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Seaweed Farming
Seaweed Farming
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Seaweed Farming
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Call to action:
Promote ocean farming by integrating seaweed and bivalves to increase wild fish stocks, absorb the
pollution that leads to the formation of marine dead zones, and even reduce local ocean acidification.
Growing more seaweed , in particular, will supply us with sustainable food for ourselves and
our livestock and replace plastics and fuels.
Unlike agriculture on land, kelp and bivalve mariculture, sometimes called “marine permaculture,” does
not require clearing land or using harmful inputs like pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Moreover, the
benefits do not stop at having more highly nutritious sea vegetables and delicious protein. Farming the
red algae Asparagopsis taxiformis can help us reduce methane emissions from cattle (see Asparagopsis
Nexus). Kelp derivatives can help restore soil health and stimulate crop growth. Both seaweed and
bivalves can help reduce runoff pollution that threatens coastal waterways and even reduce the acidity of
seawater to help nearby species suffering from ocean acidification. Growing kelps at a commercial scale
is also an important stepping-stone for an even more ambitious kelp-based climate solution (see
Seaforestation Nexus).
Action Items
Individuals
Groups
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Companies
Governance
Key Players
Learn
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Action Items
Individuals
Learn what makes ocean farming easier than land-based agriculture. Ocean farming of seaweed
and bivalves fundamentally differs from growing crops on land in terms of its impact on the environment
and people.
Only 11.4% of the Earth’s surface is suitable for crops or grazing, and only 3.4%
is arable, compared to 70% of the Earth covered in oceans. Plus, there’s stiff
competition for land between the needs for agriculture, buildings and roads, renewable energy
production, and nature. Ocean farms avoid that competition for space.
Ocean farming of kelp also creates a useful habitat for a variety of species, from sea otters to
squid. In the Pacific Northwest , the recovery of kelp forests led to a dramatic increase
in salmon, cod, and rockfish populations.
On land, there are limits on available freshwater, and crops often need fertilizers and pesticides to
survive, even though they cause major issues with pollution, have health consequences for people,
and are linked to huge carbon footprints. None of these limitations exist in the coastal settings
where ocean farming is set to take off.
Unlike farms on land, which can cause negative impacts on surrounding natural landscapes,
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forward in addressing climate change.
Find seaweed products from marine permaculture farms. Despite a long history of cultivation by
various groups, including Alaska natives, Hawaiians, and even early twentieth-century Californians, the
resurgence of interest in seaweed cultivation in much of the West is in its initial shaky early stages. One
of the best things you can do to support the expansion of marine permaculture is to become an early
adopter of regionally-grown seaweed products. Here is a sample of companies and guides to seaweed
products:
Learn more about Asparagopsis and seaforestation. Asparagopsis taxiformis is a type of seaweed
that can reduce the methane released by cattle by 60 to 99 percent when it replaces even a few percent
of their feed. Seaforestation is a term for growing new kelp forests in places that lack some or all of the
conditions needed for kelp forests to grow naturally and then ensuring that much of the kelp (and the
atmospheric carbon it contains) ends up thousands of feet deep on the seafloor, where the carbon will
remain for more than a thousand years. See Asparagopsis Nexus and Seaforestation Nexus to learn
more.
Become a seaweed farmer. There has been an explosion of interest among individuals recently in
farming seaweed, especially alongside bivalves like mussels and oysters. Resources for becoming a
marine permaculturist include:
This online guide from GreenWave offers a zero-to-hero outline for becoming a
regenerative marine farmer. With videos, infographics, and links, it walks you through what it takes
in terms of initial investment, what goals to strive for, and what markets a farmer can
connect to. It even discusses how some nonfood-grade seaweed can be used as feedstock for
bioplastics.
The Alaska Mariculture Initiative offers a number of resources for becoming a kelp
farmer in the state of Alaska.
The Pacific Seaweed Industry Association , based in Vancouver, offers training and
consultations as part of their mission to promote regional seaweed farming.
Donate to or volunteer with groups on the cutting edge of ocean farming. A number of
organizations working at the forefront of marine permaculture are limited in their work by a lack of
funding. Organizations that could use additional financial support include:
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GreenWave is a nonprofit dedicated to training and supporting new seaweed farmers in
the U.S.
