Incheon signs MOU with USC, Kelp Ark for seaweed and blue carbon research

Incheon announced Wednesday that it has signed an international cooperation MOU with the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles and Kelp Ark, a specialized seaweed research organization, to advance seaweed research and blue carbon acquisition.

The signing ceremony was held at USC on Tuesday (local time), with the aim of systematically preserving and managing seaweed resources along the Incheon coast and establishing a globally competitive foundation for marine ecosystem research.

Under the agreement, the three institutions will collaborate across five areas: sharing technology for the conservation and management of seaweed genetic resources; conducting research on seaweed physiology, ecology and indoor cultivation; analyzing the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems; exchanging researchers and sharing academic information; and developing technology for the sustainable industrial use of seaweed.

USC is a globally recognized research university with leading expertise in marine biology.

Kelp Ark is an advanced research organization specializing in the collection and cultivation of seaweed genetic resources and the preservation of marine biodiversity.

The Incheon Marine Fisheries Resources Research Institute plans to combine its accumulated expertise in coastal seaweed surveys and large-scale seed production technology with advanced genetic resource conservation know-how from the United States, launching phased joint research tailored to the local marine environment.

"This agreement will mark an important turning point in expanding Incheon's seaweed research capabilities onto the world stage," said Kim Ik-jung, director of Incheon City's Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Bureau. "Through sustained exchanges of personnel and technology with leading overseas institutions, we will respond to future changes in the marine environment — including blue carbon research — and strengthen the competitiveness of the marine biotech industry."