Food, Feeds, Fertilizers and Biofuels -- Future Directions of Kelp Aquaculture

One of the best places in the world to grow kelp is Long Island Sound. Seaweeds like kelp have significant value in US agriculture as organic fertilizers, feeds, as well as functional foods, nutraceuticals, and alternative medicinal products. When we grow more seaweed, we also improve the water quality of Long Island Sound, another major benefit for tourism, oystering and other industries. Kelp is in demand as an ingredient for packaged goods and as the main attraction in high-nutrient meals prepared by chefs on the forefront of fine cuisine. Kelp aquaculture, in particular, now offers other new opportunities for producing biofuels in the US Exclusive Economic Zone under the ARPA-E (US DOE) MARINER Program.

At the October 15th meeting of the WHIPgroup Tech Entrepreneur meetup, UCONN Professor Charles Yarish, PhD will present an introduction to seaweed aquaculture systems, with emphasis on the kelp that are relevant to meeting market demands in Northeast America and improving water quality through nutrient bioextraction. Professor Yarish, a University of Connecticut marine scientist, has been studying seaweeds (including kelp) and defining the cutting edge of this industry for more than 40 years. He has developed an internationally known laboratory for seaweed research at UCONN-Stamford. Dr. Yarish’s lab has developed seaweed and in particular, kelp aquaculture technologies for the US. His Seaweed Marine Biotechnology Labs at UCONN have developed processing technology through a USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant. Most recently, he is working with other scientists at The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, The Marine Biology Laboratory, Cornell University, HudsonAlpha Institute on the domestication of sugar kelp aquaculture for food, animal feeds and biofuels sponsored by the ARPA-E (US Department of Energy) MARINER Program. There are now unique opportunities for seaweed farmers to work with seaweed scientists, ocean engineers, plant geneticists and others to develop and apply advanced breeding technologies that will increase growth and improve thermal tolerance for open water farm systems in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the US.

Dr. Yarish collaborates with marine scientists from around the world, but also works with local institutions including the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium, regional oyster industry leaders Norm Bloom (Norm Bloom and Sons) and Bren Smith of Thimble Island Ocean Farm and GreenWave.

Come to the WHIPgroup Meetup on Tuesday, October 15 at 6pm to hear about the opportunities and technologies that support the growth of kelp and improve the quality of the waters of Long Island Sound.