This is the podcast where we talk about the incredible world of seaweed and how this growing industry is bringing innovation and solutions to address climate change and the environmental crisis.
This is a brief update episode where I share my plans for the direction of the podcast going forward and the thinking behind it. New episode coming later this month!In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts; feel free to reach out on social media with your feedback or suggestions for topics you'd like me to cover. Many thanks, and see you soon.Best,FedFed DeGobbi on Linkedin and X.
Sowmya Balendiran is Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer at Sea6 Energy, a pioneer of innovative technologies for sustainable, large-scale and mechanised ocean farming. Sea6 Energy was founded at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras with a vision to develop disruptive solutions to global problems. Sowmya has more than 10 years of executive-level experience in product development, marketing, sales and strategy. She has featured in ‘Top 50 Women in Biotech' in India as well as in Forbes India's '30 under 30' 2018 special mention in the ‘Science and Green Tech' category and featured in women pushing boundaries by GP-ORF. Sowmya holds a degree in Biotechnology and an executive program at IIM Calcutta. Check out Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:24 - The “Why” Behind Sea6 Energy 00:02:44 - Challenges with Land Use for Biofuels 00:06:00 - How Being Based Played a Role India 00:07:21 - Changes in Perspective Over Time 00:09:12 - Key Milestones and Wins 00:10:43 - Current State and Future Goals 00:11:32 - Timeline for Biomaterials 00:13:19 - Balancing Farmer Income and Consumer Costs 00:14:45 - Mechanisation and Productivity 00:16:23 - Logistics Challenges in Seaweed Farming 00:18:12 - Lessons Learned in Mechanisation 00:19:23 - Regulatory and Market Acceptance Challenges 00:21:41 - Regulatory Hurdles in Biostimulants 00:23:10 - Evolution of Mechanisation 00:27:16 - Ownership Models for Mechanisation Tools 00:30:08 - Expansion to Indonesia and Focus on Tropical Seaweeds 00:34:33 - Limited Research on Tropical Seaweeds 00:37:02 - Exciting New Applications and Products 00:39:08 - Importance of Site Selection 00:40:57 - Positive Local Impact in Indonesia 00:43:52 - Increasing Productivity 00:45:17 - Concerns About Mechanisation and Job Loss 00:47:30 - What Not To Learn About Agriculture 00:49:10 - The Link Developing Between Ocean Farming and Land Farming 00:50:12 - Funding And Investments: The Gap Between West and East 00:54:00 - What the West Is Misunderstanding and Underestimating 00:56:18 - The Best and Worst Advice for Algae Entrepreneurs 00:58:57 - Sowmya Biggest Frustration in The Industry 01:01:12 - How to Get In Touch With Sowmya and Sea6Useful Links:Sowmya Balendiran on LinkedIn. Sea6 Energy: Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube. Potato Impact Partners: Website, LinkedIn and InstagramGet in touch Inside Seaweed's host Fed DeGobbi on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram or by emailing him directly at fed@insideseaweed.com Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
Danny Matthews is a branding expert with a big vision to solve the world's biggest problems with creative design and brand strategy. Among his accolades he has been featured in the Huffington Post, BBC Radio, the FSB's First Voice and has shared a stage with Facebook and Google. In 2019, Danny founded Short Story Ventures, a Venture Studio that helps early-stage founders build a fundable startup brand, gain traction and get to market successfully. Check out Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:11 - Setting the Scene: Building a Fundable Brand 00:01:26 - What is a Fundable Brand? 00:03:00 - Key Considerations in Setting Up a Brand 00:04:00 - The Concept of Pitching 00:05:00 - Effective Networking Pitches 00:08:00 - Example of an Introductory Pitch 00:10:00 - The BIO Framework: Brand, Investor, Origin Story 00:12:00 - Crafting an Investor Story 00:13:00 - Crafting a Brand Story 00:14:00 - Neuroscience of Buying Decisions 00:17:00 - Common Pitfalls in Building a Brand 00:19:00 - Importance of Obsessing Over the Problem 00:21:00 - Problem-Solution Fit vs. Product-Market Fit 00:23:00 - Traction: Data Plus a Promise 00:24:00 - Guidelines for Crafting the Right Story 00:26:00 - Storytelling Framework: Hero, Problem, Guide 00:28:00 - Real-Life Example: Cold Water Thermometer 00:31:00 - Role of Sustainability in Product Development 00:33:00 - Insights from the Mushroom Industry 00:36:00 - Tactical Advice for Brand Building 00:38:00 - Closing Remarks and Contact InformationUseful Links: Danny Matthews on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter Short Story Venture: Website Get in touch Inside Seaweed's host Fed DeGobbi on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram or by emailing him directly at fed@insideseaweed.com - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
Dr Craig Rose PhD is a marine biologist and the Founder and CEO of Seaweed & Co., the company behind his Doctor Seaweed range of award-winning nutritional supplements. Dr Craig has a degree in Marine Biology, a master's in Marine Technology and a PhD in Marine Science. Dr Craig started the company in 2015 after working for many years with seaweed on commercial and research projects for various applications - from biofuels to food and nutrition and identified a huge opportunity and need for seaweed.Check out Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com Timestamps:00:00:00 - Intro00:00:48 - Focus on Nutraceuticals00:01:05 - Importance of Personal Brand: Doctor Seaweed00:03:27 - Launching Doctor Seaweed Supplements00:03:43 - Reintroducing Seaweed into Modern Diets00:05:12 - Iodine Deficiency in Modern Diets00:06:43 - Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency00:08:04 - Importance of Iodine for Both Genders00:09:12 - Customer Needs and Product Benefits00:11:25 - Natural vs. Synthetic Nutrients00:13:38 - Unexpected Customer Benefits00:15:17 - Research and Customer Feedback00:16:13 - Weight Management Benefits00:17:07 - Target Audience and Customer Persona00:18:08 - Transition from B2B to B2C00:19:06 - Challenges in B2C Model00:20:13 - Validating Product Demand00:21:34 - Choosing Capsule Format00:22:36 - Capsule Size and Seaweed Content00:23:52 - Exploring New Product Formats00:25:00 - Sponsored Ad: Alvan Blanch00:25:53 - Market Trends in Wellness and Nutrition00:27:56 - Leveraging Sustainability in Branding00:29:29 - Harvesting and Manufacturing Process00:31:55 - Sales Channels: Direct and Retail00:33:08 - Approaching Distributors00:35:31 - Brand and Market Maturity00:37:25 - Health Benefits of Seaweed00:39:56 - Promising Areas of Research00:40:56 - Focus on Specific Seaweed Species00:41:28 - Lessons Learned and Future Focus00:43:27 - Saying No to Opportunities00:44:05 - Regulatory Requirements for Health Claims00:45:17 - Testing for Contaminants00:46:34 - Importance of Trust and Credibility00:47:10 - Final Thoughts and Industry Growth00:48:08 - Where to Find Dr. Seaweed Products00:48:36 - Recommended Resources and EventsUseful Links:Dr Craig Rose on LinkedIn. Doctor Seaweed: Website, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.Sponsors and Partners:Alvan Blanch: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn Seagriculture Conference: Website and LinkedInGet in touch Inside Seaweed's host Fed DeGobbi on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram or by emailing him directly at fed@insideseaweed.com - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
