Key Highlights

• The plan: Gujarat has proposed a ₹100-crore Marine Biotechnology Research and Innovation Corridor (M-BRIC) over five years.
• Location: A 30-acre hub at Mocha village in Porbandar district.
• Partner: CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute will be the key scientific partner.
• Focus: Seaweed, microalgae and marine microbes for products like biofertilisers, nutraceuticals, aquafeed and omega-3s.
• Livelihoods: Training for coastal youth, seaweed farmers, fishing communities and women-led enterprises.

Gujarat is planning to turn its marine resources into a source of high-value products and jobs. The state has proposed investing ₹100 crore over five years in a Marine Biotechnology Research and Innovation Corridor (M-BRIC) at Mocha village in Porbandar district.

The project, an initiative of the Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission under the Department of Science and Technology, will bring research, manufacturing, startups and coastal livelihood programmes into a single ecosystem. An MoU will be signed with CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR-CSMCRI), in the presence of ministers Arjun Modhwadia and Jitu Vaghani.

What the Corridor Will Include

What Can Be Made From the Sea

The corridor will explore products including biofertilisers, nutraceuticals, cosmetic ingredients, aquafeed, animal nutrition, enzymes and pharmaceutical intermediates. Seaweed-derived substances such as agar, alginate and carrageenan are also on the list. These are widely used as thickeners and gelling agents in everyday foods, as well as in labs and medical products.

Why It Matters: Value Addition for Coastal Communities

Seaweed farming is a growing source of income for coastal families, especially women. But raw seaweed fetches low prices. The real value lies in processing it into ingredients and products. By building processing, research and manufacturing close to where seaweed is grown, the corridor aims to keep more of that value within coastal communities.

At ₹100 crore over five years, about ₹20 crore a year, the investment is modest by industrial standards. Its impact will depend on how many startups and industries it attracts, and whether farmers see higher earnings.

Skills and Sustainability

Under the Seaweed Mission, training will cover seaweed cultivation, aquaculture, marine biotechnology, entrepreneurship and intellectual property. The project also includes environmental monitoring, biodiversity assessment and research on Blue Carbon, the carbon stored by coastal and marine ecosystems.

The Bottom Line

If it delivers, M-BRIC could help Gujarat turn its long coastline from a source of raw material into a hub of marine innovation, with seaweed at the centre.

With inputs from IANS.

Key Highlights

• The plan: Gujarat has proposed a ₹100-crore Marine Biotechnology Research and Innovation Corridor (M-BRIC) over five years.
• Location: A 30-acre hub at Mocha village in Porbandar district.
• Partner: CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute will be the key scientific partner.
• Focus: Seaweed, microalgae and marine microbes for products like biofertilisers, nutraceuticals, aquafeed and omega-3s.
• Livelihoods: Training for coastal youth, seaweed farmers, fishing communities and women-led enterprises.

Gujarat is planning to turn its marine resources into a source of high-value products and jobs. The state has proposed investing ₹100 crore over five years in a Marine Biotechnology Research and Innovation Corridor (M-BRIC) at Mocha village in Porbandar district.

The project, an initiative of the Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission under the Department of Science and Technology, will bring research, manufacturing, startups and coastal livelihood programmes into a single ecosystem. An MoU will be signed with CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR-CSMCRI), in the presence of ministers Arjun Modhwadia and Jitu Vaghani.

What the Corridor Will Include

What Can Be Made From the Sea

The corridor will explore products including biofertilisers, nutraceuticals, cosmetic ingredients, aquafeed, animal nutrition, enzymes and pharmaceutical intermediates. Seaweed-derived substances such as agar, alginate and carrageenan are also on the list. These are widely used as thickeners and gelling agents in everyday foods, as well as in labs and medical products.

Why It Matters: Value Addition for Coastal Communities

Seaweed farming is a growing source of income for coastal families, especially women. But raw seaweed fetches low prices. The real value lies in processing it into ingredients and products. By building processing, research and manufacturing close to where seaweed is grown, the corridor aims to keep more of that value within coastal communities.

At ₹100 crore over five years, about ₹20 crore a year, the investment is modest by industrial standards. Its impact will depend on how many startups and industries it attracts, and whether farmers see higher earnings.

Skills and Sustainability

Under the Seaweed Mission, training will cover seaweed cultivation, aquaculture, marine biotechnology, entrepreneurship and intellectual property. The project also includes environmental monitoring, biodiversity assessment and research on Blue Carbon, the carbon stored by coastal and marine ecosystems.

The Bottom Line

If it delivers, M-BRIC could help Gujarat turn its long coastline from a source of raw material into a hub of marine innovation, with seaweed at the centre.

With inputs from IANS.