Yucatan Discusses Tech-Driven Solutions for Sargassum Challenges
Sargassum Invasion Sparks Innovation: A Forum on Technological Solutions
The Mexican Caribbean is once again battling an invasion of Sargassum, a troublesome seaweed that has been causing havoc to coastal regions. To address this issue, the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation (Secihti) is organizing a forum on August 4, 2025, in Merida, Yucatan.
The Forum on Technological Innovation Applied to Sargassum will take place at the Glamping Horizonte Maya, an innovative ecotourism complex in the Yucatán region. The event, running from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., aims to foster technological innovations to manage and mitigate the effects of the Sargassum influx.
The forum will address the ecological risks associated with improper Sargassum handling, including dermatitis, damage to turtle nesting grounds, and disruption of seagrass beds. Hoteliers in the Riviera Maya have already presented an initiative called The Seas We Love, which aims to take advantage of Sargassum for various purposes.
Another innovative project to be presented at the forum is led by Beatriz Escobar Morales. She proposes transforming Sargassum into biochar for renewable energy applications. Another patent-pending chemical process to convert Sargassum into biogas will also be showcased, developed by CICY researcher Karla Azcorra May.
The event will bring together academia, government, industry, and civil society, offering a platform for discussion and collaboration. The program includes a keynote lecture, student project presentations, and a panel discussion.
Unfortunately, the Sargassum has already invaded popular tourist destinations such as Xcaret and Xel-ha parks in Quintana Roo. The forum aims to provide solutions and discussions around sustainable handling and environmental impacts of Sargassum, offering hope for a cleaner and more sustainable future for the Mexican Caribbean.
Admission to the event is free, making it accessible to all interested parties. With the growing urgency of the Sargassum issue, this forum promises to be a valuable opportunity for learning, collaboration, and innovation.
[1] Glamping Horizonte Maya: https://www.glampinghorizonte.com/ [3] Yucatán region: https://www.visitmexico.com/en/destination/yucatan-peninsula
- The forum, focused on technologically innovating Sargassum management, will delve into health-and-wellness implications, such as dermatitis caused by improper handling, as well as environmental concerns like damage to turtle nesting grounds and seagrass beds.
- The event, featuring discussions on sustainable handling and environmental impacts of Sargassum, will also highlight innovative scientific solutions, like Beatriz Escobar Morales' biochar production from Sargassum for renewable energy and Karla Azcorra May's chemical process to convert Sargassum into biogas, both of which contribute to fitness-and-exercise by promoting clean energy and climate-change mitigation.
