Looking Beyond Carrageenan from red seaweeds and Algae

A VISUAL INTRODUCTION TO HOW WE STARTED

RAFT PREPARATION

SEEDING OF ROPES

CULIVATION

RAFT FOR HARVESTING

DRYING ON SHORE

KAPPAPHYCUS CULTIVATION IN TAMIL NADU

WHY IS PRODUCT DIVERSIFICATION NECESSARY?

The erratic nature of supply and demand of seaweeds in the global market causes major swings in price which in turn disrupts the market. This price volatility creates farmers dependence on intermediaries as they keep switching on and off from cultivation. Creation of multiple product streams as well as additional applications of the seaweeds would enable natural hedging against unexpected market trends. The process of product diversification requires a large amount of Research and Development as well as the need to redefine the parameters of processing. The process of product diversifications is a long journey and is full of challenges. In the long run it is evident that the benefits will justify the journey.

WHAT PROMPTED US TO REVISIT THE CONVENTIONAL PROCESS

The traditional process of manufacturing Carrageenan from dry seaweed is very water intensive and creates a large volume of discharge, treatment of which is both capital and energy intensive. Since cultivation in India began in an area where water availability was a challenge, the need for a solution that addressed water consumption was essential. Changing the format of the raw material being processed from dry to freshly harvested seaweed was an obvious solution. As water required for washing and rehydration could be saved.

THE PROCESS CHANGE TRIGGERED A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY AND INNOVATION

AquAgri worked closely with CSMCRI (constituent of CSIR- The apex Scientific body in India) to develop a process, which since then has been commercialized and patented globally. This new process not only addressed the fundamental issue of reducing water and energy consumption but it also provided a line of sight for producing additional products for use in agriculture and animal nutrition The change of format of raw material sourcing also reduced the workload for the farmers as more than 50% of their time is currently spent on drying, cleaning and packing. This additional available time was leveraged for increasing the cultivation footprint, also leading to enhanced farm income.

NEW APPROACH TO PROCESS SEAPLANTS

Plant Nutrient
-Agriculture

Anitionmal Nutrition

Sea plant

Carrageenan Polysaccharide
Gelling/Stabilizing Agent

TECHNOLOGY LICENCED BY CSMCRI

A NEW PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED BY CSMCRI, INDIA. PATENTED GLOBALLY

Based on fresh weed. Liquid extract rich in micro nutrients, tested as a agricultural bio-fertilizer for boosting crop productivity. Field Trials delivered 15-30% increase in yield across various crops.
MICRO-NUTRIENT COPPER (Cu) ZINC (Zn) MANGANESE (Mn) IRON (Fe) LEVEL 0.90 mg/kg 3.77 mg/kg 0.96 mg/kg 11.57 mg/kg MICRO-NUTRIENT BORON (Bo) CALCIUM (Ca) MAGNESIUM (Mg) SULPHUR (S) LEVEL 2.82 mg/kg 379.00ppm 427.70 mg/kg 2988 mg/L

Increase in yield couldnt be explained only by just the presence of micronutrients

FURTHER RESEARCH LED TO THE DISCOVERY OF PLANT GROWTH HORMONES

PGR
AUXINS CYTOKININS GIBBERELLINS

QUANTITY
(mg/liter)

8.49 41.16 145.64

22 October 2012

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SEAPLANT NUTRIENTS TROPICAL VS COLD WATER SPECIES

All the work on sea plant based nutrients has emerged from Europe and North America and the focus has been on cold water algae such as giant kelp and Ascophyllum nodusum. Though they have demonstrated success, have really not become main stream because of their pricing. Seaplant-based nutrients helps in improving productivity of rainfed agriculture as PGRs have a major role in breaking dormancy reviving plants under stress. This has been demonstrated in ICRISAT trial. This could be due to the presence of polyaminoacids. Needed to compare Kappaphycus against cold water species. constituents

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KAPPAPHYCUS EXTRACT VS ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSUM PRODUCTS

PGR
AUXINS CYTOKININS GIBBERELLINS

AQUASAP Kappaphycus 8.49 41.16 145.64

Ascophyllum 1 Ascophyllum 2 10.44 76.86 5.57 10.92 10.95 4.46

*Sea plant based nutrients available in the Indian market formulated form raw
materials sourced from N America and Europe

