Speaker

About the speaker: 

Professor Lim Phaik Eem is an internationally recognized phycologist specializing in the molecular systematics, biodiversity, and sustainable aquaculture of eucheumatoids (Kappaphycus and Eucheuma). She has led pioneering research on the genetic diversity, biosecurity, and climate resilience of tropical carrageenophyte farming, contributing significantly to the global understanding of seaweed disease ecology and biosecurity management. Her work includes co-authoring the Practical Guide to the Aquaculture of Kappaphycus and Eucheuma in Malaysia and leading Malaysia’s initiatives on sustainable eucheumatoid farming and conservation of genetic resources. Her commitment to a sustainable seaweed industry in Southeast Asia has earned her top national honors, including the prestigious Malaysia Toray Science Foundation Science & Technology Award (2023) and Top Research Scientist Malaysia (2021). She is also a core member of the UK-funded GlobalSeaweed-SUPERSTAR, GlobalSeaweed-PROTECT, and GlobalSeaweedSTAR projects.

Company info:

Universiti Malaya (UM) is  Malaysia’s oldest and top public university. UM is supported by two academies, fourteen faculties, two institutes and one academic centre, offering fields ranging from medicine, science and technology, to social sciences and humanities. The university also houses Malaysia’s oldest and biggest teaching hospital - UMMC. In elevating research excellence, various strategic advancements including the formation of Research Clusters to drive further breakthroughs in fields of great importance have been initiated. The emphasis on research is strengthened by the presence of centres of excellence, spearheading cutting edge research outcome and impact. UM has made a significant achievement by securing its best ever ranking position in the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (QS-WUR) for 2026, being the 58th best in the world.

Presentation:

This talk highlights the vital role of eucheumatoid seaweed farming (Kappaphycus and Eucheuma) in advancing a sustainable blue economy. It addresses how climate change, disease, and declining genetic diversity potentially threaten coastal communities dependent on seaweed aquaculture for their livelihoods. Strategies for building climate-resilient farming systems will be shared based on research in genetic diversity, biosecurity, and ecosystem-based approaches from GlobalSeaweed-SUPERSTAR, GlobalSeaweed-PROTECT, and GlobalSeaweed-STAR projects. By promoting sustainable cultivation practices, strengthening community capacity, and integrating seaweed aquaculture into climate and biodiversity frameworks, this work positions seaweeds as providing nature-based solutions for livelihood security and ocean health.