Harry Wright is the Founder and Director of Bright Tide. Harry studied law and practised in the private sector for ten years. It was there he saw the potential to harness the ingenuity and resources of the private sector to help solve global conservation issues, inspiring him to launch Bright Tide. Harry has extensive knowledge of conservation issues, international law and social entrepreneurship, regularly giving lectures and leading workshops for both the private and education sectors. Harry is also the founder of The Conservation Project International, senior board member of Back2Business International, Advisor at Oceanovation, Trustee at the Seahorse Trust and a board member at the United Nations Westminster Association.Check out Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com Timestamps:00:00:00 - Intro00:01:00 - Harry's Background and Current Work00:02:22 - The Reality of Entrepreneurial Success00:04:45 - Transition from Law to Environmental Focus00:10:46 - The Role of Legal Advice in Entrepreneurship00:12:02 - Balancing Profit and Environmental Impact00:14:10 - Successful Business Models in Seaweed and Blue Economy00:17:00 - Common Success Factors in Seaweed Businesses00:20:11 - Potential of Seaweed in Environmental Impact00:22:38 - Overview of Bright Tide and Its Services00:27:05 - Support Needs for Entrepreneurs in Seaweed Industry00:34:03 - Regenerative Farming and Its Importance00:37:07 - Link Between Aquaculture and Regenerative Farming00:44:30 - Investment Landscape in Seaweed IndustryUseful Links: Harry Wright on LinkedIn.Bright Tide: Website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.The Regenerative Farming Accelerator Programme Events:Bright Tide Venture Showcase at Barclays' officers on 24th May 2024 in Canary Wharf, London Groundswell - The Regenerative Agriculture Festival: 26th-27th June 2024Sponsors:Alvan Blanch: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn Get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram or by emailing me directly at fed@insideseaweed.com - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
Sachi Singh is the Founder and CEO of Rootless. With a decade of experience in international climate change solutions and a Masters in Environmental Management from Yale University, Sachi is well aware of what we're collectively up against. In seaweed, she found hope! Seaweed is one of the most nutritious foods on the planet, and actively regenerates the environment in which it is grown. Yet, most of us don't eat it on a daily basis. Sachi is trying to change that with Rootless and its hero product, The Daily Bite. Since their debut in 2022, The Daily Bites have been helping women and people support hormone health, sustain all-day energy, and nurture their gut health. Today, Sachi is on a mission to build a better food system while empowering millions of women to reclaim their health and feel good about their bodies during major hormonal transitions, including menopause, pregnancy, and beyond - all through seaweed. Check out Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com Timestamps:0:00:00 - Intro0:02:14 - Sachi's turning point towards seaweed0:06:22 - Overview of seaweed's nutrient composition0:11:06 - Meaningful insights from recent papers on seaweed health benefits0:13:27 - Bioactive compounds of particular interest in seaweed0:15:36 - Iodine in seaweed and its protective qualities0:21:59 - The role of seaweed in menopause0:23:11 - Fucoid and fucoxanthin 0:25:31 - Seaweed's prebiotic fibre and potential benefits0:29:15 - Sachi's experience as an entrepreneur in the seaweed industry0:33:38 - Rootless's product: The Daily Byte0:37:35 - Habit stacking and habit replacement strategies0:42:04 - Unexpected benefits of The Daily Byte0:46:07 - Development and testing of The Daily Byte recipe0:47:44 - Challenges of educating consumers about the value of seaweed0:48:02 - Sachi's goal of positioning seaweed as a solution for women's hormonal health0:53:17 - Rootless's manufacturing process and challenges0:58:07 - Rootless's crowdfunding campaign details1:02:16 - Trends in the health space where seaweed could become a compelling solution1:04:47 - Proving health claims and regulations in the nutraceutical industry1:08:26 - Resources for learning more about seaweed and health1:09:20 - Upcoming events related to seaweed and health1:09:39 - Final message and how to get in touchUseful Links:Rootless crowdfunding campaign: learn more here!Sachi Singh on LinkedIn and InstagramRootless: Website, Blog, Instagram. Seaweed For Health Conference (22th-24th May 2024, Cork, Ireland): learn more and register here!Resources:Sachi recommended the book "Seaweeds – Edible, Available, and Sustainable" by Ole Mouritsen. Get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram or by emailing me directly at fed@insideseaweed.com - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
Andrew Wilkinson is Seafood Specialist and Chef Director of Research and Development at North Coast Seafoods. He is a chef with a deep love for fresh ingredients and a passion for creating exciting, delicious food for people to enjoy every day. He developed this passion from a young age, working on the lobster docks in Maine and watching his mother cook traditional New England meals. Wilkinson is a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and has extensive international experience, having worked in Germany and Japan. He has also served on the US Culinary Olympic Team. Throughout his career, Wilkinson has worked as a chef and partner at Skipjack's Restaurant Group and as the executive chef of the Rainbow Room in New York City. Currently, he is on a mission to promote healthy eating for children by introducing sustainable seafood options, including seaweed, to school menus. He believes that seaweed is a healthy and underutilized ingredient, and is always looking for innovative ways to incorporate it into his dishes. * Check out Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * 00:00 - Intro 00:18 - Chef Andrew Wilkinson's Background 00:51 - Availability of Episode on Video 01:24 - How the Host and Andrew Met 02:03 - The Role of Chefs at Kelp Conferences 03:06 - Andrew's First Encounter with Seaweed 04:13 - Andrew's Mission with North Coast Seafoods 05:20 - The Turning Point for Andrew's Kelp Journey 06:43 - Andrew's Previous Work with Non-Mainstream Ingredients 08:49 - The Plan for Kelp Development During COVID 11:09 - Making Kelp the Centre of the Plate 13:52 - The Development Process for Kelp Products 15:14 - The Importance of Making Kelp Centre of Plate 16:39 - Team Involvement in Kelp Product Development 18:10 - Lessons Learned from Product Development Phase 19:57 - Choosing the Burger as the Main Product 20:50 - The Formula for Kelp Meatballs and Burgers 22:29 - The Role of Schools in Kelp Product Adoption 24:08 - The Story Behind Choosing the Burger 25:01 - Differences in Formulas for School Products 26:29 - Challenges of Working with Schools 27:59 - Regulations Around Using Kelp in Food 30:29 - The Role of Taste, Health, and Environment in Product Success 32:12 - The Role of Chefs in Championing Seaweed 35:40 - The Importance of Storytelling in Marketing Seaweed 37:09 - Educational Collaboration in Schools 39:57 - The Impact of the Green Plate Club 42:33 - The Future of Kelp Products and Education 44:01 - The Role of Chefs in Seaweed Innovation 46:16 - The Importance of Marketing and Storytelling 49:09 - Andrew's Future Plans and Ambitions 52:08 - Potential for Other Underutilized Seaweed Species 54:43 - Closing Remarks and Invitation to Try Kelp Meatballs * Useful Links: Andrew Wilkinson on LinkedIn North Coast Seafoods: Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube * Get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or by emailing me directly at fed@insideseaweed.com - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
