The Knowledge and Development Gaps were used to identify the following priorities to address within the next 10 years. Seaweed-based agriculture supplements can reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers and deliver measurable climate and livelihood benefits, but only if scientific, economic, and regulatory foundations are built in sequence. First, R&D must identify and breed seaweed strains whose bioactive compounds demonstrably improve performance for key crops. Optimized, low-carbon extraction methods must then make production commercially viable. Independent LCAs and field-comparison studies must generate the credible evidence base that regulators and buyers require. With that evidence in hand, governments can establish certification standards and financial incentives to lower adoption barriers. Finally, buyers' alliances and farmer literacy programs translate regulatory enablement into sustained market demand — displacing synthetic fertilizers at scale across emerging agricultural markets.

Seaweed-based agriculture supplements can reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers and deliver measurable climate and livelihood benefits, but only if scientific, economic, and regulatory foundations are built in sequence. First, R&D must identify and breed seaweed strains whose bioactive compounds demonstrably improve performance for key crops. Optimized, low-carbon extraction methods must then make production commercially viable. Independent LCAs and field-comparison studies must generate the credible evidence base that regulators and buyers require. With that evidence in hand, governments can establish certification standards and financial incentives to lower adoption barriers. Finally, buyers' alliances and farmer literacy programs translate regulatory enablement into sustained market demand — displacing synthetic fertilizers at scale across emerging agricultural markets.

Goal:

By 2032, seaweed strains are developed to reliably produce high‑quality feedstock tailored to the needs of the world’s top five agricultural crops.

Key Actions

• Employ ‘omics methods to identify and characterize the genetic variation underpinning the compounds desirable for environmental resilience (e.g., disease resistance, temperature/acidification tolerance) and minimal crop-to-wild interactions
• Catalyze and sustain research to identify the most attractive bioactive compounds for seaweed-based agriculture supplement performance and efficacy, curated to different crops
  • Using model species with existing robust scientific literature in their ‘omics characterization (e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana), map out the effects of seaweed bioactive compounds on plant performance across leaves, shoot, fruits, flowers, and roots, characterizing how these compounds change over time before harvest
• Create a bioactive characterization map to provide open-source references for product optimization and innovation

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Federal departments involved in agriculture, seaweed cultivation, and basic R&D funding	Provide capital for R&D to academic researchers and agriculture farmers to explore which species/strains should be prioritized for agricultural supplement development	Existing capacity can facilitate leadership on R&D program development that is specifically tailored to answer Key Actions. Federal governments can also provide funding for basic R&D essential for equitably exploring strain diversity, identifying those most promising for the industries scoped in this road map, and making them accessible to farmers and supplement producers
Supplement Producers	In partnerships with farmers and academic researchers, define target biochemical profiles required for end products Partner with academic researchers to conduct species strain R&D and compensate farmers for their participation in trials	Supplement Producers stand the most to benefit from the outcomes of Key Actions and so should lead on their activation and sustainment
Agriculture farmers and managers	Co-design studies of product inclusion to identify strains and dosage optimal to management needs	Agriculture farmers have the expertise on the needs of their crops and soil, especially how those needs change with crop rotation and seasonality. Therefore, they must be involved to identify desirable species/strains. Given that they are also offering their infrastructure and crops for studies, they should be appropriately compensated for their partnership.
Academic researchers involved in seaweed aquaculture	Lead on R&D for selectively bred or genetically engineered strains to identify those most promising for scaled production	Academic researchers will have the capacity to safely test different strains in lab and mesocosm studies and transparently share the results of their efforts

Goal:

By 2032, seaweed strains are developed to reliably produce high‑quality feedstock tailored to the needs of the world’s top five agricultural crops.

