Seaconomy: Integrated Manufacturing and Biorefinery Research for Building the UK's Seaweed Bioeconomy

As a naturally occurring resource around the UK coastline, seaweeds continue to gain recognition both nationally and internationally, as one of the most sustainable and energy efficient feedstocks for use within a circular bioeconomy. Seaweeds are known to contain a wealth of valuable compounds locked up within their structures, for applications in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, food and cosmetics, or conversion into biofuels. This comes at an imminent time of need as we need to find alternative sources, or feedstocks, to replace petrochemically derived materials and fuels in the hope to prevent climate change, and to also create more environmentally friendly chemicals and products. Research has revealed the exciting potential seaweeds have to help tackle some of our current global issues through the development of cascading biorefinery processes which are capable of producing multiple valuable products. However, a number of key challenges still exist which are preventing the scalability and commercialisation of seaweed-based processes and products. In my pioneering research, I have already shown viable processing routes for producing novel bioproducts from seaweed, within a biorefinery concept, and with this Future Leaders Fellowship I will firmly put the seaweed-based circular bioeconomy on the engineering and polical landscape of the UK, and world-wide. To achieve this, I will build upon the seaweed process already established in my research, however with the specific aim of overcoming unique challenges hindering the development of seaweed biorefineries. New approaches of biomanufacturing valuable products, food/feed sources and materials (for bioplastics and natural materials applications) and biofuels from seaweed will be explored. Process waste-stream fractions will also be utilised to minimise waste. Novel reactor devices operating under continuous flow will be built to make the recovery of valuable products, such as polysaccharides, more efficient with potential to be scaled up to industrial level. The environmental impacts and costs of the new processes will be assessed to ensure that the new biomanufacturing processes are sustainable, environmentally friendly, and profitable. Furthermore, strategies will be put in place during this Fellowship to make sure there is public acceptance of seaweed biorefinery research and to promote the potential of building a sustainable UK seaweed industry, particularly within coastal communities. Engagement links with policy makers will also be established to facilitate the alignment of government policy establishing seaweed as UK sustainable resource. With all these ingredients for a circular seaweed bioeconomy addressed, the UK will be ready to make the transition to a greener bioeconomy thanks to research the research proposed in my Fellowship, and the Fellowship will enable me as a woman to become a champion of cutting-edge research for net-zero.