Gracilaria edulis & G. debilis are utilized for more than three decades for food grade agar production in India. Many seaweed based industries in India are not producing agar to their full capacity due to shortage of raw material. A feasible cultivation method has been developed for sustainable production of biomass.
An improved process has been developed for extraction of superior quality agar from Gracilaria edulis, which may be useful for food, agriculture and biological applications.
Gracilaria edulis & debilis are utilized for more than three decades for food grade agar production in India. Many seaweed based industries in India are not producing agar to their installed capacity due to shortage of raw material. A feasible cultivation method has been developed for sustainable production of biomass for agar production using improved method.
J Appl Phycol 2008, 20:397–402; J of Appl Phycology, 2016, 28, 3479-3489; J Appl Phycol 2019, 31, 2609–2621, J Appl Phycol 2010, 22, 623–627
5 kg seaweed as raw material / batch production of agar
India is mostly depends on the imported agar products used as thickener and gelling agents in the food industry. Hence, CSIR-CSMCRI process technology will provide import substitute for expensive agar products.
This is almost zero liquid discharge process
Red seaweeds (Gracilaria edulis/ G. debilis)
Reactor (pressure vessel); Centrifuge; Filtration unit; Mechanical Grinder; Evaporator; Boiler; Refrigerator (-15 oC), Pumps.
Tentative Price: Raw material Seaweed: ₹40-60/Kg
Agar: ₹400-700/Kg
Cultivation methodology of Gracilaria edulis & Gracilaria debilis and training with at least two Bamboo rafts; Demonstration of the agar production @ 1 Kg dry seaweed/batch; demonstration certificate and technology transfer document having information on market, completion, process, specification of products, optimized parameters of process, product evaluation details, equipment requirement details, designs etc., will be provided; Appropriate discount in license fee for small scale industries/startup will be provided.
