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FARMING THE FUTURE

Indonesia with over 17 thousand islands is one of the largest seaweed producers in the world. On a small Indonesian island of Nusa Lembongan the majority of inhabitants are involved in the cultivation of seaweed. A key ingredient in medicines, cosmetics a — seaweed

Farmers' boats. — Indonesia

Seaweed and algae's rapid rate of photosynthesis, the process of turning carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy and oxygen, make it a prime candidate for absorbing carbon out of the environment. Some seaweeds can absorb five times more carbon dioxide tha — Anbau

Two farmers loading freshly collected seaweed into baskets. Seaweed is a commodity traded in the international market, though farmers face challenges like fluctuating market prices, lack of access to capital as well as natural conditions like tropical sto — Algen

Loading freshly harvested seaweed into baskets. Used as gelling and viscosity agents in a wide range of foods, in bio- medical and agricultural applications and for beauty and healthcare products, world annual production of extracts is about 250,000 tonne — Bali

When a boat with seaweed arrives, it is brought to the land in baskets and put to dry on the sand. — farmers

Big areas covered with seaweed can be found in front of farmers' houses. — photograph

A woman carrying a basket full of seaweed. — Nusa Lembongan

After a month in the water, the seaweed is collected and put out to dry. — photography

Sun-drying seaweed covers large areas of beach. — Fotografie

A woman moves her feet back and forth on the lines which are crubbed in the sand and cleaned for reuse.

The sand clears away any debris left from the seaweed or accumulated from the month in the water.

After cleaning the old foil is taken off and new stripes are placed on the lines. Although the natural habitat of the seaweed is the reef environment, where they grow attached to hard substrates, it can also grow attached to lines underwater. This cultiva

Hours of work replacing used foil with a new one.

A man and his harvest.

The seaweed is covered with sheets of foil.

Children also work collecting seaweed. The work schedule is dictated by the ebb and flow of the tide, often the seaweed has to be harvested at night. — Foto

Weaving baskets and preparing lines for the seaweed. — photo

An elderly woman ih her house, lines for the seaweed in front.

Regardless the age, the inhabitants of the island seem to be all working in seaweed production.

Baskets suspended at the ends of a rod carried on the shoulder.

Several times a day the seaweed is carried.

The vast majority of the world’s seaweed is grown in Asia where seaweed farming has proven, in parts, to be a more lucrative and reliable source of income than fishing. Nusa Lembongan, Indonesia.

Helping hands to load and put baskets on the heads are coming.

Putting a loaded basket on the head is not easy, another person is there to help.

On a small Indonesian island of Nusa Lembongan the majority of inhabitants are involved in the cultivation of seaweed. A key ingredient in medicines, cosmetics and foods among many other products, seaweed has become the financial backbone of this island just off southeastern coast of Bali. Seaweed and algae's rapid rate of photosynthesis make it a prime candidate for absorbing carbon out of the environment. Some seaweeds can absorb five times more carbon dioxide than plants on land. Could seaweed help battle global warming?