{"id":257756,"date":"2026-02-05T14:07:51","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T06:07:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grab.com\/sg\/?post_type=editorial&p=257756"},"modified":"2026-02-11T18:33:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T10:33:23","slug":"singapore-grab-users-support-the-countrys-first-large-scale-seagrass-nursery","status":"publish","type":"editorial","link":"https:\/\/www.grab.com\/sg\/inside-grab\/stories\/singapore-grab-users-support-the-countrys-first-large-scale-seagrass-nursery\/","title":{"rendered":"Singapore Grab users support the country\u2019s first large scale seagrass nursery"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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At Grab, our mission to drive Southeast Asia forward also requires us to think deeply about sustainability.<\/p>

One of the solutions we\u2019ve implemented is the Green Programme, a feature within the Grab app for mobility and delivery users. Leveraging the vast reach of our digital platform, we empower millions of Grab users to make voluntary, fractionalized contributions with each of their rides or deliveries. By channeling these contributions to trusted environmental partners, together, we\u2019re supporting crucial work in biodiversity conservation and carbon reduction across the region.<\/p>

[Also read: Now you can support more green projects through the Grab app<\/a>]<\/p>

While our Green Programme has contributed to reforestation, environmental community based projects, and sustainable technologies \u2014on land\u2014we recognize that operating in a region defined by its waters means our responsibility must also consider the oceans.<\/p>

That\u2019s why we\u2019ve begun supporting impactful marine ecosystem restoration projects, letting the Green Programme take on a shade of blue. It\u2019s a reflection of our deep commitment to the oceans that are vital to the region’s economy and resilience.<\/p>

Empowering the ocean\u2019s unsung climate heroes: seagrass<\/h5>

We want to spotlight an essential Blue Carbon initiative that our community has been supporting: the “Seagrass Nursery Development Project”, led by the National University of Singapore’s Tropical Marine Science Institute (NUS-TMSI). In partnership with the WWF-Singapore, we are contributing to set up Singapore\u2019s first ever large scale seagrass nursery right at St. John\u2019s Island National Marine Lab to support seagrass restoration initiatives.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Seagrass is an effective carbon sequester. Photo credit: Ow Yan Xiang<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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While we often hear about the importance of rainforests, seagrass meadows are, acre-for-acre, one of the planet’s most efficient natural carbon sinks. Seagrass sequesters carbon 35 times more<\/a> than tropical rainforests and stores approximately 10%<\/a> of the carbon buried in ocean sediment annually.<\/p>

Beyond carbon, seagrass forms an essential habitat for countless marine species. This directly translates to regional food security and the protection of marine wildlife like dugongs, sea turtles and seahorses<\/p>

Unfortunately, seagrass ecosystems are highly vulnerable. Almost 30% have been lost globally<\/a> since the 1930s, with annual global loss accelerating in recent decades, currently standing at around 7%. This decline is partly caused by coastal development and pollution.<\/p>

There is an urgent need for dedicated seagrass nurseries to supply large-scale replanting efforts in Southeast Asia. However, little is known about how to effectively farm seagrass. Discovering how to do this, is exactly what this project aims to do.<\/p>

A blueprint for restoring tropical seagrass\u00a0<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Singapore nursery will offer a blueprint for more seagrass restoration projects in the region. Photo credit: Debby Ng (left), Sun Yuchen (right)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The strategy here is not just about short-term action; it’s about building a scalable and replicable framework for seagrass conservation and restoration in Southeast Asia. The establishment of the seagrass nursery is intended to serve as an educational hub and a stepping stone to scale up\u00a0 the seagrass restoration projects in the region. This will be done in collaboration with research institutions and scientists to build up capacity and share knowledge. In the initial three-year project phase, expected outcomes are:<\/p>

  1. Develop the Science: The team is creating science-based guidelines for effective, large-scale tropical seagrass farming\u2014a critical, missing piece of knowledge for the region.<\/li>
  2. Establish a Prototype: They are building Southeast Asia’s first seagrass nursery prototype, serving as a critical test bed to refine the methods and ensure technical feasibility before large-scale application.<\/li>
  3. Share the Knowledge: Crucially, the final phase involves comprehensive knowledge exchange workshops and open access published guidelines, ensuring these hard-won insights and guidelines can be shared and adopted by other researchers and practitioners across the region<\/li><\/ol>

    This collective effort, which is also supported by our consumers in Singapore, embodies a strategic approach to sustainability\u2014investing in the research and development necessary to tackle complex environmental challenges effectively.<\/p>

    We are grateful to every user whose contribution powers this vital work, extending our mission from the app and the roads to the health of the oceans. We look forward to sharing more updates on the progress of this initiative in the years ahead.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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