Simon Davis is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of SEADLING, a seaweed biotechnology startup, that has been leading innovation in the seaweed sector in South East Asia since 2018. Simon has been active in the seaweed industry for 8 years, serves on the advisory board of UN Global Compact's Safe Seaweed Coalition and is a passionate advocate for the pivotal role that seaweed will play as a source of new materials for a sustainable future whilst combatting carbon and restoring abundance to our oceans. * Check out Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * 01:01 - Simon's Career Break and Sailing Journey 02:05 - Discovering Seaweed During Travels 03:46 - Simon's Deep Dive into the Seaweed Industry 05:08 - The State of Seaweed Farming in Southeast Asia 07:44 - Innovation Gaps in the Seaweed Industry 08:05 - Comparing Asia vs. Europe/North America 09:37 - The Scale and Potential of Seaweed Farming in Southeast Asia 10:09 - Opportunities for Innovation 11:02 - Exploring New Seaweed Species and Applications 11:56 - The Role of Local and International Stakeholders 12:57 - Bridging the Gap between East and West 14:08 - Learning from China 15:24 - The Future of Seaweed Cultivation 16:18 - The Potential of Equatorial Seaweed Farming 17:10 - Lessons from Asia 18:00 - The Importance of Diversification in Seaweed Products 19:11 - Seedling's Focus on Pet Food Ingredients 20:36 - The Role of Seaweed in Animal Feed and Biostimulants 21:22 - The Future Directions of the Seaweed Industry 22:13 - Opportunities for Entrepreneurs 23:01 - Simon's Call for Talent at Seedling 24:05 - Avoiding Past Mistakes in Seaweed Industry Development 25:06 - The Need for Diversification and Resilience 26:02 - Potential Contributions from Global Entrepreneurs 27:42 - The Challenges of Innovating in Southeast Asia 29:30 - The Importance of Expanding into more Applications 30:14 - Quality Standards and Certifications 31:18 - Seedling's Approach to Innovation 32:06 - Developing Seaweed-Based Products 33:22 - Seedling's Farming Partnerships and Supply Chain 34:06 - Research and Innovation in Tropical Seaweeds 36:16 - The Importance of Building Relationships in Asia 37:37 - Seedling's Focus on Pet Food and Biostimulants 38:58 - Seedling's Product Development and Market Expansion 40:19 - Exploring New Seaweed Species and Varieties 41:07 - The Potential of Red Seaweeds 42:05 - Opportunities in Red Seaweed Applications 43:27 - Encouraging Global Entrepreneurs to Explore Red Seaweeds 44:08 - Seedling's Call for Talent Across Various Roles 45:21 - How to Connect with Seedling * Useful Links: Simon Davis on LinkedIn SEADLING: Website, LinkedIn and Email * Get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or by emailing me directly at fed@insideseaweed.com - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
Courtney Boyd Myers (Founder & CEO of AKUA) is an entrepreneur, environmentalist, writer, and new Mama to Romy Ocean. Prior to launching AKUA, she helped build the Summit Community, a global network of founders, creatives, and innovators. Previously, she helped market companies such as Four Sigmatic and Unframed Ice Cream. She began her career as a journalist at Forbes Magazine and The Next Web and has been recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business. She currently serves as an advisor to GreenWave. * Check out Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * [2:55] Seaweed and food a one possible solution for climate change and environmental crisis [5:10] The spark and hopes behind starting a food brand, Akua. [10:30] Bringing an innovative product into the market: Akua's story and key lessons. [14:00] The Kelp Beta Burger Club: how Akua engaged with their audience and learn what they wanted. [17:05] How to build a successful food brand - advice for startups. [18:25] Does sustainability drives why consumers buy products? [21:10] Measuring positive environmental impact for a food brand. [22:15] Marketing and storytelling: how Akua's message and strategy evolved. [35:05] The risk in forcing the climate and sustainability message. [36:55] Dos, Don'ts and practical advice for entrepreneurs starting a food business. [42:00] Potential for using different seaweed species and regenerative food sources. [43:05] The importance of simplification where the seaweed supply chain is so complicated. [44:15] How are brain works around food and how to change perception. * Useful Links: Courtney's presentation given at Seagriculture in Portland. Courtney Boyd Myers: LinkedIn, Website, Blog, Twitter. Akua: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook. * Get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or by emailing me directly at fed@insideseaweed.com - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! * Next year Seagriculture conferences: Seagriculture EU: 18 - 20 June 2024, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands Embark on a journey that is truly one of a kind! Seagriculture EU 2024 is not just a conference, it is a unique experience – a limited edition. Join the exclusive site visit to Ocean Rainforest: It will be a full-day trip to explore their facilities, experience a scenic drive on the Faroe Islands and gain insights from captivating presentations. Register until 1 December with Late Bird rates at www.seagriculture.eu Seagriculture USA: 11 - 12 September 2024, Ketchikan, Alaska Alaska's suitability for seaweed cultivation lies in its clean, cold, and nutrient-rich coastal waters, along with long daylight hours during the summer, making it an ideal environment for seaweed growth. On top of that Alaska is home to some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes in the world. Visiting Alaska can be an adventure of a lifetime, offering experiences and memories that will stay with you forever. Register until 31 December with Early Bird rates at www.seagriculture-usa.com
Matthew is the Founder and CEO of Macro Oceans, a startup transforming seaweed into low-carbon chemicals for use in materials, cosmetics, food, and many other applications. Matthew is an experienced technology entrepreneur, having built and sold his first company, Yield Pop, to The Climate Corporation. He has more than a decade of experience in terrestrial agriculture and was the first business hire at Inari, a gene-editing technology company, where he helped raise over $100M in venture capital funding. * Check out Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * [2:20] Matthew's ambitions and motivations at the outset of his career. [3:55] Early career in terrestrial agriculture: Syngenta, Yield Pop, The Climate Corporation, Inari. [7:30] Lessons in bringing technology to terrestrial agriculture. [9:50] Main differences and similarities between land farming and ocean farming. [13:25] Learning from other industries to innovate and solve problems in seaweed. [14:44] The genesis of Macro Oceans and the consideration in starting the company. [20:50] Macro Oceans business model and role in the industry. [25:15] Product strategy, the importance of profitability and optimising unit economics. [27:45] The role of technology in addressing some of the industry's pain point. [32:00] The cosmetic industry as an interesting application for seaweed. [34:00] Possible opportunities and challenges in developing nutraceuticals. [35:10] The supply chain in the cosmetic industry, the importance of brands and storytelling. [38:30] The trend of brands trying to simplify and "clean up" their labels. [40:20] Adopting solutions from terrestrial agriculture that are missing in seaweed. [43:15] Final thoughts * Useful Links: Matthew Perkins: LinkedIn Macro Oceans: Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Newsletter and email at hello@macro-oceans.com * Get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or by emailing me directly at fed@insideseaweed.com - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! * Seagriculture EU: 18 - 20 June 2024, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands Embark on a journey that is truly one of a kind! Seagriculture EU 2024 is not just a conference, it is a unique experience – a limited edition. Join the exclusive site visit to Ocean Rainforest: It will be a full-day trip to explore their facilities, experience a scenic drive on the Faroe Islands and gain insights from captivating presentations. Register until 1 December with Late Bird rates at www.seagriculture.eu Seagriculture USA: 11 - 12 September 2024, Ketchikan, Alaska Alaska's suitability for seaweed cultivation lies in its clean, cold, and nutrient-rich coastal waters, along with long daylight hours during the summer, making it an ideal environment for seaweed growth. On top of that Alaska is home to some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes in the world. Register until 31 December with Early Bird rates at www.seagriculture-usa.com About Seagriculture Conference: Seaweed cultivation in Europe and the US is showing promise in terms of growth, however challenges in regulations, cost, and market viability could affect the pace of this growth in the future. The Seagriculture conferences focus on addressing those challenges in the seaweed industry, fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, and emphasizing the importance of sustainable ractices, innovation, research, and regulatory adaptability for long-term success.
