GCRF GlobalSeaweed* - Safeguarding the future of seaweed aquaculture in developing countries

The seaweed cultivation industry is the fastest-growing of all aquaculture sectors, with an annual growth rate of 10% and a value in excess of $5bn. 95% of this cultivation is undertaken by developing countries. Worldwide, seaweed farming provides income to 'millions of families' in rural coastal communities and has enabled women to become economically active for the first time, in areas where few opportunities exist. Yet outbreaks of seaweed disease and pests are threatening this industry, leading to dramatic (>15%) declines in yield, notably in three major seaweed-producing developing countries - the Philippines, Tanzania and Indonesia and is having catastrophic socio-economic impacts on the communities reliant on seaweed production. In the Philippines alone, losses over US$ 100 million a year were attributed to disease, representing 15% of their farmed seaweed production and similar reductions have been seen in Tanzania and Indonesia. OUR VISION for the Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF) GlobalSeaweed* programme, therefore, is to grow the research and innovation capability of developing countries engaged in seaweed farming. The GCRF GlobalSeaweed* team will consist of international experts in algal biology, aquatic pathology, disease and pest identification, biosecurity and policy development. It will be a 4-year programme, primarily collaborating with senior seaweed specialists in the Philippines, Indonesia and Tanzania, but we envisage working with many other seaweed producing developing countries through the establishment of a GCRF GlobalSeaweed* Fund, enabling rapid action to emerging crises in the seaweed industry & fostering further international cooperation. GCRF GlobalSeaweed* aims to address three key 'Development Challenges' directly linked to the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals and these include: Challenge #1: Secure and resilient food systems supported by sustainable aquaculture - develop innovative new detection methods for key yield-limiting seaweed diseases and pests on cultivation sites and in the wider environment and legislation/ biosecurity measures to prevent their introduction and spread: We will focus on identification of emergent diseases and pests and the development of early warning, risk-based detection protocols and robust national and international policies to ensure the security and resilience of this industry in developing countries. Challenge #2: Resilience and action on short term environmental shock and long term environmental change - mitigate the sensitivity of seaweeds to fluctuating environmental conditions and climate change: We will empower our overseas partners to develop and test new commercial strains for increased resistance to the key yield-limiting diseases and pests under conditions of environmental change and embed the knowledge gained into practical farm management protocols to ensure maximum yield at the farm sites. Challenge #3: Sustainable livelihoods supported by strong foundations, infrastructure and gender equality for sustainable economic growth and innovation - understand the socio-, political and institutional landscapes in our overseas partners regarding biosecurity, gender equality and risk management: We will work closely with local communities and national governments to develop a robust approach to policy development to promote sustainable economic growth of the seaweed industry in these countries. Through addressing these challenges, GCRF GlobalSeaweed* will not only produce excellent scientific research, but train 24+ early career researchers, develop open access training materials and an unprecedented digital Atlas of Seaweed Disease and Pests, protocols, international technical and policy papers in collaboration with the FAO and United Nations University and organise special sessions at international conferences and sharing best practice events in collaboration with our overseas partners.