Kelp's Potential & Benefits - Kelp is a regenerative resource that improves ocean and environmental health [2] - Kelp has versatile uses beyond food, including skin cream, health supplements, fuel, and plastic packaging replacement [2][3] - Kelp farming provides an alternative to commercial fishing, especially in warming ocean regions like the Gulf of Maine [3][4] - Kelp farming creates new market demand, jobs, and income diversification, building resilience against climate change [4] - Kelp absorbs carbon dioxide 20 times more efficiently than land forests and deacidifies oceans [12] - Kelp provides habitat for marine life and protects shorelines [13] US Kelp Industry & Innovation - The US imports 90-95% of its seaweed, missing opportunities for domestic growth [13] - Maine is a leader in US seaweed farming, producing over 1 million pounds (approximately 453,592 kilograms) of kelp commercially in 2024 [16][17] - US companies are receiving federal funding for R&D into green extraction technology to maximize bioactive compounds in kelp for skincare, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical uses [17] - Innovators are creating seaweed-based biomaterials for coatings, packaging, single-use plastic replacements, and fishing gear [19][20] - Kelp farms needed to replace single-use plastics would take up less than 1% of the oceans [21]