From Emergency Response to Lasting Change in Mauritius

When global fertiliser prices rose and supply chains faltered following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Mauritius faced a familiar vulnerability with new urgency. As a Small Island Developing State, the country depends heavily on imports, including the chemical fertilisers needed for food production. Disruptions far beyond its shores were reaching farms at home, increasing costs and placing further pressure on the country’s food system. Yet part of the response was already washing up along the Mauritian coastline.

Seaweed plays an important role in coastal ecosystems. But when large quantities accumulate on beaches, they can affect water quality, marine environments and the recreational value of beaches. Seaweed also contains nutrients that can support plant growth. This created an opportunity to turn some of the biomass into compost for farmers. The idea has since grown from an emergency response into a Government-led initiative.

Building the evidence

In 2022, the United Nations Joint SDG Fund activated its Development Emergency Modality in response to the global food, energy and financing crisis intensified by the war in Ukraine. Through this response, the Fund supported the joint programme Building the Resilience of Food Systems in Mauritius and Seychelles by Leveraging on Sustainable Agricultural Practices. Led by the two Governments, the programme brought together the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UN Women under the coordination of the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office.

In Mauritius, the programme explored whether locally available seaweed could be used to produce an affordable bio-fertiliser and reduce reliance on imported chemical fertilisers. Working closely with the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, or FAREI, under Mauritius’s Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, the programme supported a technical and economic feasibility study.

The study examined the production of seaweed compost under local conditions. It developed a model for a composting facility, identified the most suitable composition and examined the regulatory and financial barriers to expanding production. This gave the Government the technical knowledge and business case needed to take the idea forward.

“This programme demonstrates how the UN, with support from the Joint SDG Fund, transformed an emergency response into lasting, transformative change in Mauritius and Seychelles. As Small Island Developing States, both countries are highly vulnerable to external shocks, such as COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, given their heavy dependence on food and fertiliser imports,” says Lisa Singh, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles

"By generating evidence on the potential to commercialise seaweed, which is abundant along our shores, as a bio-fertiliser, the programme delivered multiple outcomes. These include reduced dependence on imported fertilisers, expanded livelihoods for coastal communities, stronger local knowledge and increased investment and regulatory support for resilient food systems.”

From evidence to Government investment

The feasibility study demonstrated that cost-effective seaweed compost production was possible. The Government then invested in taking the idea further. FAREI established a dedicated seaweed composting unit at the Belle Mare Research Station for research, production, demonstration and training. The Government also incorporated seaweed composting into its Smart Agriculture Programme Phase 3, which promotes agroecological practices, reduced pesticide use and the local production of bio-fertilisers.

In 2025, FAREI launched practical training for farmers and entrepreneurs at Belle Mare, following an earlier Training of Trainers session. The Government reports that its training programmes and workshops have reached around 200 farmers and women entrepreneurs. The work therefore moved beyond the initial feasibility study. Government ownership and further investment turned the effort into dedicated infrastructure, continued training and part of a wider national programme.

“We acknowledge the United Nations and its agencies for this important initiative. For Mauritius, building a resilient food system is not only about food availability, but also about ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food. Through innovation, knowledge and strong partnerships, initiatives like this strengthen national capacities, empower communities and support more sustainable agricultural practices,” says The Honourable Arvin Boolell, Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries​.

“As a Small Island Developing State, Mauritius has showcased how the power of the sea and the potential of our land can be brought together to build resilient food systems. By turning waste into wealth, producing more from our own resources and empowering communities with the knowledge and skills to innovate, we can move towards a more circular, sustainable and food-secure future, one where we produce more of what we eat and eat more of what we produce.”

From coastline to farms

Freshly stranded seaweed is washed to remove sand, salt and marine debris. It is then combined with materials such as bagasse, dry leaves or wood chips and poultry manure. Over several weeks, the mixture becomes nutrient-rich compost. Trials by FAREI have shown promising results for crops, including onions and strawberries. The compost can improve soil structure, retain water and support microbial activity. It can also be used for seedlings, mulching and landscaping.

Authorisation from the relevant Government authorities is required to ensure that seaweed collection is carried out without harming coastal ecosystems. The initiative connects coastal management with sustainable agriculture. It turns material accumulating along the shoreline into a locally produced resource for farmers, while creating new jobs.

The Joint SDG Fund provided the early support needed to examine the idea and establish whether it could work. The Government of Mauritius then invested in a dedicated facility, expanded training and integrated seaweed composting into its wider approach to smart agriculture. What began as a response to the spillover effects of an international crisis is now a Government-led effort to strengthen agriculture using resources found at home.

This story was originally published by the Joint SDG Fund. Please visit the UN team's website for more information about the UN's work in Mauritius.

Note:

All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the Arab Gulf Programme for Development for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.