International seaweed symposium to chart roadmap for Seaweeds-2047 for India

Kochi: An international symposium on seaweeds will chart a road map for Seaweeds-2047 for India, which will be formulated at Global Seaweed Conference beginning at Kerala Fisheries University campus on Thursday.The three-day global summit will convene leading scientists, policymakers, industry pioneers, start-ups, investors and coastal stakeholders to explore how seaweeds are reshaping food systems, advancing climate mitigation strategies, strengthening sustainable aquaculture, and generating new livelihood opportunities within India's expanding Blue Economy framework. The summit marks a defining moment in India's marine bioeconomy transition, aligning research, industry and policy towards the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Officials from the fisheries ministry, led by Union minister George Kurien, will participate in the conference along with experts from National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), NABARD, CIFT, the fisheries department, the Seaweed Research and Utilisation Association (SRUA) and others. The event also features participation from universities and research centres across India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Bangladesh, UK, Italy, Japan, Australia, Canada and France. A seaweed industry expo will be held, showcasing seaweed-based functional foods and nutraceuticals, bioactive extraction technologies, biodegradable packaging materials, and bioplastics.