DEMOCRATIZING SEAWEED IN FRANCE: GOVERNANCE, CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, AND SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL TRAJECTORIES

Abstract

Seaweed is increasingly presented as a promising resource for ecological transition, sustainable food systems, and blue economy development. While its environmental and economic potential is now widely recognized, the French seaweed sector remains relatively marginal and struggles to scale beyond niche markets. This thesis explores the conditions under which seaweed could contribute to broader socio-ecological transformations in France. Using the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) as a theoretical framework, combined with insights on everyday practices and grassroots innovations, the research analyzes how cultural perceptions, governance structures, market dynamics, and social practices shape the democratization of seaweed. It ultimately argues that seaweed democratization requires not only new markets and technologies, but also new ways of relating to food, coastal territories, and marine resources.