The overall goal of SeaSoil is to fill knowledge gaps about PTE in cultivated sugar kelp and arsenic in seaweed used in agriculture for fertilization, soil improvement and carbon storage (CSS). 

We need to improve our understanding regarding potential toxic elements in seaweed before we can succeed in expanding the seaweed industry in Europe. Kelp cultivation in particular is currently in an early phase of development and implementation. 

Kelp farming can ensure “blue vegetation” and “blue forests” that capture and bind carbon, thereby mitigating the climate change, and absorb excess phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) from the sea in order to maintain marine biodiversity. 

The use of mineral fertilisers in agriculture has a large environmental footprint, increasing the demand for sustainable alternatives. 

It has been shown that the use of seaweed material (fresh, dried, extracted or as a residual material from chemical treatment) as a soil enhancer can increase plant growth and improve soil structure. It also has great potential for increased soil carbon storage. 

However, increased use of seaweed for food, feed and soil enhancement raises concerns about the high content of potentially toxic elements such as iodine, cadmium and arsenic) in kelp and seaweed.