3 weeks ago
Indian Coast Seaweeds in Ice Cream, Toothpaste and Medicines
Seaweed is a kind of plant that grows in the ocean.
Lots of seaweed grows along the coast of India.
You might not know it, but seaweed is hidden in many everyday things.
It helps ice cream stay smooth and creamy by stopping ice crystals from forming.
It keeps chocolate milk from separating, and it is even in some toothpastes and medicines.
Scientists use a jelly made from seaweed, called agar, to grow bacteria in laboratories.
There are more than 800 types of seaweed in Indian waters, and about 60 are useful to people.
Seaweed is good for the planet because it doesn't need land, fresh water or fertiliser to grow.
Experts think the seaweed market could grow to $11.8 billion by 2030.
Along India's 7,500-km coastline grow more than 800 species of marine algae, with around 60 having commercial value.
Carrageenan from red seaweeds like Kappaphycus alvarezii is used to keep ice cream smooth and cocoa suspended in chocolate milk.
Gracilaria and Gelidiella acerosa are key sources of agar, used in desserts, jellies and microbiology laboratory plates.
A 2023 World Bank report estimated that 10 emerging seaweed markets could grow to $11.8 billion by 2030.
Seaweed needs no agricultural land, freshwater, fertiliser or pesticides, and India has a potential production capacity of about 9.7 million tonnes annually.
- Who
- Indian researchers, farmers and companies, along with organisations such as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and the World Bank.
- What
- Eight commercially valuable seaweeds from India's coast are used in everyday products including ice cream, chocolate milk, toothpaste, snacks, cosmetics and medicines.
- Where
- Along India's 7,500-km coastline, including Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
- When
- Reported recently, drawing on sources published between 2020 and 2025, including a 2023 World Bank report and an April 2025 Ministry of Fisheries publication.
- Why
- Seaweed provides natural thickening and stabilising agents, dietary fibre and nutrients, and can be grown without agricultural land, freshwater, fertiliser or pesticides.
Key facts
- India's coastline length
- 7,500 km
- Marine algae species in Indian waters
- More than 800 (over 840 reported)
- Species with commercial value
- Around 60
- Global carrageenan trade value
- Around $240 million
- Global agar market value
- Approximately $132 million
- Emerging seaweed market potential by 2030
- $11.8 billion (World Bank, 2023)
- India's potential seaweed production capacity
- About 9.7 million tonnes annually (ICAR-CMFRI)
- Key seaweed extracts
- Carrageenan, agar, alginate
Sources
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