Seaweed Aquaculture for Carbon Farming: An Assessment Under the EU's QU.A.L.ITY (Quantification, Additionality, Long-Term Storage, Sustainability) Framework

There is growing interest in establishing a seaweed farming industry in Europe, and this industry has the potential for being a mechanism for atmospheric carbon dioxide removal (CDR). The EU recognises the potential of CDR to help meet climate change targets, but also acknowledges the importance of creating credible markets for CDR ecosystem services (ES) through voluntary carbon markets to promote sustainable investment and to avoid claims of greenwashing. In response to this, the EU has proposed a framework (termed QU.A.L.ITY) for the establishment of CDR certification schemes, based on the four criteria of quantifiable, additionality, long-term storage and overall sustainability. While seaweed aquaculture holds potential for CDR and could meet the QU.A.L.ITY criteria on a generic level, specific projects face hurdles in data collection, standardized methodologies, sediment protection regulations, and applicability of the taxonomy. Robust certification frameworks like the EU's are crucial to avoid greenwashing and ensure credible climate action through seaweed CDR.