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Sri Lanka is positioning itself as an emerging force in the Indian Ocean seaweed economy following its participation at the seventh India International Seaweed Expo and Summit 2026, held at ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in Kochi.

The event, recognised as one of the region’s largest seaweed-focused business and research gatherings, brought together international stakeholders from Brazil, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, Sweden and other countries. Delegates representing Latin America, South Asia and Europe signalled strong interest in cross-border partnerships, technology transfer and the development of new market linkages.

According to a press release, Sri Lanka sees coordinated policy alignment, private investment, research–industry partnerships and regional trade collaboration as key pillars for growth. With these elements in place, the country aims to emerge as a diversified seaweed hub within the Indian Ocean corridor.

As global demand rises for sustainable marine biomass across food, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and climate-linked industries, Sri Lanka’s engagement at the expo underscores its intention to play an active role in shaping the region’s blue economy. The country is seeking to leverage growing international momentum around seaweed as a sustainable resource with applications in high-value product manufacturing.

A central feature of the summit was the Seaweed 2030 panel, an ambitious national roadmap designed to position India as a global leader in sustainable seaweed production, processing and value-added manufacturing. The two-day programme also facilitated knowledge exchange and collaboration among participating nations, reinforcing Kochi’s role within the global seaweed ecosystem.

The summit was jointly organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and ICAR–CMFRI. Sri Lanka’s participation highlights its strategic intent to expand its footprint in the sector, align with regional initiatives and strengthen its presence in international seaweed markets as the industry continues to scale globally.

Sri Lanka is positioning itself as an emerging leader in the Indian Ocean seaweed economy following its participation at the 7th India International Seaweed Expo and Summit 2026 held at ICAR-CMFRI in Kochi, India.

Representing Sri Lanka and the Maldives as an international panelist, Seaweed Development Consultant Sivaram Kulendran highlighted the region’s growing potential to transition from small-scale seaweed initiatives into a structured, export-oriented industry. He underscored the strategic importance of developing sustainable seaweed value chains across the Indian Ocean, emphasizing collaboration, research, and private sector engagement.

Kulendran noted that Sri Lanka possesses favorable coastal conditions for seaweed cultivation and can leverage its geographic advantage to become a competitive player in the sector. He stressed that moving beyond pilot projects toward commercial-scale production will require coordinated policy support, investment in technology, and capacity building among coastal communities.

The expo brought together policymakers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors to discuss innovations, sustainability practices, and market opportunities within the global seaweed industry. Discussions focused on enhancing cultivation techniques, strengthening supply chains, and unlocking value-added opportunities in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and bio-based products.

Sri Lanka’s participation signaled its intent to align with regional partners and tap into the expanding global demand for seaweed-based products. The country aims to integrate seaweed farming into broader blue economy strategies, promoting livelihood development while ensuring environmental sustainability.

By engaging at international forums such as the India International Seaweed Expo, Sri Lanka is seeking to build strategic partnerships, attract technical expertise, and position itself as a hub for seaweed innovation in the Indian Ocean region. The initiative reflects a broader ambition to diversify exports and strengthen marine-based industries as part of long-term economic development planning.

DLG Benelux has announced the launch of Seagriculture World, a new global conference formed through the merger of Seagriculture USA and Seagriculture Asia-Pacific. The inaugural edition of Seagriculture World will take place from 19–21 May 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, positioning the event at the gateway to Asia, the world’s leading region for seaweed production.

The newly consolidated conference aims to bring together international stakeholders from across the seaweed value chain to foster collaboration, innovation, and industry growth. By uniting the previously separate regional events under one global platform, the organizer intends to create a stronger, more connected forum for knowledge exchange and business development.

Bangkok was selected as the host city due to its strategic location in Asia, a region that plays a central role in global seaweed cultivation and production. The event is expected to attract a diverse audience of industry leaders, researchers, investors, and policymakers, reflecting the expanding global interest in seaweed as a sustainable resource.

The conference program will feature expert speakers addressing a wide range of topics across the seaweed sector. Key focus areas include seaweed for feed and food applications, offshore cultivation, and biorefinery technologies. Additional discussions will explore innovation, commercialization, and sustainable practices that support the industry’s long-term development.

Seagriculture World builds on the established reputation of the Seagriculture conference series, which has previously hosted events in Europe, the United States, and the Asia-Pacific region. The merger into a single global event reflects the growing interconnectedness of the international seaweed industry and the need for a unified platform to address shared challenges and opportunities.

By convening stakeholders from across continents, Seagriculture World aims to strengthen partnerships, stimulate investment, and accelerate innovation in seaweed production and applications. The 2026 Bangkok conference marks the beginning of this new global chapter, with a focus on advancing sustainable growth and reinforcing the industry’s role in addressing food security, environmental sustainability, and bio-based innovation worldwide.

Engineers have achieved a world record efficiency for solar cells made from antimony chalcogenide, an emerging photovoltaic material, marking a significant milestone in the development of next-generation solar technologies. Their findings were published in Nature Energy, where the team reported a certified efficiency of 10.7%, the highest independently verified performance for this material to date.

This achievement represents the first time antimony chalcogenide has been included in the international Solar Cell Efficiency Tables, which track record-setting photovoltaic results worldwide. Inclusion in these tables signals formal recognition of the material’s progress and growing potential within the global solar research community.

Antimony chalcogenide has attracted increasing attention as a promising alternative for photovoltaic applications due to its favorable material properties. Researchers have been working to enhance its performance and stability, aiming to position it as a competitive option alongside more established solar cell materials.

The newly certified efficiency demonstrates substantial improvements in device performance, underscoring the rapid advancements being made in this emerging field. By reaching 10.7% efficiency, the research team has set a new benchmark that could accelerate further innovation and investment in antimony chalcogenide-based solar technologies.

The record-setting result highlights the broader push within the renewable energy sector to identify cost-effective, scalable, and durable materials capable of supporting global decarbonization efforts. As researchers continue refining fabrication techniques and device architectures, antimony chalcogenide solar cells may play an increasingly important role in expanding the range of viable photovoltaic solutions available to the market.

Scientists in Oban, Scotland, believe they have developed a successful tank-based method for growing the highly-valued red seaweed Palmaria palmata, commonly known as dulse.

The Seaweed Insights platform covers areas such as St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Venezuela, Chile, and Brazil.

Notpla has partnered with Dutch quick-service restaurant (QSR) Kwalitaria to advance its seaweed-based coating, suitable for trays and containers, with logistics provided by packaging distributor Conpax.