K. alvarezii harvest yield in cultivation using conventional plant has declined significantly during the last few years due to loss in vigour after several successive generations. Elite seedlings with more vigour addressed this problem by achieving an average of 30% increase in biomass yield in cultivation.

Kappaphycus alvarezii commercial cultivation was initiated in 2001 along the southeast coast of Tamil Nadu. Production increased significantly from 21 dry metric tons in 2001 to 1,490 dry tons in 2013. The number of seaweed growers in Tamil Nadu have risen from a mere 6 in 2001 to 950 in 2013. However, the production sharply declined in the subsequent years due to mass mortality. The production achieved till June 2019 was only 181 dry wt. Only few hundred farmers are involving in K. alvarezii cultivation. There is huge demand for seed material for continuing the cultivation. Kappaphycus alvarezii commercial cultivation from isolated spores has been successfully developed in Indonesia to provide seed material to the farmers. However reproductive material of K. alvarezii has not been recorded in India for the last 2 decades. Mass seedling production through micropropagation of shoot initiated plantlets in the lab, outdoor tanks and finally in the sea ensures consistent supply of seed materials to the farmers. It has been proven that micro propagated seedlings of Kappaphycus are more virulent and showed higher growth rate than farmed plants.

Technology was developed completely and about 400 kg seedlings were supplied to the farmers and the farmers confirmed the superior growth of elite seedlings.

Since an average of 30% increase in growth was observed in elite seedlings over farmed plants, there is huge opportunity for licensing this technology to the private entrepreneurs.

The seaweed farming does not required fertilizer, pesticide, irrigation etc. that like of conventional land crops farming. Therefore, there is no environmental concerns

Healthy vegetative fragments of Kappaphycus alvarezii. 80 g fresh material will give 800 elite seedlings

Tissue culture laboratory with controlled condition of temperature, light and aeration for elite seedling production

Outdoor FRP tanks for hardening the propagules

Farmers will get more biomass yield and subsequently earn more money than cultivating the conventional plants in their farms; Higher growth rate offers better economic gains

Know-how for micropropagation and growth protocols; Demonstration of the process; Seedling material; License fee and other financial details would be provided on request.