Key Actions

• Employ ‘omics methods to identify and characterize the genetic variation underpinning the compounds desirable for environmental resilience (e.g., disease resistance, temperature/acidification tolerance) and minimal crop-to-wild interactions
• Catalyze and sustain research to identify the most attractive bioactive compounds for seaweed-based agriculture supplement performance and efficacy, curated to different crops
  • Using model species with existing robust scientific literature in their ‘omics characterization (e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana), map out the effects of seaweed bioactive compounds on plant performance across leaves, shoot, fruits, flowers, and roots, characterizing how these compounds change over time before harvest
• Create a bioactive characterization map to provide open-source references for product optimization and innovation

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Federal departments involved in agriculture, seaweed cultivation, and basic R&D funding	Provide capital for R&D to academic researchers and agriculture farmers to explore which species/strains should be prioritized for agricultural supplement development	Existing capacity can facilitate leadership on R&D program development that is specifically tailored to answer Key Actions. Federal governments can also provide funding for basic R&D essential for equitably exploring strain diversity, identifying those most promising for the industries scoped in this road map, and making them accessible to farmers and supplement producers
Supplement Producers	In partnerships with farmers and academic researchers, define target biochemical profiles required for end products Partner with academic researchers to conduct species strain R&D and compensate farmers for their participation in trials	Supplement Producers stand the most to benefit from the outcomes of Key Actions and so should lead on their activation and sustainment
Agriculture farmers and managers	Co-design studies of product inclusion to identify strains and dosage optimal to management needs	Agriculture farmers have the expertise on the needs of their crops and soil, especially how those needs change with crop rotation and seasonality. Therefore, they must be involved to identify desirable species/strains. Given that they are also offering their infrastructure and crops for studies, they should be appropriately compensated for their partnership.
Academic researchers involved in seaweed aquaculture	Lead on R&D for selectively bred or genetically engineered strains to identify those most promising for scaled production	Academic researchers will have the capacity to safely test different strains in lab and mesocosm studies and transparently share the results of their efforts

Goal:

By 2032, seaweed strains are developed to reliably produce high‑quality feedstock tailored to the needs of the world’s top five agricultural crops.

Key Actions

• Employ ‘omics methods to identify and characterize the genetic variation underpinning the compounds desirable for environmental resilience (e.g., disease resistance, temperature/acidification tolerance) and minimal crop-to-wild interactions
• Catalyze and sustain research to identify the most attractive bioactive compounds for seaweed-based agriculture supplement performance and efficacy, curated to different crops
  • Using model species with existing robust scientific literature in their ‘omics characterization (e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana), map out the effects of seaweed bioactive compounds on plant performance across leaves, shoot, fruits, flowers, and roots, characterizing how these compounds change over time before harvest
• Create a bioactive characterization map to provide open-source references for product optimization and innovation

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Federal departments involved in agriculture, seaweed cultivation, and basic R&D funding	Provide capital for R&D to academic researchers and agriculture farmers to explore which species/strains should be prioritized for agricultural supplement development	Existing capacity can facilitate leadership on R&D program development that is specifically tailored to answer Key Actions. Federal governments can also provide funding for basic R&D essential for equitably exploring strain diversity, identifying those most promising for the industries scoped in this road map, and making them accessible to farmers and supplement producers
Supplement Producers	In partnerships with farmers and academic researchers, define target biochemical profiles required for end products Partner with academic researchers to conduct species strain R&D and compensate farmers for their participation in trials	Supplement Producers stand the most to benefit from the outcomes of Key Actions and so should lead on their activation and sustainment
Agriculture farmers and managers	Co-design studies of product inclusion to identify strains and dosage optimal to management needs	Agriculture farmers have the expertise on the needs of their crops and soil, especially how those needs change with crop rotation and seasonality. Therefore, they must be involved to identify desirable species/strains. Given that they are also offering their infrastructure and crops for studies, they should be appropriately compensated for their partnership.
Academic researchers involved in seaweed aquaculture	Lead on R&D for selectively bred or genetically engineered strains to identify those most promising for scaled production	Academic researchers will have the capacity to safely test different strains in lab and mesocosm studies and transparently share the results of their efforts

Goal:

By 2032, seaweed strains are developed to reliably produce high‑quality feedstock tailored to the needs of the world’s top five agricultural crops.

