produits de la mer - n°192 - Mai 2019 - 97

an seaweed feed the world ?"
asks dietary sociologist Éric
Birlouez. This is an issue raised
by the population growth
by 2050, but the debate cannot be
resolved immediately. Another prospective analysis, this time on a French scale:
that of the Vigie Alimentation 20162017 study, published by AlimAvenir in
partnership with Futuribles. Identified
as an emerging trend, the consumption
of seaweed by 2030 was the subject
of divided opinions among the experts
interviewed. The main obstacle invoked

France totals about
thirty seaweed
harvesting, farming and
processing companies.

Henri Courtois, directeur général d'Algue Service

La demande
d
progresse

B.V.

was cultural acceptability and the slow
evolution of uses and tastes. This begins
with gastronomy, which is still not very
active in the field. The main challenge
is the productivity of aquaculture farms
in relation to the occupation of a highly
coveted coastal area.
Today, while global macroalgae production amounts to some 30 million tons
per year, 96% of this tonnage comes
from seaweed farming in Asia. Europe's
production, which amounts to around
320,000 tons per year, concentrated
mainly in Norway, France, Denmark and

a fil
filière de la transformation des algues alimentaires a besoin de matière
première sur beaucoup d'espèces : la nori, la dulse, l'ulve, le wakamé...
prem
Certaines
sont assez rares à la cueillette et la tension sur la ressource corCerta
respondante est manifeste. Le marché se développe mais il faut que
res
l'approvisionnement
suive. S'il y a beaucoup de projets d'algoculture,
l'a
il y a encore peu de réalisations. Il faut s'affranchir des questions
d'écloseries,
de captage... et mettre ensuite en place des structures
d
et
e assurer le transfert de R & D. Aujourd'hui, tout le monde avance
un
u peu dans le flou. Mais attention à ne pas aller trop vite. Il faut travailler
sur des espèces stratégiques qui présentent des débouchés,
va
ou bien développer des projets aquacoles visant différents marchés. »

Dossier ❘ ALGUES

Ireland, represents barely 1% of world
quantities. It comes almost entirely from
wild seaweed and generates great economic value. In France, the quantities
produced, mainly in Brittany, exceed
70,000 tons per year. But 90% of them
are kelp harvested by specialised vessels
and used for alginate extraction. Shore
seaweed, collected on the foreshore by
walking harvesters, represent 5,000 tons
per year. As for seaweed farming, done
by about fifteen companies, it totals 150
to 350 tons depending on the year. And
only part of this harvested or farmed seaweed is intended for human consumption. Animal feed, fertilizers, water treatment, cosmetics, nutrition, health...:
outlets are diversified. And if companies
specializing in food and cosmetics are the
most numerous, their activities are often
multiple.
In the end, food processing companies
are still dependent on imports for fresh or
dried raw material. Even if many of them
have settled in Brittany, close to production areas, in order to integrate harvests
or the production of emerging seaweed
farming. Other companies are working
to build partnerships to secure their supplies. This is a prerequisite for the further development of the sector, which, as
proof of its dynamism, is welcoming new
companies. ■

PRODUITS DE LA MER N°192 MAI 2019

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produits de la mer - n°192 - Mai 2019

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