Algae: The Food of the Future

Global seaweed production and consumption—of which algae are a major component—have risen dramatically over the past several decades. From 1950 to 1980, production grew steadily from 2 million to 4.9 million metric tons.

In recent decades, the sales of algae-related products have surged, increasing by 65% in the last three months alone. Consumption has continued to grow, especially since the year 2000, when both demand and production skyrocketed.

Today, algae consumption is currently growing across sectors—food, pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and beyond. Although algae harvested from wild stocks have shown fluctuations, aquaculture-driven algae production has steadily increased.

Looking ahead, the production of algae is likely to become even more important as nations search for sustainable, nutritious, and scalable food sources. With rising global food demands and climate challenges, algae offers a future-proof solution.