Key Actions

• Employ ‘omics methods to identify and characterize the genetic variation underpinning the compounds desirable for environmental resilience (e.g., disease resistance, temperature/acidification tolerance) and minimal crop-to-wild interactions
• Catalyze and sustain research to identify the most attractive bioactive compounds for seaweed-based agriculture supplement performance and efficacy, curated to different crops
  • Using model species with existing robust scientific literature in their ‘omics characterization (e.g., Arabidopsis thaliana), map out the effects of seaweed bioactive compounds on plant performance across leaves, shoot, fruits, flowers, and roots, characterizing how these compounds change over time before harvest
• Create a bioactive characterization map to provide open-source references for product optimization and innovation

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Federal departments involved in agriculture, seaweed cultivation, and basic R&D funding	Provide capital for R&D to academic researchers and agriculture farmers to explore which species/strains should be prioritized for agricultural supplement development	Existing capacity can facilitate leadership on R&D program development that is specifically tailored to answer Key Actions. Federal governments can also provide funding for basic R&D essential for equitably exploring strain diversity, identifying those most promising for the industries scoped in this road map, and making them accessible to farmers and supplement producers
Supplement Producers	In partnerships with farmers and academic researchers, define target biochemical profiles required for end products Partner with academic researchers to conduct species strain R&D and compensate farmers for their participation in trials	Supplement Producers stand the most to benefit from the outcomes of Key Actions and so should lead on their activation and sustainment
Agriculture farmers and managers	Co-design studies of product inclusion to identify strains and dosage optimal to management needs	Agriculture farmers have the expertise on the needs of their crops and soil, especially how those needs change with crop rotation and seasonality. Therefore, they must be involved to identify desirable species/strains. Given that they are also offering their infrastructure and crops for studies, they should be appropriately compensated for their partnership.
Academic researchers involved in seaweed aquaculture	Lead on R&D for selectively bred or genetically engineered strains to identify those most promising for scaled production	Academic researchers will have the capacity to safely test different strains in lab and mesocosm studies and transparently share the results of their efforts

Goal:

By 2032, at least two low-carbon extraction methods have been demonstrated at commercial pilot scale to increase yield by ≥ 40% with a reduced carbon footprint and cost of production.

Key Actions

• Conduct R&D to test and scale up alternate conversion methods (MAE, UAE, EAE) to increase liquid extraction yield by at least 40% at equal or less cost than conventional commercial methods
• Explore integration with cascading biorefineries
  • Explore the possibility of co-extraction methods with existing seaweed processing industries (e.g., pharmaceutical industry partners who already extract polysaccharides for algin, etc.)
• Assess the efficacy of waste valorization workstreams to isolate desired seaweed compounds for supplement production

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Incumbent (non-seaweed) fertilizer companies	Partner with Seaweed Processors to share conversion and stabilization technologies for testing blended products and cascading biorefinery methods	Incumbent fertilizer companies hold the infrastructure for testing product conversion at scale. R&D into blended products could improve product stability with the co-benefit of less reliance on synthetic fertilizer production.
Federal departments involved in agriculture and basic R&D funding	Provide funding grants specifically catered to engineering and innovation for seaweed extraction methodologies	A federal funding program track tailored to this task can ensure a diverse R&D portfolio to study multiple pathways and accelerate the field. Federal funders can also support more early-stage innovation, taking on more science and technology risks.
Private/philanthropic funding organizations	Provide funding grants specifically catered to engineering and innovation for seaweed extraction methodologies	Philanthropic funding can provide critical capital to accelerate R&D for one or more of the key actions that unlocks climate impacts.
Existing seaweed processing companies and incumbent fertilizer companies	In collaboration with academic researchers, test and standardize energy-efficient conversion technologies and explore integration with cascading biorefinery systems	Existing seaweed processing companies have the infrastructure, capacity, and expertise to test different types of processing workstreams, including cascading biorefineries. They can help identify the efficacy of promising extraction methodologies and feasibility at scale.
Supplement Producers	In collaboration with Seaweed Processors, academic researchers, and Agriculture Farmers, validate if and how low-carbon processing techniques impact product performance and/or stability	Supplement producers have the infrastructure, expertise, and incentive to explore R&D innovations that lower their operational costs, gain competitive advantage through new innovations and increase demand for their services. Therefore, they should lead R&D project planning.

