Florentina Piña, Loretto Contreras-Porcia
Porphyra and Pyropia, red seaweeds of the Bangiaceae family, hold major economic and cultural value, particularly in East Asia as the basis of the nori industry. Their nutritional richness, high in proteins, essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and bioactive compounds such as phycobiliproteins, mycosporine-like amino acids, and sulfated polysaccharides, supports their growing global relevance. This chapter offers an up-to-date synthesis of their biology, taxonomy, and cultivation. It reviews their complex life cycles, historical farming practices in Asia, and recent expansions into Latin America and Europe. Traditional long-line and rope systems are contrasted with modern innovations such as strain selection, photoperiod control, and photobioreactors. Key challenges, climate stress, diseases, and quality standardization are discussed, along with the potential of omics and genetic improvement to boost resilience and productivity. Beyond its role as food, nori is increasingly recognized as a valuable resource for the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries, contributing to sustainable aquaculture and the development of a global marine bio-economy.