Key Takeaways:
- Funding Milestone: Cascadia Seaweed has closed the first CAD$4 million of its Series A funding round, with contributions from WWF Impact, Vere Ventures, and others.
- Scaling Operations: The funds will support the construction of a commercial-scale seaweed biorefinery, increased biomass production, and expanded sales and marketing efforts.
- Sustainable Agriculture: Cascadia transforms sustainably cultivated seaweed into regenerative agricultural products, including biostimulants, liquid kelp extracts, and livestock feed supplements.
- Community Partnerships: Its eight ocean farms are owned by coastal First Nations, ensuring environmental and economic benefits flow directly to local communities.
- Global Recognition: Cascadia is a leader in the seaweed industry, driving innovation to enhance food security and reduce agricultural emissions.
Cascadia Seaweed, the largest cultivator and processor of seaweed-based agricultural products in North America, has announced the first close of its Series A funding round, securing CAD$4 million from investors including WWF Impact, Vere Ventures, Potato Impact Partners, and others. The funds will be used to build a commercial-scale seaweed biorefinery on the West Coast, expand seaweed biomass production, and boost the marketing of its regenerative agricultural products.
“We are thrilled with the support from both new and existing investors,” said Michael Williamson, CEO of Cascadia Seaweed. “This funding will enable us to scale up and provide surety of supply of innovative inputs to our customers while contributing to more resilient food production in North America.”
Advancing Sustainable Agriculture
Based in British Columbia, Cascadia Seaweed cultivates high-quality seaweed on low-impact ocean farms and transforms it into premium agricultural products. These include biostimulants to improve crop yields, livestock feed supplements that reduce agricultural emissions, and liquid kelp extracts.
The company works closely with coastal First Nations, with each of its eight farms owned by a First Nation community, ensuring benefits flow directly to local populations. Cascadia’s model not only addresses food security but also supports environmental sustainability and economic resilience for coastal communities.
“Cascadia’s model provides benefits to our oceans, our environment, and coastal communities while helping to mitigate climate change,” said Paul Dobbins, Vice President of Impact Investing at WWF-US. “When scaled, cultivated seaweed can reduce the footprint of our global food system by providing a nutritious source of food and livestock feed with fewer resource inputs.”
Scaling Seaweed Solutions
Cascadia’s success comes amid growing urgency to adopt technologies that reduce emissions and improve food security. Seaweed-based agricultural products offer natural, scalable alternatives to chemical inputs, helping farmers address challenges related to climate change, such as fluctuating precipitation and rising temperatures.
With its innovative approach, Cascadia has secured over $18 million in equity and non-dilutive capital in just five years to advance its technologies and operations. The company’s products not only benefit farmers but also enhance ocean ecosystems where the seaweed is cultivated, contributing to improved water quality and biodiversity.