Goal:

By 2032, at least two low-carbon extraction methods have been demonstrated at commercial pilot scale to increase yield by ≥ 40% with a reduced carbon footprint and cost of production.

Key Actions

• Conduct R&D to test and scale up alternate conversion methods (MAE, UAE, EAE) to increase liquid extraction yield by at least 40% at equal or less cost than conventional commercial methods
• Explore integration with cascading biorefineries
  • Explore the possibility of co-extraction methods with existing seaweed processing industries (e.g., pharmaceutical industry partners who already extract polysaccharides for algin, etc.)
• Assess the efficacy of waste valorization workstreams to isolate desired seaweed compounds for supplement production

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Incumbent (non-seaweed) fertilizer companies	Partner with Seaweed Processors to share conversion and stabilization technologies for testing blended products and cascading biorefinery methods	Incumbent fertilizer companies hold the infrastructure for testing product conversion at scale. R&D into blended products could improve product stability with the co-benefit of less reliance on synthetic fertilizer production.
Federal departments involved in agriculture and basic R&D funding	Provide funding grants specifically catered to engineering and innovation for seaweed extraction methodologies	A federal funding program track tailored to this task can ensure a diverse R&D portfolio to study multiple pathways and accelerate the field. Federal funders can also support more early-stage innovation, taking on more science and technology risks.
Private/philanthropic funding organizations	Provide funding grants specifically catered to engineering and innovation for seaweed extraction methodologies	Philanthropic funding can provide critical capital to accelerate R&D for one or more of the key actions that unlocks climate impacts.
Existing seaweed processing companies and incumbent fertilizer companies	In collaboration with academic researchers, test and standardize energy-efficient conversion technologies and explore integration with cascading biorefinery systems	Existing seaweed processing companies have the infrastructure, capacity, and expertise to test different types of processing workstreams, including cascading biorefineries. They can help identify the efficacy of promising extraction methodologies and feasibility at scale.
Supplement Producers	In collaboration with Seaweed Processors, academic researchers, and Agriculture Farmers, validate if and how low-carbon processing techniques impact product performance and/or stability	Supplement producers have the infrastructure, expertise, and incentive to explore R&D innovations that lower their operational costs, gain competitive advantage through new innovations and increase demand for their services. Therefore, they should lead R&D project planning.

Goal:

By 2032, at least two low-carbon extraction methods have been demonstrated at commercial pilot scale to increase yield by ≥ 40% with a reduced carbon footprint and cost of production.

Key Actions

• Conduct R&D to test and scale up alternate conversion methods (MAE, UAE, EAE) to increase liquid extraction yield by at least 40% at equal or less cost than conventional commercial methods
• Explore integration with cascading biorefineries
  • Explore the possibility of co-extraction methods with existing seaweed processing industries (e.g., pharmaceutical industry partners who already extract polysaccharides for algin, etc.)
• Assess the efficacy of waste valorization workstreams to isolate desired seaweed compounds for supplement production

