This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Subsidies for emerging technology that allows seafood to be produced on land would boost the UK's food security and deliver significant climate benefits, new research shows. A new study in the Journal of Cleaner Production sets out how the UK's plans to boost the environment through 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) of new woodland would reduce farmland and food production, with animal protein production hardest hit.
But using datasets and modeling tools, the researchers found that seafood farmed in tanks on land would offset 80% of the protein loss while using less than 1% of the land earmarked for tree planting. Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)—highly controlled facilities that recycle water and can operate almost anywhere—have already been shown to have the potential to transform UK seafood production and boost economic growth. A policy brief by authors from the University of Exeter argues that the UK has a unique opportunity to lead a global "Blue Transformation" by investing in innovative production systems to farm seafood in tanks on land.
The new research paper shows how the same technology could also help achieve environmental goals when used alongside afforestation. Prawns produced this way could also replace a third of UK prawn imports, which would eliminate 7 million tonnes of CO2 associated with long-distance freight, the researchers say. Commenting on the study, Professor Ian Bateman, from the Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute at the University of Exeter Business School, said, "Land-based aquaculture has the potential to hugely increase the quantity of food produced per hectare, allowing us to spare the land we need to restore the environment without increasing our reliance on imports." The researchers call for government support to subsidize the cost of new RAS facilities but warn that subsidies must be at the right level to maximize food and environmental benefits.
They explain that while a large subsidy would make RAS more profitable, it could place it in competition with agriculture. They found that a moderate subsidy of 100% of the upfront cost of only one RAS facility yielded the highest gain in food production and carbon mitigation per pound of public funds invested. The researchers say the findings show how public concerns about carbon sequestration policies can be addressed through policy measures.
Thiago Morello, from the University of Exeter and Federal University of ABC in Brazil, said, "Our results suggest that tree-based carbon sequestration would be more consistent with the UK government's climate and food security goals if complemented by the diffusion of high-productivity, low-environmental-impact food production methods." Dr. Diana Tingley from the University of Exeter Business School added, "Recirculating aquaculture of prawns could support the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 and substitute imports for lower-carbon domestic seafood. "This would, of course, require farmers to adopt RAS and consumers to shift to diets with fewer livestock products and more seafood, as well as technical training for workers to monitor and manage the water quality of RAS facilities." T.F.R.S.
Morello et al, Recirculating aquaculture can reconcile food supply and afforestation in Great Britain, Journal of Cleaner Production (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148888 Journal information: Journal of Cleaner Production Swati Mestri holds a bachelor's degree in Electronics Engineering and has worked as a content editor since 2019. She has experience editing research documents across technology, health care, and materials science, and has a particular interest in technology and space.
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