Fast growth and improved production stability strengthen the competitiveness of Korea’s native laver industry.
The Jeonnam Marine Fisheries Research Institute has developed a new laver variety, “Haetbadi-2,” an improved strain of native Itbadi laver, and plans to apply for variety registration with the National Fisheries Plant Variety Protection Center later this year. The new variety is expected to enhance productivity at laver farms by improving growth speed and production stability.
Haetbadi-2 was developed over approximately four years through improvements in seed production techniques, pilot cultivation, performance evaluation, and selective breeding. Compared with existing Itbadi laver, the new variety shows more consistent seed formation and release, enabling more spores to attach evenly to cultivation nets. Its faster growth rate and strong attachment strength are expected to support higher and more stable yields.
Haetbadi-2 also matches the quality of the previously released Haetbadi-1 variety. Its long and slender blades make it well suited for producing Gopchang Laver (premium curly laver), which is valued for its texture and rich flavor and typically commands higher market prices.
Itbadi laver is one of Korea’s most widely recognized native laver varieties, known for its superior taste and quality, and is primarily cultivated in the Jeonnam region. About one quarter of laver farming facilities in the province cultivate Itbadi varieties, and the variety accounts for more than 10 percent of total production value, highlighting its economic importance to the regional fisheries industry.
Despite its high market value, Itbadi laver has faced challenges due to unstable seed formation and large yield fluctuations caused by changing marine conditions. Haetbadi-2 was developed to improve production consistency and reduce these risks.
Alongside the registration process, the institute plans to begin large-scale seed production to distribute the new variety to laver farmers. The registration process requires approximately two years of cultivation trials and stability evaluations.
Meanwhile, research is also underway to restore endangered native laver strains. Recent pilot cultivation tests in several coastal areas confirmed stable growth potential, laying the groundwork for developing high-value native laver varieties in the future.
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Source: Jeollanam-do Provincial Government© Korea.info