Helping the planet with seaweed - 10th December2021

In southern India, women are producing seaweed. Scientists know this plant can help save the environment. That's because it takes in more carbon dioxide than trees.

Now, the government wants to use seaweed to help fight global warming. It can improve the quality of sea water too. And it also provides work for local communities.

Mutha Muthuvel is grateful for the opportunity.

Mutha Muthuvel: "The profit in other jobs is not as much. With seaweed farming, for three months there isn't any returns. But after putting in the hard work, in the fourth month, we collect all the seaweed and we get a lot of profit and we're happy."

Seaweed grows very quickly. This community is now producing five times more seaweed than before. But the locals take care to only farm at certain times. They don't want to damage fish and other sea life.

For one woman, this work means she can send her children to college.

Lakshmi Murgesan: "Earlier, I used to think I wouldn't be able to educate my children. But after doing this seaweed business, I’ve been able to send my children to college."

Seaweed is used in medicine, cosmetics, farming and food production. It's loved by scientists because it's very good for the environment. It absorbs carbon dioxide and puts oxygen into the seawater. And no land or fresh water are needed for production.

India is the third largest producer of carbon dioxide in the world, so the government is really interested in seaweed production. It's giving money to encourage new businesses in seaweed.

But farming seaweed can be risky.

Lakshmi Murgesan: "When we go and collect the seaweed, the seabed is quite rocky. And when we walk, we sometimes slip and fall. So we have to be a bit careful. And then there are fish that can bite, that is also one of the dangers."