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Incumbent (non-seaweed) fertilizer companies	Partner with Seaweed Processors to share conversion and stabilization technologies for testing blended products and cascading biorefinery methods	Incumbent fertilizer companies hold the infrastructure for testing product conversion at scale. R&D into blended products could improve product stability with the co-benefit of less reliance on synthetic fertilizer production.
Federal departments involved in agriculture and basic R&D funding	Provide funding grants specifically catered to engineering and innovation for seaweed extraction methodologies	A federal funding program track tailored to this task can ensure a diverse R&D portfolio to study multiple pathways and accelerate the field. Federal funders can also support more early-stage innovation, taking on more science and technology risks.
Private/philanthropic funding organizations	Provide funding grants specifically catered to engineering and innovation for seaweed extraction methodologies	Philanthropic funding can provide critical capital to accelerate R&D for one or more of the key actions that unlocks climate impacts.
Existing seaweed processing companies and incumbent fertilizer companies	In collaboration with academic researchers, test and standardize energy-efficient conversion technologies and explore integration with cascading biorefinery systems	Existing seaweed processing companies have the infrastructure, capacity, and expertise to test different types of processing workstreams, including cascading biorefineries. They can help identify the efficacy of promising extraction methodologies and feasibility at scale.
Supplement Producers	In collaboration with Seaweed Processors, academic researchers, and Agriculture Farmers, validate if and how low-carbon processing techniques impact product performance and/or stability	Supplement producers have the infrastructure, expertise, and incentive to explore R&D innovations that lower their operational costs, gain competitive advantage through new innovations and increase demand for their services. Therefore, they should lead R&D project planning.

Goal:

By 2030, the top five agriculture crops in the world have at least one commercial-scale direct-comparison study comparing seaweed-based agriculture supplements and conventional synthetic fertilizers in product performance, cost, and environmental impact.

Key Actions

• Develop end-to-end LCAs to demonstrate the mitigation potential of seaweed-based agriculture supplement production and use

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Environmental non-government organizations and academic researchers	Conduct independent lifecycle analyses and cost-benefit analyses to quantify the economic and environmental footprint of seaweed-based animal feed/feed additives compared to high-carbon competitors, with estimates for what this means at scale	Environmental non-government organizations and academic researchers can act as a third-party in assessing end-to-end cost and benefits of using seaweed-based products over conventional ones. This can inform farmers and top-down decisionmakers if/how to adopt seaweed-based products.

Goal:

By 2030, the top five agriculture crops in the world have at least one commercial-scale direct-comparison study comparing seaweed-based agriculture supplements and conventional synthetic fertilizers in product performance, cost, and environmental impact.

Key Actions

• Develop end-to-end LCAs to demonstrate the mitigation potential of seaweed-based agriculture supplement production and use

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Environmental non-government organizations and academic researchers	Conduct independent lifecycle analyses and cost-benefit analyses to quantify the economic and environmental footprint of seaweed-based animal feed/feed additives compared to high-carbon competitors, with estimates for what this means at scale	Environmental non-government organizations and academic researchers can act as a third-party in assessing end-to-end cost and benefits of using seaweed-based products over conventional ones. This can inform farmers and top-down decisionmakers if/how to adopt seaweed-based products.

Goal:

By 2034, standardized assessments of seaweed agriculture supplements, including their biochemical and functional definitions, are developed in at least three major geographies to enable use on the world’s top five crops.

Key Actions

• Create a simplified permitting structure to enable more entrants into the market and accelerate seaweed-based agriculture supplement R&D
• Develop standardized testing and certification methods for seaweed-based agriculture supplements to demonstrate product performance and build market trust

Goal:

By 2035, passive and active incentive programs are established in at least three major geographies to encourage adoption of seaweed-based agriculture supplements for commercial-scale agriculture.

Key Actions

• Provide financial incentives for terrestrial agriculture farmers and managers to adopt usage of seaweed-based agriculture supplements into their operational practices
• Establish and maintain a publicly accessible database for certified seaweed-based agriculture supplements, including standardized reporting of GHG emissions and product performance to ensure compatibility and compliance with regional regulations

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Government regulators in charge of agriculture financing	In collaboration with agriculture farmers and managers, processors, and product producers and users, draft regulations that incentivize use of supplements or reward use of supplements (e.g., subsidies or green-credit mechanisms to encourage seaweed-based agriculture supplement use in place of conventional synthetic fertilizers) Develop a publicly accessible database for certified seaweed-based agriculture supplements Develop communications campaigns to build regulatory literacy and buy-in	They are the primary actors in developing permitting and certification standards and funding actors in the agriculture supplement development and use space As primary actors, they should also develop ways to build awareness and literacy of new standards and their rationale

Goal:

By 2034, standardized assessments of seaweed agriculture supplements, including their biochemical and functional definitions, are developed in at least three major geographies to enable use on the world’s top five crops.

