SOURCE OF AGAR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 72, 1 July 1942, Page 5

SOURCE OF AGAR

VALUABLE SEAWEED

BAY OF PLENTY SUPPLY

A ton ol' seaweed which recently arrived in Auckland from the Bay of Plenty lor refinement for medical use is the first received as the result of the efforts of Miss L. B. Moore, of the Botany Division of the Plant Research Bureau, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Miss Moore has been engaged on a comprehensive search for the sources of the plant and the consignment received has been collected and sent by the residents of Waiohau Bay. The value of the seaweed is that it is the source of agar, a jelly extensively used in hospitals and laboratories for the growing of cultures. In former years Japan produced the world's largest supply, but a sample of agar made from New Zealand seaweed which was sent to England for testing was found to be of ex-, cellent quality and equal to the finest Japanese agar. Great Britain has now placed orders in New Zealand for a supply of the jelly and inquiries have also been received, from the United States. To meet this demand it will be necessary to harvest about ten tons of dried weed a year, and it is hoped that residents in the coastal areas where the weed is found will collect and dry it. As a result of tjie increased wartime demand the Internal Marketing Division has increased the price from 9d to Is per lb. freight paid to Auckland. Children attending Maori schools in the Bay of Plenty collected £25 for local funds last year from the sale of the seaweed, while the consignment which has just arrived has a value of £120.