Kelp farming in North America has made significant progress over the past decade. More farms are in the water, seed quality and yields have improved, and farmers are collaborating to meet growing demand. But for the sector to mature, farmers need processors, buyers, and end markets capable of purchasing large volumes of kelp year after year.

This spring, Cascadia Seaweed opened a new kelp processing facility in Port Edward, BC, marking a significant infrastructure milestone for the company and expanding processing capacity for farmed kelp in the region. Based in British Columbia, Cascadia cultivates kelp in partnership with coastal First Nations, processes it into agricultural products, and sells those products to North American markets.

Scandals in the voluntary carbon market and the challenge of proving ocean-based carbon accounting slowed progress. And without clear regulatory pathways, the market moved on.

Now, the focus is shifting—driven by water quality regulations rather than blue carbon markets. Researchers have studied seaweed’s nutrient-removal potential for years, and as regulations tighten, that work may begin to translate into economic incentives to test the concept at scale.

Seed is one of the highest costs farmers shoulder, both in its price and its impact on yield. When seed quality varies, productivity throughout the entire season can suffer. GreenWave is taking the guesswork out of seed production, developing tools like a nursery-in-a-box—a modular, shippable system built to deliver reliable, high-quality seed at lower cost.

In response to challenges in Alaska, GreenWave organized a three-day seed quality workshop, convening seven of the state’s active nurseries to align on shared practices, troubleshoot challenges, and adapt the SOPs for the region’s unique conditions. Hosted at the Prince William Sound Science Center with support from Alaska Sea Farms and funding from the Southeast Conference (SEC) and Alaska Sea Grant, the event marked the first time the majority of Alaska’s operators gathered to tackle shared obstacles and plan for the future of seed.

Kelp is a regenerative powerhouse, but turning that potential into real product innovation remains a challenge for brands across food, beauty, and personal care. In partnership with Unilever Foundry and ingredient supplier Macro Oceans, GreenWave’s Kelp CoLab will bring together brands to accelerate the use of and demand for kelp-based ingredients.