To better understand the growth habits of kelp and the working conditions, compensation, and other aspects of kelp farmers, we visited the Nanri Island kelp farming base in Fujian for an interview with the local people. Below are the key takeaways from our interview:

Kelp is mainly prepared for planting one month before the winter solstice, planted in the sea around the winter solstice, and harvested around the Qingming Festival. The entire growth cycle lasts about 100 days. Kelp has specific environmental requirements for growth; it must be tied with ropes to prevent it from floating away, and it needs to be regularly inspected to prevent damage from sunlight or other organisms. Natural disasters such as typhoons and heavy rains can significantly affect the kelp harvest.

Kelp is classified into edible and feed varieties. Edible kelp is of higher quality and fetches a higher price. Feed kelp is mainly used to feed sea cucumbers and other seafood, with a large market demand.

The working conditions for the workers are harsh, as they must spend long hours at sea, enduring wind, sun, and other natural challenges. Costs are high, with sea-based workers earning 700-800 yuan per day and shore-based workers earning 400-500 yuan per day. However, the work is physically demanding, and the environment is tough.

Due to the difficult nature of the work and relatively modest compensation, many young people are unwilling to engage in kelp farming, leading to a predominantly middle-aged and elderly workforce.

Although kelp farming yields high production, earnings are not stable due to factors like weather and market fluctuations. In recent years, due to market saturation and rising costs (such as increased labor costs), many farmers have faced losses. The average annual income of kelp farmers is around 100,000 yuan, but income varies significantly due to various factors.

The farming process has gradually adopted mechanized equipment to improve efficiency, such as using machines to lift ropes. Although drying technology can enhance the quality of kelp, the high costs make it difficult to popularize. Storage conditions need improvement to prevent spoilage of the kelp.

Kelp farming has environmental benefits as it can absorb pollutants from seawater and release oxygen, thus improving water quality. Through photosynthesis, kelp can absorb carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate global warming and holding potential for carbon trading.

However, carbon trading policies are not yet widely understood, and the complexity of the process means that most farmers have limited knowledge of it and have not directly benefited from the policy incentives.

From July 11th to 14th this year, we went to Suzhou Province to participate in the 11th Conference of China iGEMer Community (CCiC), hosted by Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. This was not just an academic gathering but a profound fusion of spirit and intellect.

There, we met iGEMers from major universities across the country. We not only shared the details of our project progress but also drew invaluable inspiration and wisdom from each other. The doubts and challenges in our scientific research began to find their answers through the collision of ideas. Our visions and aspirations for the future became clearer and more determined through mutual enlightenment.

Behind every face lay a heart full of curiosity and longing for the unknown. Together, we walked this research path filled with challenges and opportunities, sharing our explorations and discoveries. Every exchange of ideas sparked like a flash of light, illuminating the road ahead.

At the conference, we engaged in deep discussions with teams from universities nationwide, as if opening doors to new worlds. Their unique insights and novel perspectives greatly inspired us. We learned from each other and encouraged one another, and in each other's eyes, we saw the same light—the love for science and the unwavering pursuit of our dreams.

What’s especially worth mentioning is that our efforts and achievements received widespread recognition and praise during the conference. After fierce competition and rigorous evaluation, our project poster won the "Most Popular Poster Award." This honor not only affirms the hard work of our team but also serves as an encouragement and motivation for our future endeavors.

On July 24th, we held a meeting with the Shanghai-City team. This exchange provided us with an opportunity to raise questions and collaboratively seek solutions to challenges.

The members of the Shanghai-City team introduced their project, and after the presentation, we discussed potential shortcomings and offered suggestions to optimize their current work.

From August 8th to 9th, we went to Shenzhen to participate in the 3rd SynBio Challenges, where we were awarded a silver medal.

On September 7th, we co-hosted the 2024 iGEM iG20 SDG Meetup project proposal with the UM_Macau team from the University of Macau, the BNUZH_China team from Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, and the NWU_China_A team from Northwest University. A total of nine teams participated in this SDG-sharing event. Through these exchanges, we gained insights into other teams' understanding and interpretation of the SDGs, which provided us with a wealth of inspiration.