Kelp Farms Show Mixed Carbon Effects

Research on kelp farming is producing mixed evidence about its climate value.

An Alaska field study found one farm slightly lowered nearby CO2 while another increased it, underscoring strong site-specific effects from tides, sunlight, groundwater, and equipment fouling. Related research also points to seaweed’s carbon-capture potential through photosynthesis and alkalinity changes, but both the net benefit and scalability remain uncertain.