Californian designer Julia Marsh is the CEO and co-founder of Sway, a venture-backed materials company which produces compostable packaging made from seaweed. Julia's work is inspired by a lifelong affection for the ocean, and the belief that designers must take part in solving the planet's greatest challenges. Sway is on a mission to replenish the planet by supporting healthy ocean ecosystems, eliminating plastic waste, and creating a more inclusive climate movement. * Check out Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * [1:05] Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize. [7:55] Supply chain: sourcing ingredients and seaweed species. [14:00] The price of raw seaweed biomass and materials. [15:20] Using non-food grade biomass and benefits for farmers. [17:00] Current and future challenges in supplying seaweed biomass and materials. [20:40] Thoughts around the flow of information within the industry. [24:50] Opportunities and untapped potential for entrepreneurs. [28:35] Considering the holistic value of seaweed in developing subsidies and policies. [31:35] Design as key factor behind Sway's success. [32:40] Imagining a positive and exiting future and how this could be communicated. [35:00] How those who are closest to the problem are closest to the solution. [36:25] What will drive B2B customers to adopt bioplastic in future. [42:05] Competitors and competitive advantage of seaweed-based bioplastic. [43:40] Biological circularity and how it can be applied to seaweed and bioplastic. [46:35] Partnering with small-scale seaweed farmers. * Useful Links: Julia Marsh: LinkedIn Sway: Website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize Macro Oceans: website * Get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or by emailing me directly at fed@insideseaweed.com - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! * Next year Seagriculture conferences: Seagriculture EU: 18 - 20 June 2024, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands Embark on a journey that is truly one of a kind! Seagriculture EU 2024 is not just a conference, it is a unique experience – a limited edition. Join the exclusive site visit to Ocean Rainforest: It will be a full-day trip to explore their facilities, experience a scenic drive on the Faroe Islands and gain insights from captivating presentations. Register until 1 December with Late Bird rates at www.seagriculture.eu Seagriculture USA: 11 - 12 September 2024, Ketchikan, Alaska Alaska's suitability for seaweed cultivation lies in its clean, cold, and nutrient-rich coastal waters, along with long daylight hours during the summer, making it an ideal environment for seaweed growth. On top of that Alaska is home to some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes in the world. Visiting Alaska can be an adventure of a lifetime, offering experiences and memories that will stay with you forever. Register until 31 December with Early Bird rates at www.seagriculture-usa.com About the Seagriculture conferences: Seaweed cultivation in Europe and the US is showing promise in terms of growth, however challenges in regulations, cost, and market viability could affect the pace of this growth in the future. The Seagriculture conferences focus on addressing those challenges in the seaweed industry, fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, and emphasizing the importance of sustainable ractices, innovation, research, and regulatory adaptability for long-term success.
Arctic Seaweed is on a mission to transform seaweed cultivation with disruptive technology. As Strategic Advisor, Matthias Boeing is assisting the company to build a strategy for scaling up. He's studied International Business and Strategic Management at the University of York, after which he gained important experience in management consulting and digital transformation. He then took what he calls an "Ocean Sabbatical" that lead him to finally combine his background and skills with his passion for the ocean. * Check out Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * [1:40] Highlights from Day 1 of Seagriculture Conference EU 2023. [2:50] Learning from the software industry how to test and iterate. [6:00] The blueprint for building partnerships in the seaweed industry. [9:55] Challenges in attracting capital investment for seaweed supply chain. [12:50] The concept of Seaweed As A Service: a framework for partnership. [19:50] Seaweed farming and offshore wind: announced collaboration with Simply Blue Group. [24:45] How technology could disrupt seaweed farming and allow scaling up. [29:30] The need to show a path to profitability in order to survive. [32:00] Opportunities for new entrants in the industry. [33:30] Digital transformation and using data. [37:30] How to integrated ecosystem services. [40:45] Why the seaweed industry must succeed in this "make or break" moment. * Useful Links: Matthias Boeing: LinkedIn Arctic Seaweed: Website, LinkedIn and email at hello@aseaweed.com * Get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or by emailing me directly at fed@insideseaweed.com - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
Kaly is a natural capital operating platform whose mission is to scale the production of regeneratively farmed seaweed in Scotland and develop new routes to market through higher-value processing using a community-based approach. Co-Founder of Kaly, Daniel Hillman is an experienced impact investor and entrepreneur, most recently as Director of Investments and Business Development for Waterfund, a private investment firm he helped create focused on solving global water scarcity through investments in technology and infrastructure. In this capacity, Daniel built and scaled a water desalination and distribution business in the Middle East and led venture capital investments within food and ag-tech companies in the United States. Prior to Waterfund Daniel worked at Hanson Asset Management in London, advising family offices on direct investments with a real assets focus. He also advises closely-held businesses in the UK and the US on implementing growth and M&A strategies. * Check out Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * [3:00] Expectations from Seagriculture Conference. [4:45] The steep learning curve to join the seaweed industry. [5:50] Bridging the gap between finance and the seaweed industry. [8:00] How nature dictates what a sustainable growth would look like. [9:50] Challenges and frustration worth "throwing money at". [12:20] What Kaly is not going to do and what they will rely on partners. [14:10] Moving from vertical integration to specialisation in a mature industry. [17:30] Establishing a network of commercial agreements with local creel fishermen. [23:00] Kaly's products and who is going to buy them. [24:55] "Big Ag" getting interested about seaweed. [26:10] Biostimulant trial set-up and what Kaly is hoping to learn. [30:05] Nutrient credits as a way to create an extra income stream. [36:00] Final thoughts about enthusiasm and passion in the industry. * Useful Links: Daniel Hillman: Linkedin Kaly Group: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. * Get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or by emailing me directly at fed@insideseaweed.com - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think! Special thanks to my brother Riccardo, who made this episode possible by travelling with me to Trondheim (Norway), acting as technical director and helping hugely in making sure that both live interviews went as smoothly as they did.
