Research and Development at Sea Green aims to increase the value of our services to benefit both the farmers and the wider seaweed industry, through market development, operational enhancement and ecosystem services. Sea Green will drive and facilitate the necessary action across the blue economy, through partner engagement and collaborative research, to optimise industry potential and accelerate solutions towards a regenerative and distributive system.
Optimising the market value of seaweed through novel and innovative products, diversified cultivation of species, and integrated farming systems
PRODUCT INNOVATION
Facilitating innovation in extraction and biorefinery methodologies for diversifying the value of raw biomass and developing innovative novel products from seaweed including:
Alternative Protein Source
Bio-Fertilizer
Bio-Plastics
Animal Feed
DIVERSIFICATION OF CULTIVATED SPECIES
Tropical seaweed production currently centred around hydrocolloids (agar and carrageenan seaweeds such as Eucheuma, Kappaphycus, and Gracilaria) but potential to cultivate additional species with diversified commercial value.
INTEGRATED MULTI-TROPHIC AQUACULTURE (IMTA)
Shifting from monoculture farming systems towards a regenerative approach, using the integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) framework, whereby multiple species from different trophic levels are farmed together to counterbalance their ecosystem functions.
OPERATIONAL ENHANCEMENT
Increasing productivity and growth at the operational level, whilst also reducing environmental impact and enhancing social and economic resilience for coastal communities.
TECHNOLOGY ENABLEMENT
Upgrading infrastructure and equipment with advanced technology to streamline efficiency and reduce risk
Environmental monitoring
Seedling Biotechnology
Automated Farming
Improved Drying
Reliable Traceability
Renewable Energy
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Adding value back to the farmers and wider coastal community through education, core skills development, training and resource efficiency
Online Learning
Farmer Training
Resource Efficiency
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
Tackling the climate crisis and exploring the potential of new vertical markets through the development of payments for ecosystem services.
CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL (CDR) RESEARCH
BLUE CARBON LAB
Sea Green is supporting global research in this exciting area through a co-sponsored PhD with the Blue Carbon Lab at Deakin University, which will look to explore the feasibility of large-scale seaweed farming as a ocean-based solution for drawing down carbon and mitigating climate change
UN GLOBAL COMPACT VISION STATEMENT
Sea Green are supporting global industry research and advocacy through active participation in the UN Global Compact’s Ocean Stewardship Coalition, with an editorial contribution to the vision statement launched in 2021
COMMUNITY-BASED CARBON REMOVAL PROJECTS
PARTNERSHIPS
Accommodate the linkage from blue carbon research to community action and conservation efforts, helping to safeguard natural capital and drawdown carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Facilitation of blue carbon projects such as community-based mangrove restoration in Indonesia
VERIFICATION
Development of verification services and finance through platform and enablement of voluntary carbon credits for blue carbon projects (seaweed, mangroves, seagrass)
BIODIVERSITY GAINS
Restoring abundance to local marine ecosystems through sustainable practices and coastal conservation projects
ECOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENT
Local moderation of ocean acidification and deoxygenation through nutrient removal and enhanced ecological conditions
DECARBONISATION
Replacing fossil-fuel based products with carbon negative seaweed products to drastically reduce value chain (Scope 3) emissions
CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL
Bio-sequestration (export to deep sea or coastal sediments) of carbon dioxide during seaweed cultivation (cultured and wild))
CLIMATE RISK REDUCTION
Data-driven insights to minimise the impact of increasing climate risks (e.g. marine heatwaves and heavy rainfall events) through environmental monitoring, water quality management and subsequent financial protection mechanisms
PLASTIC REDUCTION
Minimising local plastic pollution, microplastics and debris through sourcing of alternative sustainable production materials
INCOME DIVERSIFICATION
Diversifying revenue streams through integrated aquaculture systems and product innovation
DIGITAL LITERACY
Enhancing global connectivity and boosting digital capabilities for upstream actors
EDUCATION
Providing online modules to improve financial literacy, sustainable practices and business productivity
EQUITABLE GROWTH
Redistribution of wealth to equitably represent value in productivity through transparency and fair trade
JOB CREATION
Local jobs created and stabilised through technology, data and systems management, community and restoration operations, and services
MARKET STABILITY
Reducing price volatility and stabilising income for primary producers to foster strong markets
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Breaking poverty cycle for farmers through increased earnings and diversified income
ACCESS TO FINANCE
Development and provision of needs-based financial products for empowering household resilience