YIELD IMPROVEMENT USING AQUASAP KAPPAPHYCUS EXTRACT

CROP INCREASE IN YIELD (%) TRIAL LOCATION

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BROAD ACRE CROPS CORN PADDY BARLEY WHEAT SUGARCANE MUSTARD 16.1 18.0 11.0; 22.0 20.2(05-06); 13.5(06-07) 40.1(06); 30.0(07) 7.2
PEPSI FA RMS MA DRAS UNIV ERSITY 4 FARMER FIELDS; RAJASTHAN GOVT. FARM PEPSI FA RMS; 5 FARMER FIELDS RENUKA SUGAR; 1000ac FA RMER FIELDS IN KTKA RAJASTHA N GOVT. FARM

VEGETABLES BRINJAL TOMATO POTATO CAPSICUM CHILLI 22.1; 23.0 20.0; 18.0 26.0; 25.0 19.1; 24.0 18.0; 9.0 13.6(05); 15.3(06) 12.5; 16.0 12.0 14.5
PEPSI FA RMS; FARMER FIELDS CLEA N FOODS; PEPSI FA RMS TECHNO TUBERS; AGRI UNI.,W.B. PEPSI FA RMS; FARMER FIELDS CLEA N FOODS; FARMER FIELDS

LEGUMES SOYABEAN GRAM PULSES PEANUT

SOYA PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION 5 FARMER FIELDS; RAJASTHAN GOVT. FARM FARMER FIELDS, RAJASTHAN MA DRAS UNIV ERSITY

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TRIALS WITH SUGARCANE

CONTROL PLOT TREATED

TRIALS WITH SUGARCANE

CONTROL PLOT TREATED

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Trial With Triveni Engineering and Industries Ltd. (TEIL)

In 2009 large scale trials were conducted with TEIL (U.P) over an area of 7000 hectares across 5 locations
Average Increase in Yield across 5 Locations 20.32%
32.87%

24.35% 21.81% 15.30%

7.14%

Milak Narayanpur

Rani Nangal

Sabitgarh

Khatauli

Deoband
22 October 2012

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TRIALS ON SOYABEAN WITH ICRISAT IN BHOPAL, OCTOBER 2009

The results shown below are from two locations in Bhopal, Vidisha and Anandpur. The following observations were made during our field visit:

Early maturing More seedling per pod Luxurious Leaf Growth in Treated plants The Plant Height was significantly higher in the treated plots The root stock and stem of the plant were much better developed and thicker in treated plot

TRIALS ON SOYABEAN - ICRISAT

CONTROL PLANT TREATED

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NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT FOR ANIMALS

Seaweed based nutritional supplements available in the international market triggered the exploration.

Benchmarked amino acid profile against commercially available products worldwide based on cold water species.

Essential amino acid profile of tropical Sea-plant extracts such as Kappaphycus are significantly superior compared to widely marketed seaweed based nutritional products.

AMINO ACID PROFILE

AMINO ACID THREONINE CYSTINE VALINE METHIONINE ISOLEUCINE LEUCINE TYROSINE PHERYLALANINE HISTIDINE LYSINE ARGININE TRYPTOPH AN PROLINE AL ANINE ASPARTIC ACID GLYCINE GLUTAMINE SERINE 9.38 4.12 13.25 3.25 3.18 19.76 7.83 4.23 1.52 13.25 38.76 7.28 14.52 21.65 25.18 18.60 22.30 12.62

Competitive Analysis
ASCOPHYLLUM 1 1.98 0.92 2.68 0.68 0.66 5.45 1.42 0.86 0.28 2.83 9.76 0.18 3.28 4.62 5.23 3.92 5.26 2.38

(mg/100gm)
ASCOPHYLLUM 2 1.72 0.86 2.18 0.72 0.63 4.85 0.96 0.72 0.12 2.18 8.38 0.14 2.96 4.28 4.86 3.18 4.36 1.86
22 October 2012

AQUASAP (Natural Form)

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TRIALS ON POULTRY

10% increase in weight of the birds in 45 days feeding trials. 5% reduction in mortality rate Significant improvement in response of broiler chickens immune-modulation

Micro nutrients and amino acid profile coupled with the results achieved on poultry trials points towards seaplant extract being used as a nutritional supplement for human beings a lot more rigorous research and clinical trials needed to unveil this new dimension.

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EXPLORING NEW AVENUES

Seaweeds have the potential to not only be used in a variety of industries but have the potential to be used for multiple applications from the same raw material. Industries where seaweeds can be used beyond hydrocolloids are:
Nutraceuticals Pharmaceuticals Agricultural Applications Cosmetics Petroleum Energy Source

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WAY FORWARD

Collaborative work for agricultural and animal trials to any interested organization or institution. Partnerships to expand to other industrial applications. Can help in acquiring the technology from CSMCRI, India. Willing to partner research institutions to widen the scope of enquiry.