The Climate Foundation , an Australia-based NGO with global ambitions on the cutting
edge of marine permaculture efforts, is looking for volunteers and donors.
Invest in ocean farming. There are a number of companies, from tiny start-ups to major players, that
are seeking investments to improve the way we use ocean resources. Investable Oceans is a
hub for connecting investors (especially accredited investors) to environmentally friendly and socially
responsible business opportunities across the Blue Economy, including a curated list of opportunities in
the fisheries and aquaculture space.
Speak up. Write an op-ed to a newspaper or social media site promoting marine permaculture or public
investments in seaweed farming (including streamlining permitting processes). Here are some examples
of specific calls to action:
Getting a kelp farm permitted can take up to two years of navigating the leasing and permitting
agencies in Alaska and much longer in California. Consider writing your state lawmakers to ask for
more streamlined processes.
Promote foods, products, or companies derived from or engaged in regenerative ocean farming
through public reviews.
Follow the latest from marine permaculture advocates on social media. Accounts include:
Groups
Mariculturists
Grow polycultures. Mariculturists often focus on just one crop, but evidence shows there is high value in
growing crops like seaweed, oysters, mussels, and other bivalves together. These polycultures require
zero inputs and can even reduce pollution from sources like finfish farms or agricultural runoff. Primers on
).
Join a collaborative or regional association of seaweed growers. Regional networks such as the
Alaska Mariculture Alliance, the Pacific Seaweed Industry Association, and GreenWave are emerging to
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support marine permaculturists.
the Marine Stewardship Council partnered to create a best-practices standard for sustainably
produced seaweed products. Each company that obtains this certification will pressure the industry to
ensure best practices are followed for growing and harvesting seaweed in the most environmentally
friendly ways possible.
Companies
Use marine permaculture inputs for animal agriculture, bio-stimulants, plastics, cosmetics, and
biofuels. Small seaweed food companies have proliferated in the West, trying to play catchup with other
parts of the world with long histories of large-scale consumption of seaweed products. Bigger food
corporations in the West need to get on board. But beyond food, kelp can supply more sustainable
versions of a number of other products. All straws could be made out of kelp-derived bioplastics, a much
more sustainable option than either petroleum-based plastics or paper. Perhaps the biggest untapped
opportunity is for kelp biofuels to replace both gasoline and diesel as well as first-generation biofuels like
sugarcane or corn-derived ethanol, which have large carbon footprints and compete with food crops for
limited space on terrestrial farms.
Assist in the development of blue carbon markets that support regenerative seaweed farming
practices. Carbon offsets and credits have been around for many years, but carbon credits from
seaweed farming have not been incorporated into major carbon markets. Companies can play a key role
in shaping blue carbon credits through participation in voluntary carbon markets and through
net-zero pledges.
Support marine permaculture through private capital. Financial partnerships between investors,
nonprofits, private companies, and the public sector can help meet climate challenges faced by
vulnerable communities.
Invest in R&D for seaweed bioplastics and biofuels. The market for seaweed products will likely
expand dramatically as more efficient processes are developed to turn seaweed into biodegradable
plastic alternatives and truly sustainable biofuels. Getting there will require additional investments from
the private sector in research and development. For example, the company Sea6 Energy
recently raised $9 million for the development of a “sea combine” that would decrease the
labor needed for harvesting seaweed grown commercially in Indonesia.
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Governance
Pass legislation that legalizes and/or supports seaweed farming. In many states, farming seaweed
was recently or is currently prohibited. But even where allowed, nascent seaweed farming efforts can use
a helping hand to grow into mature industries. Some have proposed tax credits , but there are
a variety of steps that could be taken. Here are some specific examples of helpful steps taken by
governments that could be replicated:
The Alaska Mariculture Task Force was created by administrative order of the state’s
governor. It has been instrumental in promoting seaweed farming in the state and has identified key
issues that need to be addressed to put Alaska on track to make seaweed mariculture
a $100 million-a-year industry by 2040.
The New York Legislature recently passed the “Kelp Bill,” allowing the commercial
farming of sugar kelp in two Long Island bays that were recently opened to shellfish farming.