GreenWave trains and supports regenerative ocean farmers in the era of climate change, working with coastal communities to create a blue economy—built and led by ocean farmers. Sam Garwin leads GreenWave's efforts to establish reliable, accessible, and equitable markets for seaweed farmers. Her work includes business development and organizing support for regional farmer networks, research and infrastructure pilots to address post-harvest bottlenecks, and value chain coordination to cultivate a resilient ecosystem of businesses to get seaweed from seed to sale. Since 2019, Sam has led the buildout of Seaweed Source, GreenWave's direct buyer engagement program and digital tool, growing the network to over 50 buyers across nine U.S. states and Canadian provinces, and facilitating forward contracts for over 400,000 lbs of kelp. Sam draws on more than a decade of experience building sustainable supply chains and socially responsible business models. Before joining GreenWave, Sam developed market-based solutions for regenerative food companies through her consulting firm, 5th Quarter Foods. She was previously the CEO of Fleishers, a pioneer of pasture-raised whole-animal retail butchery; and an early employee of Maya Mountain Cacao, a social enterprise dedicated to direct-trade organic cocoa bean sourcing. Sam holds a bachelor's degree in Information Science and Biology from Cornell University. * Check out the Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * [1:20] Why do most seaweed entrepreneurs have a part-time job? [4:30] Cultivating multiple species. [5:50] How to start a seaweed business that works. [9:45] Sharing risk and reward with farmers [11:10] Other initial considerations, specific to the type of business. [14:10] Are product and market introductions lagging behind expectations? [16:10] Similarities between seaweed farming and agriculture. What can be learnt and replicated? [23:00] How to collaboratively co-create value across the entire supply chain. [25:30] Tools and support for seaweed entrepreneurs. [26:10] Main benefits in joining an incubator/accelerator [28:45] Scaling up the industry while still allowing small business to join and thrive [30:15] Abandon scarcity mindset: focus less on price reduction and more on value creating. [31:20] How could we make seaweed a "cash crop"? [36:30] More on how to avoid repeating the mistakes of land agriculture. [37:35] High margin Vs. Low margin products - considerations for seaweed entrepreneurs. [43:50] Listening to the customer, being willing to test and pivot. [49:20] Seaweed Source: GreenWave's new "dating" app for the seaweed industry. * Useful Links: Sam Garwin: LinkedIn, Twitter and Website GreenWave: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Regenerative Ocean Farming Hub Seaweed Source app: Where Supply Meets Demand Other companies and organisations mentioned in the Show: Atlantic Sea Farms, Akua, Sustainable Ocean Alliance, SeaAhead, Hatch, Investable Oceans, Local Catch, Launch Alaska. * Inside Seaweed's host is Fed DeGobbi, get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or directly via email. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
Vincent Doumeizel is Senior Adviser on the oceans to the United Nations Global Compact as well as director of the Food Programme at the Lloyd's Register Foundation. Author of a new book titled "The Seaweed Revolution" which officially launched in the UK in May 2023, Vincent has in recent years devoted himself to promoting a food revolution and environmental solutions based on sea resources, especially seaweed. He also played an instrumental role in the creation and development of the Global Seaweed Coalition. * Check out the Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * [1:40] Book launch of The Seaweed Revolution at the National History Museum in London. [4:00] Goals and expectations for the book and its unexpected impact so far. [11:30] Lessons and takeaways from researching and writing this book. [15:00] European culture and the West's lost connection with seaweed and the ocean. [19:50] Why is nobody making money from seaweed, yet? [25:55] Adjustments and contingencies to put in place when starting a seaweed business. [27:45] Biorefining as key path toward profitability. [32:15] How to collaborate within the framework of the Global Seaweed Coalition. [38:50] Licencing issue and lack of science as biggest obstacles for the industry. [42:00] Seaweed application in the food industry: a model that could work for Europe. * Useful Links: Vincent Doumeizel on LinkedIn and Twitter United Nations Global Compact: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Global Seaweed Coalition : Website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Lloyd's Register Foundation: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook * Inside Seaweed's host is Fed DeGobbi, get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or directly via email. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
Simon Johansson is the CEO of Nordic SeaFarm and has been working in the aquaculture industry for 5+ years and has a strong passion for the ocean. With a background from Management Consulting and working in the Middle East, North America and Europe he has acquired strong knowledge from various cultures and companies now being applied to scale up Nordic SeaFarm to become the pioneering seaweed company in Europe going forward. * Check out the Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * [1:05] Seaweed home-made pesto recipe. [3:12] The global food crisis and how the ocean can play a role. [6:10] Problem-solution fit, what is the problem we are trying to solve? [8:50] Developing a downstream market for seaweed-based food products. [15:40] Beyond taste, using seaweed as a functional ingredient in food products. [21:20] Changing public perception about a new crop. [23:00] Disrupting the food industry with innovative seaweed products. [29:20] Vertical integration Vs. Specialisation. [33:15] Product innovation and focusing on the customer. [35:35] Growing other species of seaweed beyond kelp. [36:20] How to enter the seaweed industry and have positive impact. [37:00] Pursuing product-market fit. Testing, metrics and product development. [42:20] Need for expertise in developing tasty but industrialised. [43:45] The importance of lowering price and the risk of making seaweed a commodity. [46:50] Collaboration and competition [47:50] Opportunities in growing and using high value species such as sea lettuce and dulse * Useful Links: Simon Johansson on LinkedIn Nordic SeaFarm: Website, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram * Inside Seaweed's host is Fed DeGobbi, get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or directly via email. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
Steven Hermans is the founder of Phyconomy, the platform on a mission to improve the flow of information in the seaweed industry. Phyconomy is currently doing so through a blog, a newsletter, a database of seaweed organisations and an annual report called State of the Seaweed Industry, which has been referenced on newspapers like the Financial Times, academic papers and policy papers such as Seaweed For Europe. You will be able to meet Steven in person at Seagriculture Conference EU 2023 (June 21st-22nd in Trondheim, Norway), where he will be part of discussion panel on seaweed investments and business aspects. * Check out the Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * [1:05] Serving a niche as a content creator [6:40] What is Phyconomy? [10:20] The invisible barrier between western and eastern seaweed industry [12:20] Lack of educational content for newcomers into the industry [15:15] Best formats for packaging information and who is the recipient [18:10] Current focus for Phyconomy and plan going forward [22:10] Feasibility of a knowledge-based business in seaweed [26:15] The narrative for communicating the value of seaweed (engaging potential customers, creating a brand, promoting a product) [27:40] Balance between unsupported hype and unnecessary pessimism [31:00] Criteria to decide how to separate the signal from the noise [32:30] Challenges and frustrations [37:25] State of the Industry 2023 * Useful Links: Steven Hermans on LinkedIn Phyconomy: Website and Twitter. Phyconomy's Newsletter, Blog, Database of Seaweed Organisations and State of the Industry 2023 Seagriculture Conference EU - June 21st and 22nd 2023 in Trondheim, Norway. (Follow on LinkedIn) * Inside Seaweed's host is Fed DeGobbi, get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or directly via email. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
