Kelp’s Potential from an Environmental, Economic, and Ecological Lens

What is Kelp?

Kelp is a type of large, brown seaweed that grows in abundance in cool, coastal waters. Although kelp undergoes photosynthesis to produce energy, it is not to be mistaken for a plant. Instead, it is considered a marine algae. As an algae, kelp provides habitat, food, and shelter to countless biodiverse ecosystems in the oceanic biosphere. Environmentally, they play a crucial role in carbon sequestration, which is the process of capturing atmospheric carbon and storing it naturally, which significantly reduces the effects of climate change. Structurally, they provide support to coastlines, protect nearby land from erosion, and improve water quality (Hall, 2024).

Figure 1. Digit kelp growing in ocean waters of Nova Scotia (New National Blueprint, 2025).

Luckily, kelp grows incredibly fast, some species growing about 1.5-2 feet per day (“Giant Kelp”, 2018). This fast growth rate comes in handy for reducing ocean acidification, which occurs when too much carbon dioxide is dissolved in sea water. Since faster growth can sequester more carbon dioxide, which can acidify the water, kelp is often a tool used to restore pH levels to a more typical range. Kelp also has a unique ability to absorb excess nitrogen and phosphorus, which can prevent rapid population growth of other algae, more formally known as algal blooms (Brisbin, 2023).

Figure 2. Example of what algal blooms look like (Geist, 2018).

Kelp’s Production of Alginate and its Applications

Beyond the ocean, kelp also has various applications in multiple industries. Within the cell walls of algae lies a carbohydrate called alginate, which can be found in countless products ranging from ice cream, toothpaste, paper, lotion, and much more. Alginate has a useful property where it can form a gel-like structure without temperature changes, unlike agar and gelatin, making it increasingly more sought out in manufacturing (Abka-khajouei et al., 2022). Due to its chemical structure, it is also considered a thickening, stabilizing, and emulsifying agent, rendering it particularly useful for culinary (i.e. ice cream and salad dressing), pharmaceutical, and cosmetic goods (i.e. face masks, shampoo, and conditioner). Furthermore, alginate is also bio-compatible, meaning its biodegradability and nontoxicity make it a great option for medical applications like wound healing and drug encapsulation (Gheorghita Puscaselu et al., 2020). Other benefits to using alginate in manufacturing is its cost-effectiveness and renewability as a resource since kelp is relatively abundant.

Figure 3. Dental impressions are an example of a product that is commonly made using alginate, giving it its thick texture (Weichenthal, 2023).

Kelp as an Emerging as a New Crop

Its benefits can be seen both nutritionally and agriculturally. Kelp is considered a superfood, containing nutrients such as iodine, vitamins A, K, and B12, calcium, iron, magnesium, and antioxidants, with proven benefits to thyroid function, immune health, and digestive wellness (Home, n.d.). 

To cultivate plants, kelp meal can also be used as fertilizer or to quicken composting processes. Kelp serves as a biostimulant, meaning it naturally speeds up nutrient absorption and tolerance to abiotic stress; this quality grants it the ability to fertilize crops or stimulate microbial activity during composting (Hageman, 2025). Given all of these benefits, it is no wonder that kelp is emerging as a new crop.

Figure 4. The organization GreenWave, harvests Kelp to be manufactured into fertilizer for crops (Seaweed-Powered Agriculture, n.d.).

Kelp is not just useful in its components, but in its entirety as well, and its value as a crop is currently growing rapidly. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, seaweed farming is one of the fastest growing sectors in aquaculture, with a current value of 6 billion dollars (Kelp Farming, 2025). In Alaska specifically, kelp is inventing an entire new industry of farming (Stopha, n.d.). Kelp has also made leaps in aquaculture, and is a leading example in regenerative farming. To restore ecosystems, farmers have been using kelp to stabilize populations of oysters, clams, and mussels. This 3D ocean farming model, as it is called by its founding organization GreenWave, creates a commensal environment where kelp assist shellfish growth through carbon sequestration and reducing algal booms while shellfish filtering out pollutants, improving water quality for the kelp to grow in (Inletkeeper, 2020).

