Seaweed grows naturally along most of the world’s coastlines. Delius collects seedlike spores from wild kelp and grows them in an aquarium tank. After a few weeks, the spores are about the size of a grain of rice. He attaches them to long ropes in the ocean. The ropes keep the kelp from floating away. After Delius places the ropes, he waits. “If everything goes right, you don’t really do a whole lot,” he says.

Seaweed grows fast—up to a foot a week. And unlike most crops, it doesn’t need to be watered or fertilized. It absorbs everything it needs from the ocean around it. By comparison, growing enough lettuce, tomato, and cucumber for just one salad takes about 21 gallons (80 liters) of fresh water. That’s more water than you drink in a month!

Because seaweed needs so few resources to grow, scientists consider it more sustainable than many land crops. And it can be used for more than just snacking. Seaweed can be added to food for cows and other livestock, replacing the land plants that require more water. Some substances in seaweed can also be used as fertilizer for other crops. They’re better for the environment than the artificial fertilizers most farmers use today.

Seaweed grows along most coastlines. Delius collects seedlike spores from wild kelp. He grows them in an aquarium tank. The spores reach the size of a grain of rice in a few weeks. He attaches them to long ropes in the ocean. They keep the kelp from floating away. Then Delius waits. “If everything goes right, you don’t really do a whole lot,” he says.

Seaweed can grow up to a foot a week. It’s different from most crops. It doesn’t need to be watered or fertilized. It gets everything it needs from the ocean around it. Compare that with lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. It takes a lot of water to grow enough for just one salad. The veggies need about 21 gallons (80 liters) of fresh water. That’s more than you drink in a month!

Seaweed doesn’t need much to grow. Scientists see it as more sustainable than many land crops. And it can be used for more than just snacking. Seaweed can be added to food for cows and other livestock. That replaces land plants that need more water to grow. Seaweed can also be turned into fertilizer for other crops. Then farmers don’t need to use artificial fertilizers. They’re not good for the environment.

What gets scientists most excited about seaweed might surprise you. Bradley Moore is a chemist who studies seaweed at the University of California, San Diego. “With seaweed, we can find a greener way to make materials that are important to us,” he explains.

Today many products—from toys to clothes to computers—contain plastic. Almost all plastics are made using ingredients from fossil fuels like oil and gas. The collection and use of fossil fuels pollutes the environment. Scientists like Moore have found ways to make plastic using substances in seaweed instead of fossil fuels.

Seaweed-based plastic has already been used to make shoe soles and sturdy foam surfboards. Unlike traditional plastic, which stays in the environment for centuries, this plastic eventually breaks down harmlessly.

Seaweed can even be processed into fuel to power cars and heat our homes. That could help reduce the use of fossil fuels and slow climate change. Scientists still have to figure out how seaweed could be used as fuel on a large scale, but Moore is hopeful. “It’s an exciting future,” he says.

There are now more than 100 seaweed farms in the U.S. Can you imagine snacking on seaweed while wearing seaweed clothes and driving a seaweed-powered car? That day might come sooner than you think!

Scientists are excited about seaweed. The reason might surprise you. Bradley Moore is a chemist. He studies seaweed at the University of California, San Diego. “With seaweed, we can find a greener way to make materials that are important to us,” he explains.

Today many products contain plastic. They include toys, clothes, and computers. Almost all plastics are made using fossil fuels like oil and gas. Fossil fuels pollute the environment. Scientists like Moore have found new ways to make plastic. They use seaweed instead of fossil fuels.

Plastic made from seaweed is already being used. It’s been turned into shoe soles and surfboards. Regular plastic stays in the environment for a long time. But plastic made from seaweed eventually breaks down into harmless substances.

Seaweed can even be turned into fuel. It can power cars and heat our homes. That could help reduce the use of fossil fuels. And that could help slow climate change. Scientists still have to figure out how to make seaweed fuel on a large scale. But Moore is hopeful. “It’s an exciting future,” he says.

There are now more than 100 seaweed farms in the U.S. Can you imagine snacking on seaweed? Wearing seaweed clothing? And driving a car powered by seaweed? That day might come sooner than you think!