.JPG)
“The Global Red Sea Algae Research Foundation" was inaugurated on June 26, 2023 at Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. It is a first of its kind initiative in India. In the opening ceremony, Member of Parliament Mayiladuthurai, Mr. S. Ramalingam and Darumaiyadeenam Srilasree. Kailai Masilamani, Mr. K. Anbazagan, Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and Chairman of the Assembly Evaluation Committee, Mr. Mohan, Chairman, Skywin groups, Mrs. Amudha Mohan,Managing Director, Sunmac Agro and representatives of the leading agricultural and marine institutions were present.
Renowned International Marine Scientist, Dr. Deiva Oswin Stanley, lit the lamp and inaugurated the Organisation. She is an Integrated Ecosystems Management Specialist and consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN-FAO) and has thirty years of experience in marine plant resources, research and conservation in twenty one countries. While speaking she said “There is huge potential in the global market for red marine algae grown in Indian waters. The global red sea algae trade is a multi-billion dollar market. It is an important natural ingredient in everyday food products, cosmetic products, agricultural inputs, and pharmaceuticals. "It is a great challenge and need to investigate, quantify and catalogue the molecules present in Indian red algae," she said.
The organisation has agriculture scientists, marine ecologists and biotechnologists, herbal research experts and entrepreneurs on its management committee. Herbal Scientist and Principal Coordinator of the Foundation, Dr. Salai. Maruthamalai Murugan said, Prasmo Agri has laid the foundation for this research collaboration. This start up foundation's research and development activities will support various young entrepreneurs, researchers and thousands of farmers who are involved in red sea algae farming and trading.
The Director of the company Mr. Prashant Mohan said that, for about ten years, Prasmo Agri has been buying 20,000 tonnes of farmed red sea algae from farming groups to produce agricultural inputs and food products. He added that, the Red Sea Algae products are well received both domestically and internationally. The yield and quality of red marine algae grown along the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu have been affected. He said that the livelihood and business of the sea farming people who depend on it are much affected.
Mr. Mohan, The Chairman of Skywin Biotech, Kumabakonam has been involved in agricultural inputs research, production and trading for the past 45 years. While speaking at the event said, “Government initiatives like creation of Special Economic Zone, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Blue Revolution scheme are expected to boost the Indian sea algae market. He said that the Government of India has recently allocated Rs. 100 crore for algal cultivation. More than 800 Red Sea Algae farmers, traders and consumers e.