According to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) who carried out the study, this figure is particularly interesting in view of the fact that none of these countries are amongst the world’s top macroalgae producing nations, an achievement that goes to countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.
"On the contrary, countries like the Philippines or Indonesia, major producers but with a low investment in research, have not registered patents,” says CSIC researcher, Inés Mazarrasa.
“Despite the high production in some developing countries of Asia and Africa, the nations that invest effort in research –such as Japan, China and South Korea– are the ones that hoard the patents,” she adds.
Vast majority of applicants are held in Asia
According to Mazarrasa, before the study, the researchers expected that, given its greater accessibility, the macroalgae patents market was more evenly distributed among producing countries.
"However, it is safe to say that a significant proportion of this production is being exported to more developed markets, with Japan, China and South Korea being amongst the biggest importers of the raw macroalgae materials."
The researchers compared this distribution with the production capacity (tons produced per country) and the scientific effort involved in the study of their culture (number of scientific studies related to the aquaculture of these algae).
Developing countries hold the key to future R&D efforts
Likewise, outside of the Asia Pacific region, it is countries such has the US and France that are said to invest the most resources into research and development in this area, despite not being producers.
According the report authors, the study highlights the fact that the biotechnology that is driving the development of the microalgae segment shows that there are plenty of opportunities for development in partnership with countries that have traditionally only played the role of macroalgae producers.
"Before the study, we expected that, given its greater accessibility, the macroalgae patents market was more evenly distributed among producing countries,” the study authors note.
Moreover, the increase in demand for new macroalgae products and applications could open a chance for traditional producing countries to benefit from their macroalgae production capacity.