Dominican researchers advance sargassum solutions at first SARGARD Symposium

Santo Domingo.- The Federico Henríquez y Carvajal University (UFHEC) hosted the First SARGARD Network Symposium, bringing together Dominican and international researchers to showcase scientific advances aimed at transforming sargassum from an environmental challenge into a source of sustainable development.

Held as part of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology’s (MESCyT) Dominican Science and Technology Week, the event featured a keynote address by Professor Satoshi Nakai of Hiroshima University and presentations from researchers representing UFHEC, INTEC, PUCMM, ISA University and UNAPEC.

Experts presented studies on sargassum monitoring and forecasting, bioenergy production, agricultural applications, biotechnology, environmental engineering and the development of new materials. Research also highlighted technologies such as microwave-assisted pyrolysis, hydrogels, agricultural biostimulants and the extraction of biomolecules with potential pharmaceutical, cosmetic, nutraceutical and food industry applications.

Government officials, academics and private-sector representatives attended the symposium, including the Ministry of Environment, the Sargassum Control Cabinet, ANAMAR, IDAC and companies from the Dominican Republic, Japan and Italy, reinforcing collaboration to develop innovative solutions for managing the seaweed.

UFHEC Vice Rector for Science, Technology and Innovation Darwin Muñoz emphasized the need for joint research to address the environmental, economic and tourism impacts of sargassum across the Caribbean. Participants agreed that the macroalgae should be viewed as a valuable biomass capable of generating renewable energy, agricultural products and high-value industrial materials under a circular economy model.