Environmental Factors to Consider in the Kelp Industry

Kelp is gaining popularity, and with more people knowledgeable about its rapidly growing market, it is important to consider the drawbacks of harvesting large amounts of kelp, specifically its environmental impact. Harvesting kelp has plenty of benefits which have led to new era ocean regenerative agriculture, utilizing its abundance to manufacture products, and using its unique properties to fertilize crops. However, harvesting should still be done moderately and cautiously. Industrial harvesting, or harvesting kelp in large quantities, can disrupt marine habitats, encourage land erosion, and reduce overall biodiversity within ecosystems. And, since kelp is primary producer, an essential resource for many living organisms within an oceanic region, reducing kelp can deplete sea otter, fish, and octopus populations (Araujo et al., 2013). While gaining awareness of how the kelp industry can benefit the environment and contribute to widespread nutrition, it is important to consider the drawbacks of overharvesting, a reminder that even renewable resources should never be exploited.

Key Takeaways

Learning about the kelp industry, the products it's responsible for, and environmental benefits is crucial to realizing its impact in the food science and production world. If kelp is just one example of how we can use natural resources sustainably and innovatively for numerous economic, agricultural, and ecological applications, what other opportunities are there? Being conscious of both the benefits and drawbacks is necessary when considering future plans for harvesting kelp, and the same goes for any industry using natural resources. Kelp demonstrates that it's not primarily about what resources we have, but how we use them responsibly, setting the tone for a brighter, more sustainable world.

References

1. Abka-khajouei, R., Tounsi, L., Shahabi, N., Patel, A. K., Abdelkafi, S., & Michaud, P. (2022). Structures, Properties and Applications of Alginates. Marine Drugs, 20(6), 364. https://doi.org/10.3390/md20060364

2. Araujo, R. M., Bartsch, I., Bekkby, T., Erzini, K., & Sousa-Pinto, I. (2013). What is the impact of kelp forest density and/or area on fisheries? Environmental Evidence, 2(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/2047-2382-2-15

3. Brisbin, M. (2023, September 7). How Fast Does Kelp Grow? How Fast Does Kelp Grow? https://www.veritree.com/post/how-fast-does-kelp-grow

4. Geist, M. E. (2018, May 23). A Growing Epidemic of Toxic Algal Blooms—Great Lakes Now. Great Lakes Now. https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2018/05/23/a-growing-epidemic-of-toxic-algal-blooms/

5. Gheorghita Puscaselu, R., Lobiuc, A., Dimian, M., & Covasa, M. (2020). Alginate: From Food Industry to Biomedical Applications and Management of Metabolic Disorders. Polymers, 12(10), 2417. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12102417

6. Giant kelp switches diet when key nutrient becomes scarce. (2018, June 7). [U.S. National Science Foundation]. https://www.nsf.gov/news/giant-kelp-switches-diet-when-key-nutrient-becomes

7. Hageman, B. (2025, October 9). Kelp Meal Fertilizer: A Boost for Healthy Plant Growth. Grow Organic. https://www.groworganic.com/blogs/articles/kelp-meal-a-sustainable-and-nutritious-way-to-fertilize-your-garden

8. Hall, D. (2024, July). Kelp and Kelp Forests | Smithsonian Ocean. Kelp and Kelp Forests. https://ocean.si.edu/kelp-and-kelp-forests

9. Home. (n.d.). Atlantic Sea Farms. Retrieved March 5, 2026, from https://atlanticseafarms.com/

10. Inletkeeper, C. (2020, December 8). GreenWave’s Regenerative Ocean Farming: A Case Study in Generating Ecosystem Services - Inletkeeper. GreenWave’s Regenerative Ocean Farming: A Case Study in Generating Ecosystem Services. https://inletkeeper.org/regenerative-ocean-farming/

11. Kelp Farming: Ocean Restoration That Pays Coastal Towns. (2025, October 11). Science Array. https://environment.sciencearray.com/kelp-forests-ocean-restoration-coastal-economy

12. Seaweed-Powered Agriculture: Biostimulants Bridge Land and Sea. (n.d.). GreenWave. Retrieved March 5, 2026, from https://www.greenwave.org/blog-who-farms-matters/agrisea-biostimulant

13. Stopha, M. (n.d.). Alaska Kelp Farming, Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Retrieved March 5, 2026, from https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=949

14. Weichenthal, C. (2023, January 25). What is alginate? | maxill. Maxill Dental. https://www.maxill.com/us/blog/post/what-is-alginate-and-how-is-it-used

Thumbnail image: (New National Blueprint, 2025)