D. Ocean Farming

GreenWave (greenwave.prg) is a non-profit ocean farmer and fisherman-run organization dedicated to building a new blue-green economy that creates jobs, mitigates climate change, and grows healthy food for local communities. They run a farmer-in-training program for aspiring ocean farmers and operate a kelp hatchery to provide free seed to the farmers as they learn the ropes of this farming type and species. They partner with educational institutions and other organizations to expand the body of knowledge around kelp and regenerative 3D ocean farming, and they work to support 3D ocean farming in new regions. We incubate small farmers and small businesses pioneering in this new ocean-farming space.


Greenwave

3D ocean farming uses a vertical polyculture farming system that grows a mix of seaweeds and shellfish that require zero inputs, no fertilizer, no antibiotics and no water - making it the most sustainable form of food production on the planet - while sequestering carbon and rebuilding reef ecosystems. Since the farms sit below the surface and leverage the entire water column, they produce high yields with a small footprint. The crops are used as food, fertilizer, animal feed and more. And, the farms are open source: anyone with 20 acres, a boat, and $20,000 can be up and running within one year.

Removal of CO2 and countering ocean acidification. Kelp and other sea vegetables, known as “the Sequoias of the sea,” absorb up to five times the amount of carbon as land-based plants. Removing CO2 from the ocean helps to counteract the ocean acidification that is a product of rising CO2 levels. This acidification destroys coral reefs and microorganisms that have calcium shells.


Sugar Kelp


Sugar Kelp




With over 10,000 edible plants in the sea and more of the United States underwater than above, this is their opportunity to rearrange the seafood plate and reduce pressure on fish stocks, with sustainable sea greens in the middle and wild fish at the edges. Greenwave works with large-scale institutional buyers and incubates social entrepreneurs to create new and stable markets for their farmers’ crops.

Preventing Dead zones. Oxygen depleted dead zones are a major global crisis, and the main perpetrator is the nitrogen coming from our farms, factories, and homes. 3D Ocean Farms sequester the nitrogen runoff and enable us to capture this valuable resource for use in fertilizer and animal feed.

An additional distinct advantage of promoting ocean farming is that by emphasizing
red algae it can be sold to farmers to reduce the methane production by farting and belching cows. (see Methane).