Cancún hosts EU-Caribbean summit to transform sargassum into economic resource

The fourth EU–Caribbean Global Gateway Conference on Sargassum was held in Cancún, bringing together representatives from 45 countries to address the growing environmental challenge of macroalgae in the Caribbean. Co-organized by the European Union and the Mexican government, the summit aims to transition from emergency collection to a regional circular economy model that transforms sargassum into an industrial raw material.

Participants emphasized the need for increased regional coordination, standardized regulations, and mobilized public and private investment. Officials noted that sargassum levels are rising, with estimates suggesting a significant increase in floating biomass in the Atlantic. The initiative seeks to move pilot projects toward large-scale industrial valorization through technology, scientific research, and sustainable financing.

Key stakeholders, including the European Commission and Mexico’s SEMARNAT, highlighted that the next conference will be hosted in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, while the topic is expected to reach higher political levels during the EU-CELAC summit in 2027.