Key Actions

• Create a simplified permitting structure to enable more entrants into the market and accelerate seaweed-based agriculture supplement R&D
• Develop standardized testing and certification methods for seaweed-based agriculture supplements to demonstrate product performance and build market trust

Goal:

By 2035, passive and active incentive programs are established in at least three major geographies to encourage adoption of seaweed-based agriculture supplements for commercial-scale agriculture.

Key Actions

• Provide financial incentives for terrestrial agriculture farmers and managers to adopt usage of seaweed-based agriculture supplements into their operational practices
• Establish and maintain a publicly accessible database for certified seaweed-based agriculture supplements, including standardized reporting of GHG emissions and product performance to ensure compatibility and compliance with regional regulations

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Government regulators in charge of agriculture financing	In collaboration with agriculture farmers and managers, processors, and product producers and users, draft regulations that incentivize use of supplements or reward use of supplements (e.g., subsidies or green-credit mechanisms to encourage seaweed-based agriculture supplement use in place of conventional synthetic fertilizers) Develop a publicly accessible database for certified seaweed-based agriculture supplements Develop communications campaigns to build regulatory literacy and buy-in	They are the primary actors in developing permitting and certification standards and funding actors in the agriculture supplement development and use space As primary actors, they should also develop ways to build awareness and literacy of new standards and their rationale

Goal:

By 2034, standardized assessments of seaweed agriculture supplements, including their biochemical and functional definitions, are developed in at least three major geographies to enable use on the world’s top five crops.

Key Actions

• Create a simplified permitting structure to enable more entrants into the market and accelerate seaweed-based agriculture supplement R&D
• Develop standardized testing and certification methods for seaweed-based agriculture supplements to demonstrate product performance and build market trust

Goal:

By 2035, passive and active incentive programs are established in at least three major geographies to encourage adoption of seaweed-based agriculture supplements for commercial-scale agriculture.

Key Actions

• Provide financial incentives for terrestrial agriculture farmers and managers to adopt usage of seaweed-based agriculture supplements into their operational practices
• Establish and maintain a publicly accessible database for certified seaweed-based agriculture supplements, including standardized reporting of GHG emissions and product performance to ensure compatibility and compliance with regional regulations

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Government regulators in charge of agriculture financing	In collaboration with agriculture farmers and managers, processors, and product producers and users, draft regulations that incentivize use of supplements or reward use of supplements (e.g., subsidies or green-credit mechanisms to encourage seaweed-based agriculture supplement use in place of conventional synthetic fertilizers) Develop a publicly accessible database for certified seaweed-based agriculture supplements Develop communications campaigns to build regulatory literacy and buy-in	They are the primary actors in developing permitting and certification standards and funding actors in the agriculture supplement development and use space As primary actors, they should also develop ways to build awareness and literacy of new standards and their rationale

Goal: By 2034, standardized assessments of seaweed agriculture supplements, including their biochemical and functional definitions, are developed in at least three major geographies to enable use on the world’s top five crops. Key Actions

• Create a simplified permitting structure to enable more entrants into the market and accelerate seaweed-based agriculture supplement R&D
• Develop standardized testing and certification methods for seaweed-based agriculture supplements to demonstrate product performance and build market trust

Goal: By 2035, passive and active incentive programs are established in at least three major geographies to encourage adoption of seaweed-based agriculture supplements for commercial-scale agriculture. Key Actions

