1 – Case
By 2050, an additional 2 billion people will need to be fed. Today, 98 per cent of the world’s food energy comes from agriculture on land. And this agriculture accounts for 10 to 12 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions – emitting more than all cars, trucks, trains and airplanes combined. Moreover, illnesses and chronic diseases due to unhealthy food are developing fast causing great sorrow and enormous costs for society.
Wild fish population is heavily under pressure due to overfishing and destroying of natural habitats by humans. Another healthy and important source of protein and other nutrition is falling away.
2 – Challenge
How can mankind produce healthy food sustainably without over consuming land, air and water supplies and without poisoning what we eat and breath?
3 – Solution
Oceans cover more than 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface. They are filled with nutrient-dense plants, including seaweed, which may be one of the largest unexploited resources on the planet.
Sustainable sea farming can produce various sources of healthy proteins, calcium, all kind of vitamins, iron, magnesium etc. while providing natural habitats for wildlife and absorbing great amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen at the same time. And all that without requiring fertilizers, fresh water or one single square meter of landmass.
Sjøgård is starting to farm the waters in the area of Ylvingen just in the middle of the Norwegian coast, South of the Polar Circle. Here one can find sheltered, clean waters, moderate tidal range and streams, relative steady water temperatures, optimal infrastructure already in place and people with a long history of working with the sea.
4 – Strategy
After having established partnerships with successfully growing companies in Norway, which will provide tons of knowledge, seeds and farming techniques and also have developed a market already for the biomass after it has been harvested, I can now look closer into the next steps to become a sea farmer:
4.1. Application
After having established the company “Sjøgård – the Sea Farm AS” I have now applied to the authorities for a licence to be allowed to farm seaweed in the area of Ylvingen. This application process required immaculate paperwork and around NOK 400’000 (approximately EUR 40’000) of which NOK 200’000 will go into a deposit for cleaning up the dirt in the unexpected event that Sjøgård will not succeed.
I am expecting a positive answer by summer 2024.
Click HERE to support Sjøgård – the Sea Farm
4.2. Installation
Having received a permit to grow we will start installing the rigs for growing seaweed. This will hopfully be end of summer 2024 to be ready for the seeding season in autumn. To keep a permanent high quality standard Sjøgård will have to hire motivated and capable staff to contribute to the success of the company. Staff is especially required during sowing and harvesting periods. For maintenance and monitoring a smaller team is sufficient. To balance the different manpower Sjøgård can hire local fishermen and farmers part time during their offseasons.
5 – Implementation
After receiving all required permits Sjøgård follows these steps:
Step 1 is constructing and laying out the rig.
Step 2 is sowing out seaweed in autumn to be able to harvest the spring after.
Step 3 is maintenance and monitoring of the site.
Step 4 is harvesting, packing and shipping.
6 – Key figures
As can be seen here I am planning to apply for four sites of approximately 15 decares each which can produce up to 400+ tons of sugar kelp and therefore absorbing around 340+ tons of CO2 per year.
The cost for establishing each site will be around NOK 1’000’000 (EUR 100’000). They can also be established individually after having developed the required funds.
Supporting Sjøgård is going to be a non profit but high benefit investment. All profits made will be reinvested into growth of the project.
Click HERE to support Sjøgård – the Sea Farm
7 – Prospects
Farming at sea is a fast growing market with great potential – this is just the beginning. There are many fields of opportunities. With my partners we are contributing to sustainable human and animal nutrition as all the biomass will be used as ingredients for food and feed products.
Establishing Sjøgård will support communities by creating new local jobs and strengthen the local business base.
Last but not least Sjøgård is addressing several of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by all United Nations Member States to promote prosperity while protecting the environment:
2 – Zero hunger
3 – Good health and well-being
6 – Clean water (and sanitation)
8 – Decent work and economic growth
9 – Industry, innovation and infrastructure
11 – Sustainable cities and communities
12 – Responsible consumption and production
13 – Climate action
14 – Life below water
15 – Life on land
17 – Partnerships for the goals
Seaweed provides unprecedented possibilities for use in feed, food, medicine, bio fuels, sustainable packaging, dietary supplements and fertilizers.