System leadership, technologies & innovations along the seaweed value chain for corporate sustainability

Abstract

Facing climate change, degradation of resources and biodiversity loss, not only the environment but also economic and social well-being is endangered. Ocean based solution like seaweed has the capability to act as new paradigm for system leadership for social, economic and ecological well-being. Seaweed offers sustainable alternative goods: food, pharmaceuticals, animal feed, bioplastics, energy feedstock, while it regulates climate through nutrient level balance, oxygenation and CO2 sequestration. The thesis aims at the currently prevailing gap between managerial and ecological research streams within corporate sustainability. It aims for holistic system perspective and defines viable management-based strategies and technologies to mitigate declining ecosystem services and ecological resilience. Technologies with wider industry applications are identified which offers especially investor and managers a strategic insight for sustainable corporate reorientation and resource allocation, and act as global innovation forefront. The created system map and associated working streams therefore serve as guidance how to cocreate a sustainable multistakeholder ecosystem. By analysing pain points and possible interventions, an action plan for sustainable stakeholders and researchers is created. Direct implications for entrepreneurs and investors are further elaborated through creation of a multi-stakeholder platform and depiction of current viable sustainable business model of a seaweed venture. Guiding leadership strategies mindsets and perspectives are presented to fully leverage upon these opportunities. By creating an overview and system map, this thesis may act as starting point for investors, politicians, researchers and entrepreneurs to understand the market from all perspective, rationalism, naturalism and humanism, and to combine these into sustaincentrism.

Date of Award	5 Jul 2021
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Stefano Pogutz (Supervisor)