Iloilo launches circular economy project “Crabsolutely Zero” to transform crab waste into sustainable opportunity

Iloilo City – As part of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) commitment to advancing science-based solutions for sustainable development, the DOST–Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) launched a new circular economy project: “Crabsolutely Zero: Promoting a Circular Model for Sustainable Valorization of Crustacean Waste.”

Supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon and Resilient Cities, or Urban-Act, Program, this initiative aims to develop a circular model that turns blue swimming crab processing waste into valuable products such as chitosan-based biofilms and recovered bioactive substances. The project intends to scale and replicate this model through industry partnerships, technology transfer, capacity building, and supportive policies. Courtesy and project visits to DOST Western Visayas and the Local Government of Concepcion were held to mark the official start of the project.

Using locally developed extraction equipment, the project will produce chitin (a natural material that gives crab and shrimp shells their strength) and chitosan (a processed and more versatile form of chitin used to make products such as biodegradable films and medical materials), thereby transforming blue swimming crab processing waste into valuable bioproducts. By treating waste not as a disposal problem but as a resource, the initiative demonstrates a practical circular model that supports environmental protection while creating additional livelihood opportunities for coastal communities of Concepcion.

During the meetings, DOST Western Visayas Regional Director Engr. Rowen R. Gelonga, CESO II and Concepcion, Iloilo Municipal Mayor Hon. Milliard Villanueva expressed their support and commitment to assist the project throughout its implementation, recognizing its potential to generate environmental, economic, and social benefits for the Iloilo province.

In addition to the project visit, stakeholders convened for the project’s inception meeting and laid out the project’s objectives, implementation framework, and expected outcomes, while providing a collaborative space to clarify roles, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and gather strategic inputs from partners to guide effective implementation.

The project is led by the University of the Philippines Visayas Foundation Inc. (UPVFI) in partnership with DOST-ITDI, DOST Western Visayas, Northern Iloilo State University (NISU), and the Local Government of Concepcion, the Barangay Igbon Kasag Association (BIGKAS) in Concepcion, Iloilo, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources VI (BFAR VI) and the Monterey Bay Aquarium-Seafood Watch Program.

Through science, technology and innovation, strong partnerships, and sustained local support, the project aspires to transform crustacean waste into climate-responsive solutions, proving that what was once discarded can become a catalyst for resilience, sustainability, and lasting community impact. (RJDArcillas/DOST Iloilo)

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 (𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛) 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘴, 𝘋𝘖𝘚𝘛 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘚&𝘛 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵—𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘰.

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