The Seaweed Company Operations in India and Morocco
The Seaweed Company strives to support coastal communities through its operations. Read more about how our Morocco and India operations are a model example of this.
India
In the area of Tuticorin, India along a 200km coastline, is where you’ll find one of our seaweed operations. Here, Hari, our General Manager and Co-Owner, runs the operations. Hari holds a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering and Masters in Materials Science in Fuel Cells & Alternative Energy. In 2002, Hari started cultivating seaweed for the first time and hasn’t looked back since. After entering the seaweed space, Hari realized fishermen were not receiving any funding and were not getting their rightful earnings for the seaweed they were growing because it was unprocessed. Another problem was that the fishermen were only receiving payments for 6 months of the year during the cultivation season. Hari stepped in and made a policy which supported the farmers. He would buy the bulk material from the farmers and process the seaweed by reducing its moisture content and removing sand. This ensured that when it was then sold, it would be valued at a premium due to the improved quality. Hari also recognized that farmers needed funding year round, thus introducing a scheme where farmers could access funding during the off-season, and during the cultivation period they could repay this funding through the supply of seaweed.
Now, as general manager & co-owner at The Seaweed Company, Hari works with seaweed farmers to carry on this same support. Seaweed farming provides a safe and reliable employment opportunity. It relieves pressure from participating in industries which are becoming increasingly unsustainable, such as commercial fishing where fishermen are experiencing lower catch yields. Seaweed farming also has incredible potential to keep expanding, e.g. Hari is now in discussion to expand the operations to another part of India where it is estimated that once operational, it can support the entire island of approximately 500–1,000 families.
Overall, The Seaweed Company ensures the fisherman receive a sustainable revenue basis that is consistent and not sparing. As Hari says, “They grow with us, our Blue Farming concept is not just a business, it’s about developing a lifestyle for others”.
Morocco
On the other side of the globe, in Morocco, The Seaweed Company holds operations for the collection of Ulva, commonly known as sea lettuce, and is preparing for cultivation projects across the coastline. Due to agricultural runoff, problems with sanitary/sewage and overloads of industry waste, blooms of ulva occur in Lake Nador as a result of the reaction between the excess nutrients. When we harvest this ulva, excess nutrients are removed from the lake, thereby cleaning it. The ulva blooms are expected to continue, due to more pressure on the lakes from an increase in nutrients from increased tourism. The Seaweed Company is therefore focused on establishing strong operations in the region. Our general manager and co-owner Amine Kharoub runs these operations along with a local team. Amine holds a background in Mechanical Engineering and found his way into seaweed after working in the solar energy space and wanted to seek out opportunities which benefited the planet.
The region recognizes the value of seaweed, especially since commercial fishing is experiencing major drawbacks. Additionally, there is an economic shift in the region due to closing the border with the European city of Melilla, resulting in less exchange with Europe and therefore more need for work opportunities outside of the city. In a region which has had political movements, seaweed, along with tourism, is proving to be a way for Morocco to further its development strategy. Seaweed farming presents no harm to the coast nor is it disruptive or noisy.
The Seaweed Company works alongside local fisherman and local cooperatives to gather the ulva biomass. We provide support, equipment, advice, knowledge, and supervision. This type of work provides plenty of employment opportunities. Without the Seaweed Company, it is likely these farmers would work in commercial fishing, which is tiresome, presents lower economic returns, and puts more pressure on decreasing fish stocks. The employment The Seaweed Company offers is more reliable and requires no risks and no starting costs. The Seaweed Company aims to see increased diversity within the fishermen as the Local Department of Fishery are currently pushing the cooperative to hire more women, allowing for TSC to support more women in our operations.
Overall, Morocco is working to foster aquaculture along with the National Agency of Aquaculture Development, which provides help for investors to receive environmentally and locally accepted concessions. In the near future we expect our operations in Morocco to continue to expand and support more diverse groups of coastal communities. The Seaweed Company is proud to contribute to developing a sustainable seaweed sector as a pioneer that brings local impact to coastal communities, such as those in Morocco.
About The Seaweed Company
The Seaweed Company was founded in 2018 and specializes in the development of high value products for humans, animals, soils, and plants, and in the cultivation of traceable seaweed species at commercial scale. The Seaweed Company has its own seaweed production locations in Ireland, Morocco, India, and The Netherlands, and has developed products that contribute to sustainable agriculture. As well, The Seaweed Company is actively involved with innovative research around applications in the medical field (Alzheimer and diabetes), functional food (alternative proteins), sustainable materials (natural composites), and sustainable seaweed cultivation methodologies. The Seaweed Company has a strong focus on Blue Farming, where we use the blue strength of the sea to support our land. Our TopHealth Plants product is an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuel based fertilizers and pesticides.
