Keywords: Algae, seaweeds, bioenergy, phosphorus recovery.

Worldwide, seaweeds are of increasing economic importance. They are considered to be an important source of biomass for energy production, but they can also used for food, feed, and for personal healthcare and pharmaceutical purposes.

In this paper, an overview of different opportunities for seaweed utilisation is given and it is suggested that the integrated biorefinery approach will make the most out of these plants. Also seaweed production aspects are addressed from the viewpoint of an agronomist. It is concluded that there are ample opportunities to optimise the cultivation of seaweeds. Special attention is paid to the finite currently-known resources of recoverable phosphorus (P) and the opportunities to recover P by seaweed.

Willem A Brandenburg, Bert L Smit and Jacques J Neeteson, Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research Center, P.O. Box 16, 6700AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.

24 pages, 5 figures, 8 tables, 49 references.