Chinese researchers maniplate microbes on seawood to develop large-scale seaweed farming

In China, in a study published in the KeAi journal Green Carbon, researchers from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), revealed how manipulating the microscopic life living on seaweed can contribute to developing industrial-scale seaweed farming and boost its potential for fighting climate change.

The research highlights the areas that need to be focused on to overcome current limitations in seaweed microbiome manipulation, such as complete knowledge regarding the total microbiome composition and timing of inoculation.

The researchers propose a framework for future seaweed microbiome manipulation, emphasizing the need for integration of advanced technologies like multi-omics, high-throughput isolation techniques, artificial intelligence-based tools and robust validation.