If everything goes according to plan for SidneyB次元官网网址檚 Cascadia Seaweed, seaweed-based foods could appear on local shelves in the spring of 2021, with more growth ahead.
B次元官网网址淲hen the products hit the shelves, we are then going to want to scale up even faster to hit the demand,B次元官网网址� said Erin Bremner-Mitchell, manager of communications and engagement.
The company continues to grow, while researching and testing various types of seaweed-based foods including a vegan jerk, fresh salads and on-the-go snacks.
B次元官网网址淲e know that seaweed can service somebodyB次元官网网址檚 day from morning to night and all their on-the-go, in-between (snack needs),B次元官网网址� said Bremner-Mitchell. B次元官网网址淚 think the market is hungry for a solution just like this one,B次元官网网址� she said later in pointing to the growing global demand for food products that are not only nutritious but also less harmful on the environment because of their growing practices.
Seaweed, specifically the sugar kelp the company grows in partnership with First Nations on the west coast of Vancouver Island, checks many boxes. Long a part of traditional First Nation diets, it is rich in protein, easily grown and binds harmful gases responsible for climate change. It also does not take much effort to incorporate into a meal.
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Founded in 2019 with the goal of being the largest provider of seaweed in North America, the company is starting to get recognition beyond industry insiders through awards and growing media coverage, including Time, which cited the company as well as its partners in a lengthy online article about the seaweed industry as a response to the dual problems of global climate change and food security.
Bill Collins, company chair, said it is both gratifying and about time for British Columbia companies in the industry to receive recognition for the work they are doing in helping to solve global problems.
He added that the article will increase brand awareness for the company, and more importantly its First Nations partners. B次元官网网址淲e have to make sure that we have champions through and through,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e want to go on record as putting Sidney on the map in terms of seaweed.B次元官网网址�
Collins said Pepsico has reached out to the company after the articleB次元官网网址檚 appearance. B次元官网网址淭heir research department is looking for new innovative flavours and they want samples of our seaweed,B次元官网网址� he said. The company has also already drawn attention from those looking to invest. B次元官网网址淪o just about every week over the last two months, we have had some conversation with investors in that community,B次元官网网址� he said.
While seaweed already appears in many household and food products, be it toothpaste, cosmetics or taco seasoning, Cascadia Seaweed is also exploring other uses that align with the companyB次元官网网址檚 environmental ethics.
Kennedy Nikel, applied marine biologist with the company, is currently working on developing seaweed-based feed for cows that promise to reduce their methane emissions.
B次元官网网址淥ur goal is to hopefully reduce methane emissions by 90 per cent using seaweed,B次元官网网址� she said.
Seaweed also has medical applications and can be used to create packaging that would ape plastic but without its harmful effects, she said.
Nikel also points to the more general benefits of seaweed. B次元官网网址淎lgae is responsible for 50 per cent of the worldB次元官网网址檚 oxygen. So whenever you say, B次元官网网址榩lant more trees, plant more trees,B次元官网网址� you should be growing more seaweed.B次元官网网址�
Plenty of challenges remain ahead but for Bremner-Mitchell, the potential appears immense. B次元官网网址淲e believe there is room in the industry in British Columbia for nine other companies just like Cascadia, who want an aggressive scale-up plan just like us,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淲e originally thought that 100 hectares was going to service the demand. Now, we donB次元官网网址檛 even think a 1000 hectares is enough. We truly believe that we are building a sector.B次元官网网址�
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