Silaging / Ensiling / Fermenting
Fermented seaweed can be used as a feed or fertiliser. Seaweed has a short shelf life so ensiling (aka silaging), helps to preserve it without the energy demands of freezing or drying.
Silaging/ensiling seaweed is a good idea because it preserves seaweed for longer periods of time. This is important because wet seaweed has a very short shelf life, and is only available at certain times of the year, making it difficult to store and transport for long periods of time. Ensiling seaweed allows for the production of seaweed feed for livestock, which can improve animal nutrition and productivity.
To ensile seaweed, it can be chopped and mixed with a suitable carbohydrate source, such as hay or barley, and allowed to ferment in an oxygen-free environment. This mixture can be placed in a silo or sealed container/bale to promote the fermentation process. You can also ensil seaweed on its own with the addition of lactic acid bacteria.
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