Fig. 2: Conceptual overview of the backcasting approach used to generate a roadmap for sustainable development of the European seaweed industry.

Overview of the methodological framework applied during the stakeholder workshop to develop a shared vision and actionable roadmap for a sustainable European seaweed industry. The process began with a a Futures Wheel exercise, where participants envisioned a desirable future state for the European seaweed industry in the year 2050 (right), and a SWOT analysis of the present state of the industry (left), identifying Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. b These inputs were structured into a “four-arrow” backcasting template, which organizes the transition from Present (left) through Gap (center) to Future (right). Each statement from the workshop was coded at one of three operational levels—Market, Product, or Technology. Within the Gap section, every statement was further classified into one of 40 specific roadmap categories that reflect actionable themes, and these were grouped into seven overarching roadmap steps (circled and numbered 1–7), representing the key areas for bridging the current state and the envisioned future. c Each colored dot represents a coded statement, assigned to one or more of the four sustainability dimensions defined by the Wheel of Sustainability (WOS): Environment (green), Economy (orange), Governance (purple), and Culture (blue). Statements that address multiple dimensions are indicated by multicolored dots. The WOS framework, adapted from Circles of Sustainability for the macroalgae sector, was used to ensure a comprehensive and interdisciplinary sustainability assessment throughout the roadmap development process.