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VERSION:2.0
PRODID:unctad.org
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:6a8fe8a8cafda
DTSTART:20250922T221500Z
SEQUENCE:0
TRANSP:OPAQUE
DTEND:20250922T233000Z
LOCATION:New York\, United States of America
SUMMARY:UNGA 80 side event: Launch of the United Nations Global Seaweed Ini
 tiative
CLASS:PUBLIC
DESCRIPTION:Livestream linkBackgroundSeaweed offers a wide range of benefit
 s for people and the planet. It contributes to food and nutrition security
 \, provides opportunities for value addition and diversification into non-
 food sectors\, enhances ecosystem services\, and supports livelihoods for 
 millions of small-scale producers - especially coastal communities and wom
 en. Its applications span food\, feed\, fertiliser additives\, nutraceutic
 als\, cosmetics\, pharmaceuticals\, textiles and\, if commercial barriers 
 can be overcome\, even biofuels. Seaweed biomass also offers biodegradable
  and compostable alternatives to fossil-based plastics. Because cultivatio
 n is not land-intensive\, it can act as a regenerative tool for ecosystems
 .Over the past two decades\, the global seaweed sector has tripled in size
  and doubled in value\, reaching more than 35 million tonnes (wet weight) 
 in 2022. Today\, seaweed represents half of marine aquaculture production 
 by volume\, with exports valued at US$1.2 billion. Yet despite this growth
 \, the sector remains under-supported and lacks the coordination\, standar
 ds and dedicated governance needed to fully deliver on its potential and c
 ontribute to the SDGs. At the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC-3)\, the Unite
 d Nations Global Seaweed Initiative (UNGSI) was announced by Madagascar\, 
 Indonesia and France\, with support from UNCTAD\, UN Global Compact-the Gl
 obal Seaweed Coalition\, FAO\, UNIDO and UNESCO-IOC\, alongside private se
 ctor\, scientific and civil society partners following a recommendation fr
 om the 5th United Nations Ocean Forum. This UNGA80 side event serves as th
 e official launch of UNGSI\, bridging the UNOC-3 announcement and activiti
 es on the road to COP30 (Brazil). It will foster partnership\, strengthen 
 policy coordination\, align scientific efforts\, build technical capacity 
 and advocate for sustainable finance for the seaweed sector.Tentative Agen
 daWelcoming remarks H.E. Paubert Tsimanaoraty Mahatante\, Minister of Fis
 heries and Blue Economy\, MadagascarOpening keynotes by founding member st
 atesHE Paubert Tsimanaoraty Mahatante\, Minister of Fisheries and Blue Eco
 nomy\, MadagascarMr. Tri Tharyat\, Director General of Multilateral Cooper
 ation\, Ministry of Foreign Affairs\, Republic of Indonesia or Mr. Leonard
 o Adypurnama Sambodo – Deputy for Food\, Natural Resources\, and Environ
 ment\, Ministry of National Development Planning/BAPPENAS IndonesiaStateme
 nts by supporting MembersMs. Patsy Contardo\, Ocean Affairs Legal advisor\
 , Ministry of Foreign Affairs\, ChileMs. Marinez Scherer\, Special Envoy f
 or the Oceans\, BrazilStatements by supporting partners: Ms. Chantal Line
  Carpentier\, Head\, Trade\, Environment\, Climate Change and Sustainable 
 Development\, UN Trade &amp\; DevelopmentMr. Akos Koszegvary\, Chief of Pu
 blic Private Partnership\, UNIDOMr. Vincent Doumeizel\, Senior Advisor\, O
 cean and Food\, UN Global CompactMs. Nichola Dyer\, Senior Advisor\, Globa
 l Seaweed CoalitionInterventions by interested member statesAdditional int
 erventions from the floorOfficial launch of Initiative &amp\; logoClosingO
 fficial photo  https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1d/k1dta6le3m\n\nView meet
 ing on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/unga-80-side-event-launch-un
 ited-nations-global-seaweed-initiative
DTSTAMP:20260827T073504Z
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