Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) is developing high-yielding and “ice-ice” disease-resistant seaweed strains in an aim to meet expanding industrial use and raise some $100 million in seaweed-carrageenan export. Ice-ice, which manifests in seaweeds’ whitening stalks and which withers its production, has become prevalent in extensive seaweed-producing areas in Mindanao and can wipe out crops particularly during cold months. SEAFDEC is now establishing a gene bank in order to put a marker on varieties that are ice-ice resistant while it is also developing other varieties that have good traits such as fast growth, high viscosity, high quality agar (usefulness as gel), all contributing to higher yield.

Aguiba, M. M. (2006, July 18). SEAFDEC developing high-yield seaweed. Manila Bulletin, pp. B-1, B-3.