IMPACT INVESTMENTS
Where We Invest
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We back ventures innovating in seaweed aquaculture to accelerate global food security and the Blue Economy.
We invest in early to growth stage startups and across sectors with a geographical focus on Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe.
This includes sourcing, production, and distribution, as well as technologies addressing market failures that prevent the reliable supply and growth of high-quality, price-controlled sustainable seaweed.
Why We Invest
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By investing in nature-based solutions with a financial additionality and gender lens, we aim to:
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Improve global food security so that people have reliable access to affordable and nutritious food.
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Grow the Blue Economy through ocean sustainability and economic opportunities for coastal resilient communities, in particular women and small-hold farmers in Southeast Asia.
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Empty Oceans
The world's oceans may be empty of fish and ocean life by 2048.
Combat the Global Food Crisis​
The global seaweed industry plays a vital role in the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient global economy, providing innovative solutions to our growing global food crisis.
The food chain will benefit from all of seaweed's top five applications: food, biomaterials, animal feed, biostimulants and fertilizers, and nutraceuticals.
Rapidly Increasing Population
The world's population is forecast to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050.
Decreasing Crops
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According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), major staple crop yields have been decreasing by 3% per decade due to climate change.
Growth Limiters
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Aquaculture production more than doubled to $296 billion in 2022 from 2012.
The sector is expected to keep growing, but would require $150–300 billion in investment over the next 10 years to expand capacity.
Address Funding Imbalances
Aquaculture, including seaweed farming, is the world’s fastest-growing food production segment, and needs more investments to sustain that growth.
The ocean is also a greatly underfunded sector. Failure to invest could cost up to $1 trillion each year in coastal protection, migration, and loss of land to rising sea levels.
Regional Investment Imbalance​
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60% of global demand for seaweed and 98% of supply comes from the Asia Pacific.
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Yet the majority of investments and leading seaweed companies are concentrated in Europe and North America.
Underfunding of UN Goal
$175 billion is required to invest in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water).
But with less than $10 billion allocated to SDG 14 between 2015 and 2019, it is the least funded of the SDGs.
Maximize Global Returns​
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Every $1 invested in key ocean actions, such as increasing the production of sustainable ocean-based proteins like seaweed, can yield $5 in global benefits between 2020–2050.
That would translate to $8.2 trillion to $22.8 trillion in net benefits, a 450–615% return on investment, according to the World Resources Institute.
Why Invest
Investments today will unlock potential for industry growth and global benefits.
Balance Supply/Demand​
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Investment in solving market challenges is more critical than end products. Why? Demand is not sustainable without reliable supply.
We need to invest in innovative solutions that address value chain bottlenecks to scale the market.
Channel Capital to Seaweed
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Collaborative, patient capital from blended finance vehicles and impact investors is required, particularly those with Southeast Asian interests in mind.
Our Investment Ecosystem Partners
