A group of researchers of UPV College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (UPV-CFOS) welcomes collaborations with academic and research institutions, local government units, non-government organizations, and industry partners on seaweeds.
The Seaweed Research and Innovation Group led by Prof. Encarnacion Emilia S. Yap, dean of CFOS, and Asst. Prof. Iris Ann G. Borlongan, the project leader and co-project leader, respectively, is looking forward to working with interested collaborators on various collaborative research and public service activities related to seaweeds. The group will be providing training on seaweed culture or farming, utilization, and consultancy services.
The seaweed project is a partnership between UPV-CFOS and China's Seaweed Base International Science and Technology Cooperation (SBIS&TC). SBIS&TC is a scientific international cooperation unit of the Ocean University of China (OUC) in Qingdao, China.
A Memorandum of Agreement between UPV and SBIS&TC was signed on December 10, 2021, to establish the China-ASEAN Joint Laboratory for Seaweed Research (Philippines) at CFOS in UPV Miagao campus for collaborative research and instruction activities of both institutions.
A seaweed micropropagation facility was put up at the Fish Biology Laboratory Building with funding from the GCRF-UKRI Global Seaweed STAR project.
Aiming to contribute to the development of the seaweed industry in the country, various student research projects are being conducted by the undergraduate and graduate students of CFOS, said Borlongan.
Some ongoing seaweed research projects implemented at CFOS are “Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of seaweeds to elucidate ‘ice-ice’ disease and epiphyte infestation mechanisms” funded by DOST-PCAARRD; and “Effects of seaweed-derived biostimulants on the photosynthesis of carrageenophytes,” with financial assistance from the UP System.
“More seaweed research projects are to be implemented in the following years to spur further seaweed R&D initiatives in the region and country,” Borlongan added. (With sources from Asst. Prof. Iris Ann G. Borlongan)
