DOST backs UP Visayas mussel shell innovation

A project funded by the Department of Science and Technology is exploring ways to convert discarded mussel shells into high-value materials for agriculture and aquaculture applications.

The initiative is being implemented by the University of the Philippines (UP) Visayas under the project titled “A Valorization of Agri-fishery Materials using Opportune Science (AVAMOS): Nanomaterials from mussel shells for agri-aquaculture applications.”

The project is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), which supports research aimed at improving productivity, sustainability, and resource efficiency in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

Mussels, locally known as “tahong,” consist of about 20 percent to 30 percent edible meat, while 70 percent to 80 percent of the shell is typically discarded as waste.

Because mussels are widely consumed as an affordable source of protein, shell waste has grown significantly, reaching about 6,000 metric tons in Western Visayas alone, posing potential health and environmental risks if not properly managed.

Products developed under the AVAMOS project were showcased during the recently concluded 2025 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week in Caraga, held at Robinsons Mall in Butuan City.

One of the featured products was Musorb, a sustainable and cost-effective adsorbent made from upcycled mussel shells for industrial wastewater treatment.

Musorb was designed to remove ammonia, phosphate, and carbon dioxide from wastewater, making it suitable for industrial effluent treatment and aquaculture water management, particularly in shrimp ponds and tanks.

Another product presented was humic-acid-functionalized nano-hydroxyapatite, a slow-release fertilizer derived from mussel shell waste.

The fertilizer can be used in both agriculture and aquaculture as a soil nutrient replenisher, a bioavailable phosphate fertilizer, or for the remediation of polluted water bodies.

Traditionally, mussel processing in the Philippines has focused mainly on the edible meat, with shells treated as waste.

The AVAMOS project identified the untapped potential of mussel shells for nanomaterial production and developed processing innovations anchored on green technology and circular economy principles for aquacultural and agricultural use.