FAO Aquaculture Training Empowers Farmers and Stakeholders in the Seamoss Industry of Grenada
Participants looking on during the aquaculture training.
12/04/2023
St. George’s, Grenada – The business value, health benefits, and environmental management of seamoss, were emphasised at the Good Aquaculture Practices (GAP) Training organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization the United Nations (FAO) in Grenada, under the ‘Resilient Aquaculture’ (RAQ) sub-project of the Mexico-CARICOM-FAO “Cooperation for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in the Caribbean” or Resilient Caribbean Initiative in short.
Over a three-week period in the month of January, seamoss farmers received key information on selecting farm locations, seasmoss farming control mechanisms, harvesting, and drying seamoss, and the management and processing of seamoss products. FAO partnered with the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land, and Fisheries, to further support the development of Grenada’s mariculture industry, adding to the Seamoss Mariculture Project implemented by the Ministry through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
FAO National Project Coordinator, Krisma Moore stated, “The training assisted seamoss farmers in assessing their current business methods and ways of managing, marketing, planning, and approaching finance and financial institutions. It was also geared towards developing a deeper understanding of the setup of associations or cooperatives. The participants showed a keen interest through their interaction and participation.”
Grenada’s Camerhogne Products, Helen Murray shared, “This has been a very eye-opening experience. Coming into the seamoss business was an on-the-job learning experience, without having an idea of everything that it entails and all the minute details. However, from the training sessions, we have learnt the business aspect, the technical and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP). This will enable us to have a better understanding and move forward with better products on the market and additionally help us to begin exporting our products.”
Telescope Seamoss Farmer, Davidson Paul said "The training exercise is a very good one. It gives you the opportunity to know the criteria for the international markets and enables all seamoss farmers to utilise the export market. For me, going forward, there is a lot of information that I will no longer need to request because I now have the information given at this training.”
Funded by the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID), the training series utilised knowledge-sharing and stakeholder participation to secure the development of high impact aquaculture, marketing, and production practices. Research has shown that the farming of seamoss, a type of red algae, in the West Indies requires the continuous identification of methods to improve seaweed stocks to obtain high quality yields.
The Caribbean Sea contains varying species of seaweed, which over the years have been made into drinks and puddings. Most recently, these products have been expanded to include the distribution of seamoss as a raw ingredient which can be included in salads, smoothies, ice cream and as natural facial products.
FAO is dedicated to encouraging an aquaculture industry that is environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable. As the leader in international and regional efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security, the ‘Resilient Caribbean Initiative’ grants FAO the opportunity to increase the income of beneficiary farmers, grow aquaculture products locally produced, and expand aquaculture farms in Grenada.
Over a three-week period in the month of January, seamoss farmers received key information on selecting farm locations, seasmoss farming control mechanisms, harvesting, and drying seamoss, and the management and processing of seamoss products. FAO partnered with the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land, and Fisheries, to further support the development of Grenada’s mariculture industry, adding to the Seamoss Mariculture Project implemented by the Ministry through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
FAO National Project Coordinator, Krisma Moore stated, “The training assisted seamoss farmers in assessing their current business methods and ways of managing, marketing, planning, and approaching finance and financial institutions. It was also geared towards developing a deeper understanding of the setup of associations or cooperatives. The participants showed a keen interest through their interaction and participation.”
Grenada’s Camerhogne Products, Helen Murray shared, “This has been a very eye-opening experience. Coming into the seamoss business was an on-the-job learning experience, without having an idea of everything that it entails and all the minute details. However, from the training sessions, we have learnt the business aspect, the technical and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP). This will enable us to have a better understanding and move forward with better products on the market and additionally help us to begin exporting our products.”
Telescope Seamoss Farmer, Davidson Paul said "The training exercise is a very good one. It gives you the opportunity to know the criteria for the international markets and enables all seamoss farmers to utilise the export market. For me, going forward, there is a lot of information that I will no longer need to request because I now have the information given at this training.”
Funded by the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID), the training series utilised knowledge-sharing and stakeholder participation to secure the development of high impact aquaculture, marketing, and production practices. Research has shown that the farming of seamoss, a type of red algae, in the West Indies requires the continuous identification of methods to improve seaweed stocks to obtain high quality yields.
The Caribbean Sea contains varying species of seaweed, which over the years have been made into drinks and puddings. Most recently, these products have been expanded to include the distribution of seamoss as a raw ingredient which can be included in salads, smoothies, ice cream and as natural facial products.
FAO is dedicated to encouraging an aquaculture industry that is environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable. As the leader in international and regional efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security, the ‘Resilient Caribbean Initiative’ grants FAO the opportunity to increase the income of beneficiary farmers, grow aquaculture products locally produced, and expand aquaculture farms in Grenada.