Twenty Years of Commercial Farming of Kappaphycus alvarezii in India: A Look Back at Learnings and the Way Forward

Kappaphycus alvarezii continues to be driving force in marine agronomy. Along with Euchema spp. it contributes to 11.6 million tonnes feedstock globally. Among 30 countries where it was introduced, only, Tanzania and India could reach commercial-scale farming. In India the feedstock production reached 8088 t (dry) worth ~USD 2,390,184 (between 2005 and 2020). The commercial farming has provided diversification of livelihood to the fishermen involved in un-organized sector of natural seaweed gathering. At the cusp of its strategic expansion this review based on 20 years of research and developmental efforts provided a broad-brushstroke picture of information on: (i) new innovations; novel, high-value products; (ii) use as a biological source of commercially relevant genes to combat abiotic stress tolerance in crops; (iii) evolution in farming techniques and models; (iv) conscious efforts in skill-set development; (v) policy guidelines to support industry; (vi) environmental concerns, disease outbreak, and biosecurity framework; (vii) sustainable seed-supply management; (viii) cost–benefit analysis through perspective of profitability assessment parameters; and (ix) role of private sector in taking this initiative ahead. K. alvarezii farming in India seems to be successful example of achieving “triple bottom line” objectives of balanced economic, social and environmental out-come as proposed by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and World Bank (WB).