• Provide financial incentives for terrestrial agriculture farmers and managers to adopt usage of seaweed-based agriculture supplements into their operational practices
• Establish and maintain a publicly accessible database for certified seaweed-based agriculture supplements, including standardized reporting of GHG emissions and product performance to ensure compatibility and compliance with regional regulations

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Government regulators in charge of agriculture financing	In collaboration with agriculture farmers and managers, processors, and product producers and users, draft regulations that incentivize use of supplements or reward use of supplements (e.g., subsidies or green-credit mechanisms to encourage seaweed-based agriculture supplement use in place of conventional synthetic fertilizers) Develop a publicly accessible database for certified seaweed-based agriculture supplements Develop communications campaigns to build regulatory literacy and buy-in	They are the primary actors in developing permitting and certification standards and funding actors in the agriculture supplement development and use space As primary actors, they should also develop ways to build awareness and literacy of new standards and their rationale

Goal: By 2034, standardized assessments of seaweed agriculture supplements, including their biochemical and functional definitions, are developed in at least three major geographies to enable use on the world’s top five crops. Key Actions

• Create a simplified permitting structure to enable more entrants into the market and accelerate seaweed-based agriculture supplement R&D
• Develop standardized testing and certification methods for seaweed-based agriculture supplements to demonstrate product performance and build market trust

Goal: By 2035, passive and active incentive programs are established in at least three major geographies to encourage adoption of seaweed-based agriculture supplements for commercial-scale agriculture. Key Actions

• Provide financial incentives for terrestrial agriculture farmers and managers to adopt usage of seaweed-based agriculture supplements into their operational practices
• Establish and maintain a publicly accessible database for certified seaweed-based agriculture supplements, including standardized reporting of GHG emissions and product performance to ensure compatibility and compliance with regional regulations

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Government regulators in charge of agriculture financing	In collaboration with agriculture farmers and managers, processors, and product producers and users, draft regulations that incentivize use of supplements or reward use of supplements (e.g., subsidies or green-credit mechanisms to encourage seaweed-based agriculture supplement use in place of conventional synthetic fertilizers) Develop a publicly accessible database for certified seaweed-based agriculture supplements Develop communications campaigns to build regulatory literacy and buy-in	They are the primary actors in developing permitting and certification standards and funding actors in the agriculture supplement development and use space As primary actors, they should also develop ways to build awareness and literacy of new standards and their rationale

Goal:

By 2035, coordinated purchasing agreements and literacy-building strategies are developed to stimulate market buy-in and product adoption for farmers in at least three major geographies.

Key Actions

• Promote public-private partnerships to decentralize benefits from one industrial entity to multiple smallholders
• Convene forums and publish open-access guidances to persuade major crop purchasers to require seaweed-based agriculture supplements in supply chains as part of their sustainability commitments
• Develop farmer literacy programs that demonstrate usage and benefits of seaweed-based agriculture products compared to conventional synthetic fertilizers

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Private/philanthropic funding organizations	Create early purchasing commitments to de-risk scaling investment for seaweed farmers, processors, and/or product producers and enable capacity expansion Fund farmer literacy programs	Private/philanthropic funders have the existing capacity and network to activate the conversations and build regional public-private partnerships to accomplish Key Actions.
Government regulators in charge of agriculture financing	Develop enabling conditions (e.g., tax credits, procurement incentives, green purchasing standards) Validate sustainability metrics used by alliances and design labeling or certification frameworks that reinforce user confidence and enforce Product Producers and Product Processors to fulfill sustainability metric obligations Fund farmer literacy programs	They are the primary actors in developing permitting and certification standards; as such, they can incentivize adoption of specific products to fulfill requirements for achieving sustainability commitments.
Environmental non-government organizations	Fund and coordinate farmer literacy programs that demonstrate usage and benefits of seaweed-based agriculture supplements	Environmental non-government organizations can act as a third-party in assessing end-to-end cost and benefits of seaweed-based products compared to conventional competitors. They can meet farmers where they are and tailor communications campaigns to regional needs/considerations.
Coastal Communities	Participate in purchasing alliance design to ensure benefits flow to smallholder seaweed farmers; represent community interests in farmer literacy programs; provide input on whether financing structures are accessible to small-scale coastal producers.	Coastal communities and small-scale seaweed farmers are the primary producers of seaweed feedstock in many geographies. Their proximity to cultivation sites, familiarity with local regulatory and market conditions, and direct economic stake in the success of seaweed-based agriculture supplements make them essential partners