This episode was created as part of Inside Seaweed's partnership with Seagriculture Conference. Olavur Gregersen is co-founder and CEO of Ocean Rainforest, one of the largest seaweed cultivation companies in Europe which also operates in California. Olavur has more than 20 years' experience as an entrepreneur and international speaker, primarily focused on seaweed cultivation and growth in the blue bioeconomy. He will be keynote speaker during Seagriculture Conference EU 2023 (June 21st-22nd in Trondheim, Norway), where he will discuss the financial ecosystem to enable scaling-up seaweed cultivation. * Check out the Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at anytime. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * [1:38] Introduction to Ocean Rainforest [3:13] Customer segments and the seaweed value chain [6:05] Seaweed application in the dairy sector [8:03] Seaweed as functional feed additive, and its benefits [9:58] Finding customers for your seaweed biomass [14:22] Cultivating in large scale in California [17:00] Seagriculture Conference EU 2023 [21:52] The financial ecosystem to enable scaling-up * Useful Links: Olavur Gregersen on LinkedIn and Twitter Ocean Rainforest: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Seagriculture Conferece EU - June 21st and 22nd 2023 in Trondheim, Norway. (Follow on LinkedIn) * Inside Seaweed's host is Fed DeGobbi, get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or directly via email. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
This episode was created as part of Inside Seaweed's partnership with Seagriculture Conference. Silje Forbord is Research Manager at SINTEF Oceans. Silje has 15 years' seaweed cultivation experience from land-based hatchery and field work, including integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA). She holds a PhD in cultivation of sugar kelp with focus on nitrogen uptake kinetics, growth characteristics and chemical composition. * Check out the Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at anytime. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * SINTEF Ocean is an independent research organisation based in Norway, which over the past 15 years has conducted around 60 projects on various aspects of seaweed cultivation and utilization. * [08:30] Producing seaweed biomass that nobody wants to buy. [09:25] The equipment you can't buy in store [10:20] How funding availability influences which research projects are pursued. [12:35] Upscaling and why the seaweed industry is not profitable, yet. [13:55] Need to pay more attention to finding the right location for seaweed farming. [17:25] Coastal farming Vs. Offshore farming. [20:50] Innovation needed to achieve upscaling. [25:10] Cost is holding back faster progress. [26:50] Market development has been overlooked. [28:40] Year-round supply and diversification into different species. [32:20] What can we learn from Asia? Is there enough collaboration? [36:40] Seagriculture Conference EU. [39:20] Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture. [46:40] Areas where more research is needed. [48:00] Final thoughts. Useful Links: Silje Forbord on LinkedIn SINTEF Ocean: Website, LinkedIn Seagriculture Conferece EU - June 21st and 22nd 2023 in Trondheim, Norway. (Follow on LinkedIn) * Inside Seaweed's host is Fed DeGobbi, get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or directly via email. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
Fionnuala Quin is the Founder CEO of Kelpy, a start-up working to create a reliable and ethical bioplastic replacement for the single use packaging items currently choking our oceans worldwide. The daughter of a fisherman, Fionnuala is no stranger to aquaculture and its challenges. Her positive vision of the future is not just driven by her determination to create a positive impact, but it is also supported by a deep understanding of the industry and what it takes to succeed with a seaweed business. Some of the key points covered in our conversation are as follows: How to choose the right product among the wide range of seaweed applications How to bring innovation in an emerging and disruptive industry Market research and validating a business idea The importance of market pull to get out of the lab and drive positive outcomes Finding the right partners to build the business Climate change and the seaweed industry: Fionnuala's vision for the future The role of seaweed bioplastics and using the soil as a carbon sink Useful Links: Fionnuala Quin on LinkedIn Kelpy: Website, LinkedIn The Paradox of Choice, Barry Schwartz: book and Ted Talk 2040 (documentary) Green Eco Technologies
Liz MacDonald is the Seaweed Supply and Advancement Manager at Atlantic Sea Farms. Liz has been farming the Gulf of Maine (US) since 2016, cultivating native mussels, scallops and kelp. Her detailed and practical knowledge of seaweed production is absolutely incredible. Liz has collaborated with researchers and is a published author in multiple scientific journals, presenting her research nationally. She is responsible for Atlantic Sea Farms' farming partnerships and helps a growing community of ocean farmers. In this very informative episode, she painted an in-depth picture of seaweed supply on the east coast of the United States. This included: Learnings from on-the-job experience Practical tips as a seaweed farmers Trainings paths to become a seaweed farmer and learning resources Best practices and equipment out on the farm Costs and challenges associated with farming Processing and logistics Opportunities for innovation Social and environmental considerations Useful Links: Liz MacDonald on LinkedIn Atlantic Sea Farms: Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook Gulf of Maine Research Institute - Aquaculture Projects University of Maine Sea Grant
Is the era of automation and AI coming to the seaweed industry? I try to answer this question in my conversation with one of the pioneers of automation and mechanisation in the sector. Here is a short trailer of this episode: click here Among the many topics discussed on this episode, here are some that you might find really interesting: New technologies to disrupt the seaweed industry Principles and strategies behind a serial entrepreneur and how products and services are brought to market Seaweed stabilisation and secondary processing Automation and mechanisation in seaweed farming Using data and AI to reduce risk and operational cost whilst increasing the quality and quantity of the biomass Drastically reducing the time required for obtaining a seaweed farming licence The learnings from experiencing the war in Ukraine It has been an absolute eye opener for me to hear the insights and thoughts Morten shared during our chat, I hope you will enjoy it. * Check out the Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * Useful Links:Morten Kroslid on Linkedin Sirputis: Website, Linkedn, Facebook and Insagram SoftSeaweed: Website and LinkedIn Morten Kroslid's Bio: Morten Kroslid is CEO of Sirputis, a company providing equipment for seaweed cultivation and processing. He is also Co-Founder of SoftSeaweed, a software solution developed to make seaweed farming businesses more sustainable and profitable. Morten studied Business and Economics in his native Norway and went on, over the years, to become the founder or co-founder of more than 20 start-ups in several different countries. In the last few years he's focused on innovation aimed at enabling the growth of the seaweed industry globally. * Inside Seaweed's host is Fed DeGobbi, get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or directly via email. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
