Mexico Is Betting on Biofuel to Tackle Its Seaweed Crisis
Over the past 15 years, Mexico has faced a severe seaweed problem, with vast quantities of a brown seaweed known as sargassum washing up on beaches along the Caribbean coast and hitting the tourism industry hard. Researchers are yet to find an effective way to prevent the seaweed from washing ashore or to effectively predict its movement. As the Mexican government attempts to manage the huge…
Mexico is focusing on converting the massive amounts of brown seaweed washing ashore into biofuel and other commercial products to alleviate the seaweed crisis along its Caribbean coast. Last year, President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled a $115 million plan to deploy two ships and install barriers to collect sargassum before it hits the beaches.
The Mexican navy will also help trap the seaweed in the most critical areas, while workers will continue to clear the seaweed that does reach shore. Currently, authorities and private sector entities can collect around 2,200 metric tonnes of sargassum daily, with a goal to reach 4,000 tonnes by 2027. In partnership with Japan, Mexico will explore using the seaweed to create fertilizers, biofuels, building materials, and soap.
The project includes developing a sargassum management center in Quintana Roo, funded by a Dutch consortium, to research and implement new technologies for biodigesting the seaweed. Researchers are also investigating using sargassum as an agricultural input and an organic construction material. This multi-faceted approach aims to transform the seaweed from a destructive plague into a valuable resource for Mexico's economy and environment.
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