Sustainably Cultivated Protein Coming to a Kitchen Near You

SIDNEY, BC — A growing company on Vancouver Island has set out to help reverse human impacts on the ocean, contribute to the revitalization of coastal communities, and feed the planet by becoming one of the largest cultivators of seaweed in North America. 

There is a lot of buzz about seaweed these days and that’s because this macro-algae has an incredibly long list of uses and benefits. Naturally occurring underwater kelp forests are responsible for sequestering carbon, improving water quality and creating habitat while only requiring sunlight and nutrients from the sea to grow. Farming, or cultivating, seaweed provides more of these positive aspects, does not use arable land, and yields a crop suitable for products such as livestock feed, nutraceuticals, bio-packaging, and of course, nutritious food for the growing human population. 

“Seaweed is on its way to becoming a staple ingredient in the North American diet” claims Mike Williamson, founding partner and CEO of Cascadia Seaweed. 

A study produced by the World Bank Group indicates that by increasing the growth of seaweed farming, we could add about 10% to the world’s present supply of human food. “As we march to a global population of 11 billion, we cannot ignore the opportunity nor the need to feed the planet with this fast growing, nutritious food that makes a positive impact on our environment” adds Williamson. 

More than 99 percent of global seaweed production takes place in Asia as seaweed has been part of the Asian cuisine for centuries. The rest of the world seems to be just catching on. 

“The highest and best value for our seaweed is the North American human food industry, more specifically, the plant-based, alternative protein category,” says Williamson “We have also explored industrial uses, products within  the healthcare system and bio-packaging”. 

In addition to their ocean-based operation, Cascadia Seaweed is exploring the opportunity of growing a particular protein-rich seaweed in tanks. Williamson claims that early trials exceeded the company’s expectations. “We are watching the trends and we know the demand for plant-based protein continues to accelerate. Our mission is to plant and cultivate enough seaweed to service this market” he says. 

It’s the scale to which Cascadia Seaweed intends to grow that makes them different from existing cultivators. “When we first started the business, we thought 100 hectares would service the market. We now have sights on 1000 hectares” adds Bill Collins, and Chairman of Cascadia Seaweed. “Now we are building more than a business...we’re developing a sector,” he adds. “We are working with governments to ensure new investments are made to accelerate this industry to the next level.”

Cascadia discovered a natural partnership to build their business while leveraging the knowledge, wisdom and workforce of BC’s Indigenous communities. “Creating mutually beneficial partnerships and providing economic stability for coastal communities are key pillars to what we consider success,” says Williamson. “We are growing nutritious food in a sustainable way, we are employing people on the water, and the more we grow the more positive an impact we have on the environment” Williamson says as he speaks to the values of the company. 

Next on the agenda of this ambitious ingredients company is to launch a consumer facing entity over the summer of 2020.