The cultivation and processing of laver, a kind of edible seaweed, in Rudong, a county-level city in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, has undergone significant development in recent years due to the county's geographic advantages.

For example, the marine cultivation zone of laver in the county is not affected by freezing problems. The rising and falling tides every day also aid photosynthesis and provide the plant with enough nutriments.

In addition, the county has been improving its techniques of cultivating laver.

Qin Gang, director of the agricultural and rural affairs bureau in Rudong, said that the county has developed a unique cold storage seeding net technology by teaming up with universities. The technology has helped improve the quality of the laver and increased its value.

Official statistics show that the transaction price of each piece of dried laver produced by Rudong this year is higher than those produced by surrounding counties.

To boost the development of the laver industry, local authorities had in 2001 set up a laver association, the first of its kind in the country. The association has since established China's largest trading market of laver which has attracted many international purchasers.

In addition, the association has helped increase the purchasing price of dried laver in Rudong.

This year, the purchasing price of the first batch of laver is 0.59 yuan ($0.09) for each piece, the highest in the county's history.

Thanks to the rapid industrial development and advanced cultivation technology, many local enterprises have expanded their business.

Among them is Nantong Haida Aquatic Food Co Ltd, the first in China to sell organic laver that is certified by the United States and the European Union.

To date, the company has exported its products to more than 40 countries worldwide.

Rudong is currently home to a 100,000-mu (6,666.67 hectares) marine plantation for porphyra. The county's total output of laver accounts for 25 percent of the total output in China.  

So far this year, the output value of the county's laver industry has been over 1 billion yuan.

Workers wrap up the dried laver in an enterprise in Rudong. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

A marine cultivation zone of the laver in Rudong. [Photo/Nantong Daily]