Building on the success of the launch of the Blue Ocean-Blue Foods Program in July 2024, which aimed to promote the establishment of a carbon sink in the seafood sector, this program has set a goal to support coastal communities in cultivating approximately 1,000 hectares of seaweed over the next three years. It will contribute to local livelihoods, strengthen supply chain linkages, and align with the government’s objectives in addressing climate change. The program is jointly implemented by ICAFIS Center and JapiFoods Co., Ltd.
On October 25th, in Hanoi, the International Center for Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries (ICAFIS) in collaboration with the Vietnam Fisheries Society hosted the workshop "Closing the High-Value Seaweed Value Chain." This event was organized to launch the first linkage chain of the project, marking the efforts of ICAFIS Center and JapiFoods Co., Ltd. after a period of initial implementation.
At the workshop, Mr. Đinh Xuân Lập, Deputy Director of the International Center for Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries (ICAFIS), shared that seaweed cultivation in Vietnam has been developed for more than 10 years. In 2023, the area of seaweed cultivation in Vietnam reached 16,500 hectares, with a production of 150,000 tons. Seaweed is primarily cultivated in the northern coastal region, followed by Central and North Central Vietnam. However, the cultivation, processing, and consumption of seaweed products remain uncoordinated and lack a value chain. As a result, the price of raw seaweed remains low and unstable, and coastal communities are not particularly interested in seaweed cultivation. According to Mr. Lập, in the case of seaweed, cooperation needs to be a closed-loop value chain, from seedlings, cultivation areas, production, trade, to consumption. It is essential to promote responsible business practices within the chain to share value and create incentives for people to grow seaweed. Additionally, high-tech applications, such as extraction technology, should be utilized to obtain valuable nutrients from seaweed.
The value chain is being implemented with the participation of key stakeholders in the chain: seaweed growers (Trường Phát Group, local seaweed farmers), producers (JapiFoods Co., Ltd.), and distributors, with close coordination and support from ICAFIS and the Fisheries Sub-Department of Hai Phong Province. Additionally, the project enjoys support from the Fisheries Department.
Through this workshop, the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement among the entities in the value chain was held, marking the first steps in the initiative. The event also showcased some of the first seaweed-based products after a period of research and testing. The goal of the producers and the project is to provide clean, safe, and healthy products, while also allowing consumers to contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development.
ICAFIS.
