Transcript :
(Be sure to checkout the full Live 2040 Q&A here)
“The other aspect of reef protection is the removal of nitrogen.
So there’s a huge problem for the Great Barrier Reef with the runoff of nitrogen from the land, and that comes from all sorts of sources like agricultural use and other land management practices.
So we’re seeing there’s an opportunity to potentially have a massive row of seaweed bio-filters between the coast and the reef that could actually filter out that nitrogen and help to protect the reef. That would also have the impact–because it draws out carbon dioxide out of the water–it would also have the impact of reducing acidification around those areas too, and to increase the habitat and biodiversity.
Australian Seaweed Institute: the Seaweed Biofilter circular economy.
So we’re really seeing that as a potential to create a really exciting seaweed circular economy innovation because what that seaweed can then be used for–potentially–is bio-fertiliser back on the agricultural crop on the land. So you’re actually then growing the seaweed in the water to improve water quality, then removing that seaweed and providing it as a bio-fertiliser to protect against further pollution and run off from synthetic fertilisers.
So we’re hoping that that becomes an innovative new solution for the Great Barrier Reef protection as well.”