Joost Wouters is the Founder & SeaEO of The Seaweed Company. We started our conversation by unpacking the milestones of his journey from a corporate career to becoming an entrepreneur “hooked on seaweed” and on a mission to “make seaweed visible”. Among the many topics discussed on this episode, here are some that you might find really interesting: The need to step up professionalisation in the industry to get out of the “hobby” area, appreciating the value that you are providing to help grow from a cottage industry to establishing a competent and credible industry. The mindset of starting a company as a platform, open to true collaboration and to partnering with like-minded people that want to work with seaweed. The value of cooperation to grow hand-in-hand. Evolving the market rather than blocking the speed of innovation by protecting IP. Changing the attitude and learning to share failure. Biorefining and how this area may develop in the future. Biggest challenges to overcome, such as producing seaweed biomass on shore below a certain price. Scaling production in a way that works with nature. The benefits of using biostimulants and animal feed supplement. Reconnecting with the source and the other living beings around us, removing the barrier between human being and nature. Useful Links: Joost Wouters on LinkedIn The Seaweed Company: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Joost Wouters' Bio: Joost started his professional career in the corporate world, working at Proctor & Gamble first, to then join the management team of PepsiCo. Following the urge to become more independent, he decided to start a management consulting firm, working with the leadership teams of large and small companies such as Danone, Unilever, Heineken and Reckitt Benckiser, in places all over the world. After a year spent travelling in the USA with his family, he moved to Spain, where he built a house and Leadership Centre at the Mediterranean. Ten years later he returned to The Netherlands to continue his journey to contribute to a liveable future for the generations to come by implementing carbon positive seaweed solutions with The Seaweed Company. Farming seaweed all over the globe to support the health & wellbeing of humans, animals, crops and soils.
This episode covers all things wild harvesting, as I am joined by Peter Elbourne from SHORE Seaweed. We took a very insightful deep dive into the advantages and disadvantages of wild harvesting and looked at the differences when compared to seaweed farming. Peter's extraordinary experience allowed us to go into detail and discuss both the technical/operational side (e.g. access to different species, site selection, etc.) and the differences in terms economical and business management aspects (e.g. costs, product development options, competitive advantage). We also looked at the possible role of wild harvesting for the future of the industry, with particular focus on sustainability. * Check out the Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * Useful Links: Peter Elbourne on LinkedInSHORE Seaweed's websiteSHORE on InstagramSHORE on TwitterSHORE on Facebook Peter Elbourne's bio: Peter Elbourne is Managing Director of Supply and Operations at New Wave Foods. Trading as SHORE Seaweed, the company is a leading harvester, farmer and processor in Scotland. They supply organic seaweed direct to businesses for a wide range of applications and create innovative food products under their breakthrough retail brand SHORE. Peter trained as a marine biologist, completing his BSc at Bangor in North Wales and his PhD at Newcastle. He worked in community sustainability projects over a number of years. A consultancy project on business development led to the original idea to process seaweed in 2012. He began working full-time on seaweed in 2015 when the company was founded. He lives in the Highlands, roughly in between the company's wild harvest sites in Caithness in the far north of Scotland and their farm site in Argyll on the West Coast. * Inside Seaweed's host is Fed DeGobbi, get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or directly via email. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
Bren Smith is the industry pioneer behind "Eat Like A Fish - My adventures as a fisherman turned restorative ocean farmer". A former commercial fisherman, Bren went through a journey of ecological redemption by turning into a regenerative ocean farmer, and co-founder of the non-profit GreenWave - a global network of farmers, entrepreneurs, and researchers, focused on building community-based climate solutions out at sea, through collaboration and innovation. Check out Bren's full bio below. In this episode, Bren takes me through his thoughts, mistakes and experience. From the political to the extremely technical, from the huge obstacles to the amazing opportunities, he paints an exciting vision for the future of the seaweed industry. The conversation covers several topics, including pollution farming, climate change, economic inequality, the Wall Street framework of the unicorn, creating a story for the new era, the solution movement, the role of individuals, the economic models and technical innovation. * Check out the Inside Seaweed Newsletter! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to insideseaweed.com * Useful Links:Eat Like a Fish: My Adventures Farming the Ocean to Fight Climate ChangeGreenWaveGreenWave: Regenerative Ocean Farming HubGreenWave: Regenerative Ocean Farming Hub - GET STARTEDwww.insideseaweed.comMastermind Group: www.insideseaweed.com/group * Bren Smith's full bio:Bren Smith, GreenWave Co-Executive Director and Owner of Thimble Island Ocean Farm, pioneered the development of regenerative ocean farming. A lifelong commercial fisherman, he was named one of Rolling Stone magazine's “25 People Shaping the Future” and featured in TIME magazine's “Best Inventions of 2017”. Bren is the winner of the Buckminster Fuller Prize and the Curt Bergfors Food Planet Prize and has been profiled by 60 Minutes, CNN, The New Yorker, Wall Street Journal, National Geographic, and elsewhere. He is an Ashoka, Castanea, and Echoing Green Climate Fellow and James Beard Award-winning author of Eat Like a Fish: My Adventures Farming the Ocean to Fight Climate Change. * Inside Seaweed's host is Fed DeGobbi, get in touch on LinkedIn, Twitter, or directly via email. Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
Welcome back to another episode, where this time we hear from Amabel Hamilton, Co-founder and Director at GreenSea Solutions Ltd. During our conversation, Amabel paints a really promising and detailed picture of producing fertiliser from sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima), the exciting environmental benefits and the potential that this holds for the future of the seaweed industry. Useful Links: GreenSea Solutions' website GreenSea Solutions on LinkedIn Amabel Hamilton on Linkedin Tangled Greens' website Tangled Greens on Instagram Books (mentioned during the episodes): Eat Like A Fish by Bren Smith - My adventures as a fisherman turned restorative ocean farmer. Amabel Hamilton's bio: Amabel co-founded GreenSea Solutions, one of Scotland's foremost seaweed farming companies, in 2018. Prior to this, she worked in publishing and spent time as a Researcher at a London think-tank, writing policy recommendations on sustainable issues including green energy and housing solutions. Following a successful first two seasons developing their farm system in Loch Sunart, Ardnamurchan, GreenSea Solutions will relaunch this Autumn under the new name Atlantic Mariculture, signifying the company's progression to become the UK's leading producer of organic seaweed fertiliser, made solely using kelp cultivated in Scotland.
