Dhaka, Bangladesh – FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture organized a closing workshop today in Cox’s Bazar to share the findings of a joint pilot project that aimed to kick-start the country’s seaweed industry.

Representatives of four ministries participated, namely the Ministry of Agriculture; Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock; Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change; and Ministry of Finance (Economic Relations Division).

Globally, production is booming, especially in Asia where seaweed farming is long-established. Although the coast of the Bay of Bengal provides favourable conditions for seaweed cultivation, Bangladesh does not have a history of growing seaweed and Bangladeshis are unfamiliar with eating it.

Seaweed is healthy for our bodies, skin, the environment, and the economy and there is much potential in Bangladesh to develop commercial cultivation. Most farmed seaweed is consumed as food, but seaweed can be used in a wide variety of products. Whether it is toothpaste, cosmetics, medicines or pet food, these often contain hydrocolloids derived from seaweed, which have gelling or thickening properties. More applications and products are coming, with companies working on textiles and plastic alternatives, including biodegradable packaging, water capsules, and drinking straws.

“Seaweed is a great resource of the sea. It can be eaten and processed as an ingredient for a wide range of items, including medicine, cosmetics, fertilizers, biofuels and products to prevent environmental pollution,” said Robert D. Simpson, FAO Representative in Bangladesh. He added: “This project has demonstrated the viability and potential of commercial seaweed cultivation, processing, and marketing in Bangladesh. FAO will work with the government and other partners to exploit this potential.”

Globally, seaweed farming is one of the fast-growing aquaculture sectors with an annual production of about 33 billion tons, valued at 11.8 billion USD. This is anticipated to double within two years.

“There is huge potential for seaweed production in Bangladesh to support nutrition security, livelihoods, as well as exports to meet global demand,” said chief guest Md. Ruhul Amin Talukder, Additional Secretary (PPC), Ministry of Agriculture. “Seaweed is highly nutritious and we need to sensitize the general public so that it becomes a daily food item”.

FAO also organized a food fair to showcase seaweed food products and cosmetics made by local farmers and business people. Entrepreneur Ms. Jahanara Islam was recognized for her valuable contribution to promoting seaweed. She started Zahanara Green Agro and over the past 40 years she has developed 127 food products and 28 perfumes using seaweed ingredients. “I am happy that the seaweed sector is slowly getting the attention it deserves,” she said. “We need support from everyone to encourage seaweed production and expand its market across Bangladesh and beyond.”

FAO also distributed 25 food carts yesterday to seaweed food entrepreneurs in Cox’s Bazar, in a drive to encourage tourists to eat seaweed-based food. 

Seaweeds are fast-growing algae. They utilise energy from sunlight, and take up nutrients and carbon dioxide from the seawater. Scientists suggest seaweed could help fight climate change and offset carbon emissions.

The project promoted culture of two commercially important species – red seaweed (Gracilaria) and green seaweed (Ulva) – using the rope line method, whereby seedlings are collected from natural sources and transplanted to the rope for seaweed culture.

FAO and partners implemented the project in a number of coastal districts, mainly Cox’s Bazar and Shatkhira where there were 60 demonstration plots altogether, as well as the Bagerhat region. The project trained 120 farmers in seaweed culture and processing, 40 participants in seaweed-based food production, and 20 participants in creating seaweed-based herbal cosmetics. More than half were women.

Bangladesh has a coastal zone with 480 km of coastline and 25 000 square km of coastal area. It has sandy and muddy beaches, estuaries and mangrove swamps, which make an ideal habitat for seaweed cultivation. South-east Bangladesh has an abundance of natural seaweed. About 200 species belonging to 77 genera of seaweeds have been recorded in the coastal and estuarine areas of Bangladesh. Among them, eight to ten species are commercially important.

At today’s closing workshop, senior officials from the MoA, BARC, BARI, and the Department of Fisheries, joined FAO experts, researchers, and business people to discuss how to further develop the sector.