Why Training Seaweed Farmers Is Key to Better Carrageenan and Sustainable Livelihoods

Published: Jun 9, 2025 Reading time: 4 minutes

The Philippines was once a global leader in seaweed production. But due to extreme weather conditions, rising productions cost and declining seaweed quality the country lost its lead. Now Filipino farmers face challenges that threaten their livelihoods. In Tawi-Tawi, one of the country’s top seaweed producing provinces, we support farmers in securing their livelihoods by teaching them sustainable farming methods.

Why Training Seaweed Farmers Is Key to Better Carrageenan and Sustainable Livelihoods
© Photo: Zenny Awing

“In Tawi-Tawi, most of us are seaweed farmers. It’s been our way of life for as long as I can remember,” shares Darmial H. Abdulgapor, a farmer from Tandubas. “We grow tambalang (Kappaphycus alvarezii) and cotunay (Eucheuma cottonii)—seaweed varieties that thrive in our waters. I used to think we could just wait for them to grow and harvest anytime. But through the training I attended, I learned that to get the best carrageenan, we need to harvest seaweed at just the right time, around 45 days.”

Carrageenan may not be a household name, but it’s an essential ingredient found in many everyday products. It keeps your ice cream creamy, your toothpaste firm, and your lotions smooth. Extracted from red seaweed, carrageenan is widely used in food, medicine, cosmetics, and even industrial goods and the Philippines is one of the leading sources of the seaweed that produces it.

The country was once a global leader in seaweed farming and carrageenan processing. By the 1990s, international companies like Cargill, Kelco, Kerry, and CEAMSA had set up local processing plants, and local businesses like Shemberg were thriving. At one point, over 90% of the seaweed harvested in the Philippines was processed locally.

But over time, challenges emerged. Indonesia surpassed the Philippines in seaweed production, and later China overtook the country in carrageenan exports. Devastating typhoons, rising production costs, and declining quality all contributed to a loss in leadership. By 2018, the Philippines was even importing raw seaweed to meet industry demand.

In Tawi-Tawi, the country’s top seaweed-producing province, the effects have been especially damning. Major buyers like MCPI Corporation have stopped sourcing seaweed from the area due to quality concerns.

“Carrageenan isn’t just for plastics or rubber; it’s mainly used in food and health products,” explains McDaniel Vincent B. Ricohermoso, Brand Manager at MCPI. “If we receive low-quality seaweed, the carrageenan yield and quality suffer. What we need is clean, mature seaweed harvested between 45 and 60 days.”

Increasing yields while restoring marine ecosystems

Despite producing 66% of the Philippines’ total seaweed output many Tawi-Tawi farmers face dropping prices and a lack of reliable buyers, putting their livelihoods at risk.

This is where we step in; through BAEP-LEAP (Bangsamoro Agri-Enterprise Programme – Leveraging and Expanding Agri-Aqua Production), funded by the European Union, we support seaweed farmers in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi by improving harvest quality and raising awareness of seaweed’s true market value.

Through training in regenerative seaweed farming, we promote sustainable methods that increase yields while restoring marine ecosystems.

“We train farmers in sustainable and effective techniques,” says Frenz L. Garcia of Coast 4C, a project partner. “We teach them about where carrageenan is used globally, how seaweed grows, and what factors impact quality, like rising sea temperatures, old seedlings, and outdated farming practices.”

For farmers like Darmial, the training has been eye-opening. 

“I learned how to prevent pests like siring-siring from damaging our seaweed. We also learned better tying and planting techniques that are kinder to the environment.”

To deepen their understanding, farmers visited MCPI’s processing plant to see how seaweed is transformed into carrageenan.

“That’s when I truly understood the importance of clean, mature seaweed,” says Marwan N. Sarae, a farmer from South Ubian.

The farmers we trained also visited a regenerative farm in Talibon, where they saw how sustainable farming improved yields and keeps the seas healthy.

“I saw how the new system reduces unnecessary costs and keeps our waters clean,” Marwan shared.

Our support doesn’t stop with training. 

“All the ecological and sustainable practices we’ve shared will be put into action through nursery farms we’re establishing. These will serve as learning hubs where farmers can apply what they’ve learnt. We’ll also provide on-site coaching to ensure the knowledge is used effectively," Garcia adds.

Now, farmers like Darmial and Marwan are leading by example. They’ve now practice regenerative methods in their own nurseries. They’re also eager to share their new knowledge with fellow seaweed farmers.

“Let’s not waste the knowledge we’ve been given,” Darmial encourages. “If we embrace these new ideas, seaweed farming in Tawi-Tawi can become more sustainable, for us today, and for future generations.”
Author: Zenny Awing

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