Seaweed Solutions to Shield Crops from Climate Stress
Climate change–induced salinity, drought, and heat stress are increasingly disrupting crop production across Bangladesh, posing a serious threat to national food security. In response, a group of researchers from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has begun exploring eco-friendly and sustainable solutions through research on seaweed-based biostimulants.
The research initiatives were highlighted at an innovative workshop titled “Environment-Friendly Strategies Using Seaweed-Based Biostimulants to Enhance Crop Tolerance against Climate Change-Induced Abiotic Stress”, held on Thursday, January 8, at the conference hall of the Faculty of Agriculture, BAU.
The researchers revealed that over the past 35 years, the area of saline-affected agricultural land in Bangladesh has increased by nearly 26 percent. As of 2010, approximately 1.056 million hectares of land were affected by salinity, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the total cultivable land in coastal regions. In addition, around 41 to 50 percent of the country experiences drought at various times, with climate change further intensifying these challenges.
Speaking as the chief guest, BAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A. K. Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan said the agricultural sector is now facing multidimensional challenges due to climate change. He emphasized that there is no alternative to developing sustainable and environment-friendly technologies to address these crises. He expressed optimism that research on seaweed-based biostimulants to enhance crop tolerance would open new avenues for building a sustainable future for agriculture, while also stressing the importance of applying research outcomes at the field level.
Presenting the keynote paper, Associate Professor Dr. Md. Tahjib-ul-Arif of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology said that Bangladesh’s coastal regions possess abundant marine seaweed resources that remain largely underutilized. He noted that 47 species of green algae, 59 species of brown algae, and 94 species of red algae have been identified in the country.
He explained that phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, and various mineral elements present in seaweed play a crucial role in promoting plant growth and enhancing tolerance under adverse environmental conditions. As part of the research, effective extracts from Hypnea, Gracilaria, Sargassum, and Enteromorpha species are being developed and tested to increase rice and wheat yields. In parallel, computational (in silico) approaches are being used to analyze the mechanisms of action of seaweed bioactive compounds.
The workshop was chaired by Professor Dr. Shaila Sharmin, Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Special guests included Acting Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture Professor Dr. Masum Ahmad, Director of the Planning and Development Division Professor Dr. Mohammad Mosharraf Uddin Bhuiyan, and Director of BAU Research System (BAURES) Professor Dr. Md. Hammadur Rahman. Teachers, researchers, and students from various departments also attended the event.
During the seminar, research team members Professor Dr. Shaila Sharmin and Professor Dr. Md. Abdul Hannan stated that the successful application of computational (in silico) technologies in studying seaweed bioactivity is expected to bring positive physiological and molecular-level changes in crops. Currently, the effectiveness of Gracilaria seaweed extract is being tested on the wheat variety ‘BWMRI Wheat-1’. Upon completion of the research, there are plans to introduce two to three effective biostimulant products to the market, contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2, 13, and 14).
DBTech/DPO/EK/OR
