Researchers at the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD), have discovered a groundbreaking way to grow seaweed up to 6.5 times faster than traditional methods by using lab-grown, tissue-cultured seedlings. Seaweed species like Kappaphycus alvarezii, known as elkhorn moss or “guso,” are vital to the carrageenan industry. Carrageenan is a widely used additive in processed foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Seaweed also supports the livelihoods of about 200,000 fisherfolk households in the Philippines and plays a role in carbon absorption. However, farmers often face challenges such as poor-quality seedlings, slow growth, low yields, and vulnerability to “ice-ice” disease, which causes seaweeds to whiten and disintegrate.

Lab-grown seaweed boosts growth, resilience. (2025, January 17). Daily Guardian, pp. 1, 15.