seen as a great nutritional resource, primarily in Asian countries to later gain importance in Europe and South America, as well as in North America and Australia. It has been reported that edible seaweeds are rich in proteins, lipids and dietary fibers. Moreover, they have plenty of bioactive molecules that can be applied in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic areas. There are historical registers of harvest and cultivation of seaweeds but with the increment of the studies of seaweeds and their valuable compounds, their aquaculture has increased. The methodology of cultivation varies from onshore to offshore. Seaweeds can also be part of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), which has great opportunities but is also very challenging to the farmers. This multidisciplinary field applied to the seaweed aquaculture is very promising to improve the methods and techniques; this area is developed under the denominated industry 4.0.

On the Health Benefits vs. Risks of Seaweeds and Their Constituents: The Curious Case of the Polymer Paradigm

“…However, for the commodity food sector, there is a need to guarantee similar nutritional values in all supplies, independent of the season. In this context, seaweed cultivation can present a solution for controlling seaweed food safety; this is something in which Asian countries are already well practiced [ 144 , 145 , 146 , 147 , 148 ], and which Western countries need to learn and adapt to.…”

Anti-Photoaging and Potential Skin Health Benefits of Seaweeds

“…With more seaweeds being used because of their anti-photoaging and other potential skin benefit effects, the demand for the use of seaweeds in cosmetic and skincare industries will grow globally. Therefore, the development of sustainable production of seaweed species through aquaculture is required [ 164 ]. To enhance seaweed production, it is important to understand and modify the main parameters that affect their cultivation.…”

Seaweeds’ nutraceutical and biomedical potential in cancer therapy: a concise review

“…Unlike terrestrial plants, they do not have vascular differentiations, seaweeds are distinguished by the coloration presented in thallus, by red (Rhodophyta), green (Chlorophyta), and brown (Phaeophyceae). Therefore, seaweeds live in multifaceted and dynamic aquatic ecosystems, due to a wide range of variations of biotic and abiotic factors during a day and between seasons [13][14][15][16] . This way, seaweeds need to be able to adapt for survival in a constantly shifting ecosystem while also being a target as a primary food source.…”

“…This way, seaweeds need to be able to adapt for survival in a constantly shifting ecosystem while also being a target as a primary food source. The main factors influencing seaweeds are hydration, temperature, salinity, light, pollutants, nutrients availability, and grazing [16][17][18] . The gathering of ecological data by the study of seaweed reactions to mentioned factors is important for biotechnological exploitation of seaweeds as depending on their acclimatization to the surrounding environment, they will produce a specific metabolic response [19][20][21][22] .…”