Seaweed an overlooked resource

MANY resources that can contribute to the country’s economic enhancement remain untapped and there is still an opportunity for government to explore ways how to invest in such resources.

This was said by Dr Rihupisa Kandando of the Seaweed Utilisation Technology Centre at a public lecture in Windhoek on Thursday night, under the theme: ‘Is Namibia’s seaweed product a disaster or economic potential for the food industry?’ Kandando observed that seaweed is one of the natural resources that are neglected and sometimes its usefulness to the country’s economic development goes unnoticed. He argued that there is much that the country could do with seaweed by processing it and adding value to it before exporting.”For instance, our Ministry of Health and food manufacturers import ready-made products derived from seaweed for purposes like medical laboratories, human food and animal food supplements,” he said.According to him, Government and food manufacturers can save a lot by adding value to seaweed products and exporting some, while the rest could be used locally.Seaweed products are used as food thickeners, stabilisers, emulsifiers or gelling agents.Kandando said it is time that potential investors start looking at marine resources such as seaweed that are underutilised but have economic potential.-NampaHe argued that there is much that the country could do with seaweed by processing it and adding value to it before exporting.”For instance, our Ministry of Health and food manufacturers import ready-made products derived from seaweed for purposes like medical laboratories, human food and animal food supplements,” he said.According to him, Government and food manufacturers can save a lot by adding value to seaweed products and exporting some, while the rest could be used locally.Seaweed products are used as food thickeners, stabilisers, emulsifiers or gelling agents.Kandando said it is time that potential investors start looking at marine resources such as seaweed that are underutilised but have economic potential.-Nampa