Bio-Based Products from Mediterranean Seaweeds: Italian Opportunities and Challenges for a Sustainable Blue Economy

Seaweeds are attracting increasing attention as an alternative healthy food and renewabledrugs source and as agents of climate change mitigation that provide essential ecosystem services. Inthis context, seaweeds represent marine resources capable of supporting and pursuing the objectivesof the Sustainable Blue Economy and the Bio-Based Circular Economy. In this review, we analyze thestate of seaweed bio-based products and research on the Mediterranean Sea from the last 20 years.Results of this analysis show a large number of investigations focusing on antimicrobial, antioxidantand anti-inflammatory activities compared to on biofuels and bioplastics. Attempts at seaweedfarming, although generally very limited, are present in Israel and some North African countries.Lastly, we focus on the Italian situation--including research, companies and legislation on seaweedproduction--and we discuss gaps, perspectives and challenges for the potential development of asustainable seaweed industry according to the Sustainable Blue Economy.