Goal:

By 2035, coordinated purchasing agreements and literacy-building strategies are developed to stimulate market buy-in and product adoption for farmers in at least three major geographies.

Key Actions

• Promote public-private partnerships to decentralize benefits from one industrial entity to multiple smallholders
• Convene forums and publish open-access guidances to persuade major crop purchasers to require seaweed-based agriculture supplements in supply chains as part of their sustainability commitments
• Develop farmer literacy programs that demonstrate usage and benefits of seaweed-based agriculture products compared to conventional synthetic fertilizers

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Private/philanthropic funding organizations	Create early purchasing commitments to de-risk scaling investment for seaweed farmers, processors, and/or product producers and enable capacity expansion Fund farmer literacy programs	Private/philanthropic funders have the existing capacity and network to activate the conversations and build regional public-private partnerships to accomplish Key Actions.
Government regulators in charge of agriculture financing	Develop enabling conditions (e.g., tax credits, procurement incentives, green purchasing standards) Validate sustainability metrics used by alliances and design labeling or certification frameworks that reinforce user confidence and enforce Product Producers and Product Processors to fulfill sustainability metric obligations Fund farmer literacy programs	They are the primary actors in developing permitting and certification standards; as such, they can incentivize adoption of specific products to fulfill requirements for achieving sustainability commitments.
Environmental non-government organizations	Fund and coordinate farmer literacy programs that demonstrate usage and benefits of seaweed-based agriculture supplements	Environmental non-government organizations can act as a third-party in assessing end-to-end cost and benefits of seaweed-based products compared to conventional competitors. They can meet farmers where they are and tailor communications campaigns to regional needs/considerations.

Goal:

By 2035, coordinated purchasing agreements and literacy-building strategies are developed to stimulate market buy-in and product adoption for farmers in at least three major geographies.

Key Actions

• Promote public-private partnerships to decentralize benefits from one industrial entity to multiple smallholders
• Convene forums and publish open-access guidances to persuade major crop purchasers to require seaweed-based agriculture supplements in supply chains as part of their sustainability commitments
• Develop farmer literacy programs that demonstrate usage and benefits of seaweed-based agriculture products compared to conventional synthetic fertilizers

Key actors and roles

Actor Group	Specific Roles	Rationale
Private/philanthropic funding organizations	Create early purchasing commitments to de-risk scaling investment for seaweed farmers, processors, and/or product producers and enable capacity expansion Fund farmer literacy programs	Private/philanthropic funders have the existing capacity and network to activate the conversations and build regional public-private partnerships to accomplish Key Actions.
Government regulators in charge of agriculture financing	Develop enabling conditions (e.g., tax credits, procurement incentives, green purchasing standards) Validate sustainability metrics used by alliances and design labeling or certification frameworks that reinforce user confidence and enforce Product Producers and Product Processors to fulfill sustainability metric obligations Fund farmer literacy programs	They are the primary actors in developing permitting and certification standards; as such, they can incentivize adoption of specific products to fulfill requirements for achieving sustainability commitments.
Environmental non-government organizations	Fund and coordinate farmer literacy programs that demonstrate usage and benefits of seaweed-based agriculture supplements	Environmental non-government organizations can act as a third-party in assessing end-to-end cost and benefits of seaweed-based products compared to conventional competitors. They can meet farmers where they are and tailor communications campaigns to regional needs/considerations.