In an episode entirely dedicated to newcomers to the seaweed industry, I talk to Rhianna Rees, Seaweed Academy Coordinator at SAMS (Scottish Association for Marine Science). Rhianna's full bio can be found below. Whether you want to become a seaweed entrepreneur, you're thinking about getting started as a seaweed farmer, a researcher or maybe an investor, this episode is probably for you. Rhianna takes me through of all the steps involved with cultivating and processing seaweed, from the initial considerations (before you even get started), all the way to transforming fresh seaweed into a sustainable product: What is the Seaweed Academy and who is it for Key business consideration before getting started Barriers to entry Licensing Farm design and site selection Nursery & Deployment Cultivation and Harvest Processing Economics Routes to market Product development The result is a great introduction and an ideal place to start if you are beginning of your exploration into the seaweed industry. Useful Links: The Seaweed Academy's website Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) website Rhianna Rees on Linkedin Rhianna's bio: Seaweed researcher, passionate about the growth and expansion of the seaweed industry and its role in a rapidly developing blue economy. Author of the thesis 'seaweed is sexy: the consumption and utilisation of seaweed throughout British history and the marketing that surrounds it', with specific expertise in seaweed history and challenges in marketing.
Here is my wide-ranging conversation with Mike Williamson, one of the first seaweed farmers in north America and the CEO of Cascadia Seaweed, one of the largest provider of ocean cultivated seaweed in North America (full bio below). He told me some really compelling stories about starting as a pioneer seaweed farmer and entrepreneur in British Columbia (Canada). Cascadia Seaweed decided early on to start farming their own seaweed and then focus on 3 main verticals: seaweed for making plant-based food products (e.g. seaweed snacks), feed additives for cows to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, extracting chemicals and dietary supplements from seaweed in a sustainable way. We looked into the importance of scale and the role of small businesses in the seaweed industry, with some great advice for seaweed entrepreneurs. Mike shared his experience and learnings with the branding aspects of developing seaweed products, testing them and bringing them to market - covering topics such as changing people perception and expanding the consumer acceptance and awareness of seaweed. We then launched into a deep dive around seaweed processing: from harvesting, freezing and extracting ingredients (bio-refining). He explained how seaweed doesn't behave like any other land-based vegetables and the challenges that this brings to the processing stages, creating a need for specialised machinery and innovation in this area, which is strongly supported by collaboration with other seaweed entrepreneurs. Useful Links: Cascadia Seaweed's website Cascadia Seaweed's on LinkedIn Mike Williamson on LinkedinSeaweed Around The Clock Books (mentioned during the episodes): Slime by Ruth Kassinger - How Algae Created Us, Plague Us, and Just Might Save Us Paperb Mike Williamson's bio: Mike is a founding partner and the CEO of Cascadia Seaweed. Mike has had a long relationship with the sea. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he proudly served in the Royal Canadian Navy for over thirty years. He had a number of shore-based, sea-going (under-sea) and overseas postings, culminating with three years as Commander of Canada's west coast Naval Base. In the last ten years, he has been an entrepreneur and leader of a number of marine oriented companies encompassing energy, security, education and the environment. Mike brings this experience, along with a BSc (Math/Physics) and an MBA, to his current role.
Carlo Fedeli is the CEO and cofounder of FlexSea, a startup developing alternative packaging materials from seaweed, in order to replace single use flexible plastic packaging. In this episode, we talk about how first-hand experience of plastic pollutions pushed Carlo to turn to seaweed for a solution. We cover topics such as legislation, carbon credits and the differences between seaweed bioplastic and other plant-based bioplastics. We also look into how to influence public perception towards seaweed, how to source seaweed, the role of biorefineries and the future opportunities coming from strong collaboration between different players in the industry. Useful Links: FlexSea website FlexSea Contact page, where you can also sign up to the newsletter ("The Harvest") FlexSea on LinkedIn Carlo Fedeli's LinkedIn profile The Safe Seaweed coalition Seaweed for Europe
In this first episode, I talk with Dr Thierry Chopin, a professor of Marine Biology and huge global expert on seaweed cultivation (full bio below). He has worked on seaweed for more than 40 years and has published over 250 papers, including the recent “Farming the Ocean – Seaweed as a Quick Fix for the Climate?”. We talk about his concerns around the risks associated with overinflating seaweed's role as a climate solution, but also his vision for a “bright future” in the seaweed industry. Useful Links: Dr Chopin's company, the Turquoise Revolution Dr Chopin's LinkedIn profile Dr Chopin's recent paper: "Farming the Ocean – Seaweed as a Quick Fix for the Climate?" Video of the ice bucket challenge on youtube and loads of other interviews and media with Dr Chopin The team at Magellan Aqua Farms Dr. Thierry Chopin's Bio: Dr. Thierry Chopin's was born and educated in France (PhD from the University of Western Brittany, Brest). He moved to Canada in 1989 and is Professor of Marine Biology at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John. He is also the President of two companies: Chopin Coastal Health Solutions Inc. and Turquoise Revolution Inc. His research focuses on the ecophysiology, biochemistry and cultivation of seaweeds of commercial value and the development of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems for increased environmental sustainability, economic diversification and societal acceptability. Dr. Chopin promotes a greener Blue Economy, the Turquoise Economy, in which ecosystem services, provided in particular by extractive aquaculture (seaweeds and invertebrates), are recognized, valued and used as financial and regulatory incentives, through nutrient trading credits, within a circular economy approach.
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