24 Modernisation
Seaweed in the service of agriculture
Ar bezhin e servij al labour-douar
Since the 1950s, seaweed has been turned into concentrated extracts used in farming. Rich in nutrients, these biofertilisers stimulate plant growth at every stage — germination, rooting, flowering, harvest — while strengthening the plants’ natural defences against disease. They come as powders, granules, liquid extracts or marine manure to be worked into the soil.
Molecules of the future
Many laboratories study the properties of seaweed: the Station biologique de Roscoff (CNRS / Sorbonne Université), Ifremer and LEMAR in Brest, CEVA at Pleubian, Vegenov at Saint-Pol-de-Léon, the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris, and many others.
Their work leads to concrete applications: biostimulants to improve the growth and resilience of plants, and biodegradable seeding films to replace petroleum-based plastic.
This research is part of a move towards more sustainable agriculture. The main challenge now remains to make these natural solutions more accessible and competitive for large-scale use.