An ORF report says India must shift from chemical-intensive marine biomass extraction to biological biorefineries to cut emissions, reduce wastewater, and strengthen its blue economy.
India’s marine bioeconomy depends on reducing its reliance on chemical-intensive extraction methods, according to a report by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF). The report states that current processing techniques for marine biomass, including seaweed and fish waste, rely on strong acids, alkalis and organic solvents, resulting in environmental and cost-related constraints.
It recommends a transition to mechanical, thermal and biological extraction pathways. Enzyme-based and microbial fermentation methods can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 50% and wastewater generation by nearly 70% compared to conventional chemical processes.
India has a coastline of more than 7,500 kilometres and access to marine biomass resources. However, existing industrial processes require high energy input and significant freshwater use. Chemical solvents generate effluents that require treatment before disposal, increasing operational costs.
The report identifies economic limitations. Seaweed prices in India range between ₹15 and ₹30 per kilogram, which restricts margins. Purification costs under chemical processing models limit the feasibility of large-scale commercialisation. Variability in wild-harvested biomass also affects consistency in extraction and final product quality.
To address these issues, the report proposes decentralised biological biorefineries. Smaller processing units located in coastal regions could reduce transportation requirements and enable local value addition. These facilities could produce nutraceuticals, bioplastics and organic fertilisers from marine biomass.
The report recommends integrating marine bioprocessing into the National Policy on Biofuels to establish regulatory and financial support mechanisms. It also refers to alignment with Harit Sagar (Green Ports) guidelines to ensure supporting infrastructure meets environmental standards.
According to the author, Poornima Vengaprath Bhattathiri, adoption of chemical-free processing pathways is necessary for sectoral development. The report states that policy coordination, infrastructure development and technology deployment will influence the sector’s capacity to process marine biomass within a lower-emission framework.
The findings focus on improvements in processing systems rather than expansion of raw material extraction, indicating that industrial methods will determine the sector’s future trajectory.
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