Cascadia Seaweed, a Sidney-based ag-tech company that cultivates kelp and transforms it into agricultural products, has been selected as a finalist for an inaugural national competition.
The Blue Horizon Award was launched by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster to recognize companies driving innovation within the country's burgeoning ocean economy. Among this year’s contenders, Cascadia’s innovative use of kelp earned praise as a natural solution to climate change and food insecurity.
Cascadia Seaweed's founder and director, Bill Collins, will pitch the company's vision and groundbreaking work to a panel of judges at the Ambition 2035 Summit held from May 21 to May 23 in Ottawa.
"This is a pivotal moment for ocean innovation and climate-smart agriculture," said Collins. "We're proud to be at the forefront with nature-based solutions that create impact from sea to soil. Our approach demonstrates how sustainable aquaculture can support regenerative agriculture, offering practical tools to address climate change, food security and economic reconciliation."
Cascadia Seaweed joins a distinguished group of fellow innovators as finalists, including GIT Coatings (Graphite Innovation & Technologies) of Dartmouth, ThisFish of Vancouver, and Ocean Diagnostics of Victoria.
Cascadia's products are produced from locally-grown kelp, providing farmers with a sustainable way to increase crop yields while lowering emissions and reliance on chemicals.
Recently, the company achieved a record harvest of 140 wet tonnes from their Tsawout territory farm, one of five active farming sites along the B.C. coast.
This success underscores the growing potential of kelp cultivation as a viable and sustainable solution for a variety of global challenges.
The winner of the Blue Horizon Award will be announced at the conclusion of the Ambition 2035 Summit.
