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CODESPA
Advancing economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable aquaculture through entrepreneurial collaborations between seaweed harvesters and processing companies.
8.4180681631512, 126.3340616
OUTPUT
The Codespa project enables over 800 small-scale farmers to act as suppliers in the previously unattainable international seaweed market.
OUTCOME
The farmers collaborate with the established market player CEAMSA, thus accessing expertise and significantly raising their income. In 2023, it increased by 65%.
HIGHLIGHT
Export companies transfer processing technology to the farmers. Signed partnerships and exclusive agreements between the farmers and CEAMSA enable the farmers to grow wealth independently.
The long wait has ended. We expect to earn more income with our new seaweed crops. Now we can plant more and are enthusiastic about our future.
Our Commitment
The Julius Baer Foundation's and CODESPA jointly work to reduce wealth inequality in the seaweed value chain and create shared value amongst private companies and local communities in the Philippines.
The project focuses on:
- generating equitable and sustainable relations between the vulnerable seaweed producers and the seaweed processing company CEAMSA.
- transferring knowledge and technology between disadvantaged seaweed farmers and CEAMSA.
- upscaling existing pilot projects tested in the region with other companies of the seaweed industry in 2022.
- influencing local policies and practices and integrating other stakeholders.
- sharing the model with other relevant actors such as private companies, multilateral agencies, donors, local and international NGOs.
For nearly 10 years the Spanish NGO CODESPA has supported the Philippine's poorest and most vulnerable communities through:
- sustainable rural development
- access to markets
- collaboration between public and private sectors
- microfinance and
- resilience to natural disasters
Since 2016, CODESPA has been collaborating with Spanish seaweed processing company CEAMSA to connect the seaweed producers of Surigao del Sur with the broader marketplace so they can realise better prices for their harvest.
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The Julius Baer Foundation supports CODESPA’s extension of this collaboration to
- develop a plan to strengthen seaweed producers' entrepreneurial and decision-making skills.
- create a Hinatuan seaweed cluster.
- develop a data-based accord on best practices to be followed by producers and processors.
- reach a trade agreement to access markets and fair prices that will help reduce wealth inequality.
- develop a marketing agreement for a seaweed association comprised of both seaweed farmers and processors.
- focus on sound environmental management established in Mindanao, addressing both sustainable seaweed farming and marine conservation.
Another important aspect of the project is to build awareness of the challenges for women seaweed producers and take steps to reduce existing inequalities.
400 seaweed producers in the Province of Hinatuan, Mindanao, including 200 women, participate directly in this project.
15 technical staff and managers from local processing companies work with the producers.
To date, producers have achieved:
- 65% increase in the price per kg of seaweed through direct marketing to exporters, leading to
- 58% increase in producer's income.
From being detached...
Single small-scale seaweed farmers have no means to participate in the global seaweed market, excluding them from any financial capital.
... to market access.
The farmers gain access to the international seaweed market by being organised in an association and in close exchange with the international seaweed processing company CEAMSA to increase their yield.
Become a Changemaker
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Whether you are an entrepreneur, a scholar, philanthropist or just curious, there are nearly unlimited possibilities to join and play a role in the chain of change.
