Transparencia de Fundació CODESPA Catalunya
A more prosperous future for small seaweed farmers in the Philippines
The waters surrounding the island of Mindanao in the Philippines fade from deep blue to aquamarine. But in some coastal areas, the sea is striped, green. These stripes are formed by ropes suspended beneath the water’s surface, where they provide a structure for seaweed to grow. This is a common sight across the region and represents an important source of income for thousands of families.
Seaweed farming has been part of the local economy for nearly three decades. Yet many farmers continue to face low productivity, limited access to inputs and financing, and weak connections to higher-value markets.
Maximo Caudillo, a seaweed farmer and Vice President of the Manjagao Farmers and Fisherfolk Livelihood Association in Surigao City, knows these challenges well. He began farming seaweed in 2011, at a time when finding buyers for the harvest was a constant struggle.
“Although our production was high, the problem was that we had no buyers,” he said. “We stopped producing because it was a waste of effort and we weren’t earning any profit.”
Caudillo’s experience reflects the reality faced by many coastal communities in the region. Poverty remains high in parts of Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte, where most families live in rural areas and depend on fishing and agriculture for their livelihoods.
As a result, many households face financial insecurity with few opportunities to increase their income or improve their living conditions. Much of the value generated by seaweed production is captured by buyers and processors, while farmers receive only a small share of the profits.
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To address these challenges, CODESPA is implementing a project designed to ensure that more of the benefits generated by seaweed farming reach the families who produce it. Supported by Bayer Foundation, the project helps 1,400 small-scale seaweed farmers in Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte increase their incomes and create new economic opportunities.
The initiative strengthens and expands the Hinatuan Seaweed Farmers and Fishermen Cooperative (HISFA-CO) while supporting new farming communities through training and technical assistance. At the same time, it promotes collective organization among farmers and helps connect them to more profitable markets.
Thanks to this support, farmers like Maximo Caudillo now have stable buyers for their harvests. “This project has been a great help because our income is now guaranteed, since we have a buyer for our seaweed,” he said.
“This project has demonstrated that when coastal communities are provided with the right knowledge, organization, and market opportunities, they can transform their livelihoods,” said Gemma Castillo-Goliat, Country Manager for CODESPA Foundation Philippines.
What makes this project particularly meaningful is that lives of the seaweed farmers are not just individually transformed but moreover, household incomes improve and community organizations become stronger, families gain greater stability, opportunities for their children increase, and entire coastal communities become more resilient.
“Beyond seaweed production, the project is helping build confidence, hope, and a shared vision for a more sustainable future,” Gemma added.
From seaweed waste to biofertilizers
The initiative also includes an innovative component that creates additional income opportunities for farming families. During the seaweed drying process, liquids rich in bioactive compounds are produced. These liquids can be used to manufacture biofertilizers.
For every 7 kilograms of fresh seaweed, farmers produce approximately 1 kilogram of dried seaweed, which can be sold for around €1. During processing, that same quantity of seaweed also generates up to 3.5 liters of biostimulant, with a market value of up to €5.60.
CODESPA helps seaweed farmers turn this by-product into a new source of income. Through training and technical assistance, communities learn how to collect and store the liquids generated during the drying process, which are later used in biofertilizer production. Farmers also receive training to participate in the initial stages of the production process.
For Jimmy Acedilla, a seaweed farmer from Sitio Maowa in Aquino, Hinatuan, the biofertilizer has opened up new economic opportunities for his family.
“The income we earn from seaweed extract and biofertilizers has increased by between 50% and 90%, and in some cases even by 100%,” explains Acedilla. “We can now meet our household needs and also help our siblings send their children to school.”
Another farmer from the area, Arelen Samontina, says the additional income has allowed her family to purchase new boats for planting, harvesting, and transporting seaweed. They have also been able to renovate their home and acquire a solar dryer.
“I also thank God for making CODESPA an instrument to help us innovate with seaweed-based biofertilizers, expand our livelihoods, and meet our daily needs,” she says.
Building on previous success
This project represents the second phase of an initiative previously implemented by CODESPA. During the first phase, CODESPA connected seaweed farmers in Surigao del Sur with an international seaweed processing company, facilitating commercial agreements and the transfer of knowledge and technology.
According to an external evaluation, the initiative nearly doubled production, enabled farmers to sell their seaweed at prices two to three times higher than before, and improved payment conditions.
The new phase aims to extend these benefits to more seaweed-producing communities across Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte. It also incorporates several recommendations from the external evaluation, including the diversification of market opportunities for seaweed farmers.
At its core, the initiative continues to focus on increasing the value that farmers receive from their work. For Maximo Caudillo, the project has brought meaningful change to both his business and his family’s future.
“We are very grateful to CODESPA, Bayer Foundation, the local government, and our mayor for their efforts to support us through this livelihood project.”
