Mapping the Contribution of Seaweed Consumption to nutrient adequacy in Timor-Leste and Eastern Indonesia diets and potential impact on micronutrient deficiencies

There is a dearth of quantitative evidence on how much seaweed people consume or its contribution to nutrient adequacy for different age groups. Such information would be useful to inform nutrition sensitive policy decisions in promotion of seaweed cultivation. Recently collected nationally representative data on consumption of aquatic foods in Timor-Leste and nutrition surveys collected among women of reproductive age in six coastal communities in Timor-Leste and West Timor (Indonesia), paired with seaweed laboratory analyses data from Timor Leste and West Timor, now make it possible to assess seaweed’s nutritional contribution

1. Synthesize data on seaweed consumption patterns across age groups, spatial areas, and socio-economic strata. 2. Estimate seaweed’s contribution to dietary intakes of key nutrients among population subgroups. 3. Map spatial and demographic variations in seaweed consumption and associated nutrient adequacy. 4. Model potential improvements in nutrient adequacy under alternative scenarios of increased seaweed consumption. 5. Assess the production implications of increased seaweed consumption.