Conference Program

This session shines a spotlight on the people at the heart of Asia’s seaweed industry - the farmers. They will speak about their daily realities: where they farm, how seaweed sustains their families, the challenges they face, and the innovations and partnerships that have made a difference.

The session also highlights models that empower farming communities. NGOs, cooperatives, and companies will give short presentations showcasing inclusive supply chain practices, value addition at the local level, and successful community development initiatives.

Session 2: Practical Farm Management for a Changing Ocean: Compliance, Monitoring, and Market Access

This session This session explores hands-on approaches to managing seaweed farms more effectively. Experts will share tools and strategies for environmental alert systems, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) compliance, and portfolio-level monitoring. Learn how these practices are increasingly linked to traceability and market access, and how farms of all sizes can align with both environmental and commercial expectations.

Session 3: Climate Resilience & Disease Management: Safeguarding Seaweed Cultivation

Climate change is reshaping marine environments and intensifying pressures on seaweed farms. This session will explore the growing threats from rising sea temperatures, salinity shifts, ice-ice disease, and epiphytic infestations, as well as broader water quality and ecosystem interactions. Experts will share insights into innovative monitoring tools, resistant strains, farm management practices and risk-sharing mechanisms such as insurance models. The discussion will offer practical pathways for farmers and industry to adapt and secure stable yields in an uncertain climate future.

Session 4: Integrated Aquaculture: Unlocking the Potential of Co-Cultivation

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems that combine shrimp, fish, and seaweed are gaining traction across Asia as a sustainable solution to balance production, reduce waste, and diversify farmer incomes. This session will explore successful models, highlighting how co-cultivation can improve water quality, reduce disease pressure, and open new markets for seaweed and aquaculture products.

Session 5: Beyond Hydrocolloids: Unlocking the Potential of Tropical Red Seaweeds 

Tropical red seaweeds such as Kappaphycus and Eucheuma underpin the livelihoods of thousands of coastal farmers across Southeast Asia, but the sector remains heavily dependent on the hydrocolloid market (carrageenan and agar). This session will explore how the industry can diversify into higher-value applications such as biostimulants, alternative proteins, nutraceuticals, and sustainable materials. Startups and innovators working directly with tropical red seaweeds will share how they are creating new value chains, building resilience for farmers, and tapping into growing global demand for sustainable products.

Session 6: Nature Credits: Beyond Carbon in the Blue Economy

As the ocean becomes central to climate and biodiversity strategies, the conversation around credits is rapidly evolving. While carbon credits have dominated the market, new frameworks such as Japan’s J-Blue Credit system demonstrate a more holistic approach -valuing not just carbon sequestration but also biodiversity, coastal resilience, community well-being, and cultural heritage. This session explores how "Nature Credits" can expand the scope of ocean-based sustainability, balancing ecological integrity, social equity, and economic opportunity. Speakers will highlight global innovations, practical applications, and pathways for integrating these broader values into finance and policy systems that can support the Blue Economy.

A structured discussion on how to align philanthropic, concessional, equity and debt capital with the operating realities of seaweed aquaculture, with particular focus on working capital, risk allocation and portfolio-level approaches. The session will examine where current capital mismatches occur and outline practical steps to build durable, scalable value chains consistent with regional aquaculture transformation goals.