Governor Andrew Cuomo, however, resigned before signing the bill into law.
Invest in recording Indigenous knowledge about seaweed cultivation and uses. Many coastal
Indigenous communities have long histories of harvesting, cultivating, and using different types of
macroalgae in the ocean. Often, this knowledge is held by elders within communities. Providing
resources to carefully document and spread this form of traditional knowledge is vital for
making sure it is not lost.
Enter into partnerships with universities, NGOs, and private businesses to facilitate marine
permaculture work. Multistakeholder alliances are often enhanced with governmental partnerships,
particularly given that the seascapes that could house marine permaculture arrays or seaweed farms are
public resources managed by government entities. Compared to terrestrial crops, the cultivation of which
is supported by agricultural extension and considerable research, much less is known about the basics of
how, when, and where to grow seaweed. The Seaweed Manifesto points out that there is a
need for further research on “Seaweed biology, genetics, and metabolomics . . . to support informed
choices about species selection, breeding, disease management, sustainability, and diversity.”
Develop and harmonize standards for seaweed production and products and national and
international levels. For seaweed production to reach its full potential, a clear and simple set of policies,
standards, and regulations need to be established to ensure product safety, ease local permitting
restrictions, and facilitate cross-border trade. Particularly useful would be the inclusion of seaweed farm
suitability assessments as part of routine marine mapping exercises, as well as clear standards for
seaweed-derived packaging and plastics alternatives.
Key Players
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Organizations That Support Ocean Farming
Safe Seaweed Coalition , an entity established to promote clear and universal standards and
practices for safely growing the seaweed industry globally.
Pacific Seaweed Industry Association , a trade group that promotes seaweed farming in
British Columbia.
Oceans 2050 Global Seaweed Project , an effort to quantify carbon sequestration by seaweed
farms around the world.
Sea6 Energy , an Indian company developing new technologies to improve ocean farming.
The Department of Energy’s ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy) is a major funder of
research into both scaling seaweed farming and deriving biofuels from seaweed, particularly through their
Catalina Sea Ranch , the first ocean-farming initiative in federal waters in the United States.
Ocean Rainforest , a company with operations in the Faroe Islands and the United States that
is on the forefront of developing cost-efficient technology for growing giant kelp.
Leaders
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Ricardo Radulovich (seaweed scientist)
Become a Seaweed Farmer , GreenWave’s online guide to starting your own seaweed farm.
Mariculture Map , an Alaska-specific tool for gauging the suitability of a site for kelp-based
mariculture.
Database for finding companies that are certified sustainable according to the ASC-MSC
seaweed standard.
Global Status of Seaweed Production, Trade, and Utilization , a report from the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Learn
Watch
Is Seaweed One of the Keys? , Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (98 min)
GreenWave: Regenerative Ocean Farming, NOAA and the World Economic Forum
(5 min)
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Read
“A New Leaf: Seaweed Could Be A Miracle Food—If We Can Figure Out How To Make It Taste
“The Climate-Friendly Vegetable You Ought to Eat” (The New York Times )
“The Ocean Farmers Trying to Save the World with Seaweed” (Time )
“How Farming Giant Seaweed Can Feed Fish and Fix the Climate” (The Conversation )
“Kelp Wanted: Why New England Is Going Wild for Wet Weeds” (The Economist )
“Facing Warming Waters, Fishermen Are Taking Up Ocean Farming” (Smithsonian Magazine
)
“Will Seaweed Replace Some of Our Plastics? Q&A with Julia Marsh ” (Musings)
“Maine's Seaweed Farmers Are Already Having a Record-Setting Year” (Food and Wine )
“Kelp at the Crossroads: Should Seaweed Farming Be Better Regulated?” (Civil Eats )
“Like Underwater Rainforests, Vertical Farms Grow Crops Sustainably and Rebuild Ecosystems”
(Mashable )
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The Seaweed Manifesto by Erik Giercksky and Vincent Doumeizel
Seaweed Sustainability: Food and Non-Food Applications , edited by Brijesh Tiwari and
Declan Troy
Listen
Marty Odlin Is Helping Stop the Climate Crisis (This Week in Startups)
Written by:
Tim Treuer
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