Planting in blue forests: cultivation of red macroalgae

The project intends to develop the installation and operation of fifty (50) family farms of Kappaphicus sp family farms of 1 ha each for a period of 22 months on the Araya Peninsula. Generating 250 direct jobs and another 1,250 indirect jobs, for a total of 1,500 jobs, with an investment of approximately US$6.9 million. Its production capacity, of dried red macroalgae, of 1 aquafarm/Ha, is 4.76 tons/harvest, with 24 harvests/year, for a total of 114.24 tons/year. Before COVID 19, the international purchase price was 3,000 USD/ton, currently demand exceeds supply. Therefore, in a very short time the invested amount will be amortized. The applications of Kappaphicus sp has in the human food industry, medicine, cosmetology, as well as for the preparation of balanced diets for animals and growth accelerating phytohormones in short-cycle crops, increasing the number of harvests per crop per year.