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Dr. Bhavani Rao, UNESCO Chair for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality and Dean, Amrita School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, participated as a panel speaker at the 7th India International Seaweed Expo & Summit, held at ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi.
Drawing on extensive on-ground experience from women-led seaweed initiatives under the “Blue is the New Pink” approach, Dr. Rao shared insights from programmes that have supported over 200 coastal women through sustainable seaweed cultivation and value-added entrepreneurship. Her contributions focused on building robust ecosystems for innovation and industrial application in India’s emerging seaweed sector.
During the panel discussions, Dr. Rao highlighted how women-led seaweed enterprises can simultaneously strengthen coastal livelihoods, contribute to marine ecosystem restoration, and introduce seaweed into India’s food and nutrition culture. She emphasized the importance of moving beyond isolated interventions toward whole-system models that integrate cultivation, nutrition, enterprise development, and ecological stewardship—while consciously avoiding the creation of new cycles of inequality.
Framing women as custodians of both community wellbeing and ocean health, Dr. Rao underscored that empowering women entrepreneurs is central to building a resilient, inclusive blue economy.
Alongside the panel sessions, teams from AMMACHI Labs and the Center for Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equality (CWEGE)—including senior networking specialists and marketing strategists—actively engaged with researchers, startups, industry leaders, and policymakers throughout the Expo. These interactions focused on understanding market dynamics, value-chain opportunities, and sector trends, with the aim of strengthening women-led seaweed value-added enterprises and improving long-term livelihood outcomes.
The Expo served as a vital platform connecting policy, innovation, industry, and community-based practice, reinforcing the role of enterprise-driven, environmentally responsible models in shaping India’s growing seaweed economy.
| SDG | Goal Title | Relevance to Women-Led Seaweed Initiatives |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5 | Gender Equality | Empowers coastal women through leadership, entrepreneurship, and decision-making in the seaweed value chain. |
| SDG 8 | Decent Work and Economic Growth | Creates sustainable livelihoods and income opportunities through seaweed cultivation and value-added enterprises. |
| SDG 12 | Responsible Consumption and Production | Promotes sustainable production practices and encourages the use of seaweed in food, nutrition, and industrial applications. |
| SDG 13 | Climate Action | Supports climate-resilient livelihoods and contributes to carbon sequestration and ecosystem-based adaptation. |
| SDG 14 | Life Below Water | Enhances marine biodiversity, supports ecosystem restoration, and encourages responsible use of ocean resources. |
