Through the Sargassum Ecos Network, coordinated by the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (Secihti), the sustainable and comprehensive use of sargassum is being promoted, along with the development of a national industry.
Among the advances presented, national alternative uses for sargassum as a raw material were analyzed. At least 198 initiatives were identified that could have direct applications in the food, pharmaceutical, energy, and construction industries, among others.
This effort involves 155 researchers from more than 25 institutions in 12 states across the country, as well as international universities. Currently, work is focused on four key areas to contribute to reducing the social and environmental impact of massive sargassum influxes. These include its sustainable use, the creation of a monitoring and forecasting system, the measurement of emissions and health effects, and studies of biology, biodiversity, and ecosystem impacts.
The agency detailed in a statement that, in a meeting with the head of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Secihti), Dr. Rosaura Ruiz Gutiérrez, and the Undersecretary of Technological Development, Liaison, and Innovation, Celina Peña Guzmán, the progress made by the Ecos Network was presented.
Regarding the use of sargassum as a raw material, Lorena Amaya Delgado, director of the Center for Research and Assistance in Technology and Design of the State of Jalisco (CIATEJ), presented the design of a biorefinery. This biorefinery is projected to be self-sustaining in terms of energy and water consumption, operating at a demonstration scale and with the capacity to process at least 20 tons of wet sargassum daily.
This process could produce biogas and at least seven byproducts (laminates, alginates, fucoidans, biochar, bioethanol, biofertilizers, and bioplastics). This model promotes a circular economy by reducing the environmental impacts associated with the accumulation of sargassum in coastal areas and generating economic opportunities for Quintana Roo.
Regarding the monitoring component, at least four types of actions were identified to forecast the arrival of sargassum at various scales (oceanic and coastal). Sixty-two researchers from eleven institutions are participating in this component.
With respect to emissions and health impacts, an initial infrastructure was identified for the environmental measurement of toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, emitted by the decomposition of sargassum. This infrastructure currently includes three environmental monitoring stations located in Cancún, Akumal, and Mahahual.
Óscar Augusto Peralta Rosales, a researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate Change, presented the proposal for expanding this system. The measurement of gas emissions is proposed on both an environmental and individual scale; that is, to determine the exposure of people working cleaning and piling sargassum on beaches and at disposal sites.
It was also reported that a protocol has been developed to assess the impact of these emissions on human health, which will be led by the National Institute of Public Health. In addition, a mobile application is being developed to identify sites with high levels of hydrogen sulfide.
Regarding biology, biodiversity, and ecosystem impacts, scenarios of natural and induced subsidence will be validated, and collection methods will be optimized. On the coast, a monitoring system will be developed to assess the impacts on water quality, reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, and other coastal variables and ecosystems. From a socio-environmental perspective, local perceptions, vulnerabilities, and capacities to address this phenomenon will be documented.
The agency reported that a subsequent meeting was held with the business sector of Quintana Roo. Among them was Ignacio Muñoz, representing the hoteliers of the Riviera Maya, and CEO of The Seas We Love, who commented that the hotel sector will be key to transforming sargassum into an opportunity for economic development for the region.
Source: jornada
