Sea4earth

As climate change and biodiversity loss increasingly strain global ecosystems, feeding a projected population of 10 billion by 2030 becomes an urgent challenge, especially given that current agri-food systems may not meet this demand. In this context, seaweed stands out as a vital food source with the potential to aid environmental transition and support decarbonization. Seaweed offers an alternative to fossil-based products, fosters ecosystem restoration, and holds promise for sustainable innovation.

The global seaweed industry is currently dominated by Asia; however, the European market is anticipated to grow over threefold for food and additives alone by 2030, with demand for fresh seaweed projected to increase by 8 million tons within the same period. Beyond the agri-food transition trend, growth in this sector is also driven by a widening supply-demand gap, or "scissor effect," along with more and more supportive political and institutional environments.

Currently French seaweed sector remains highly fragmented, with only a few players, none of whom have fully integrated the value chain at an industrial scale. The sector faces a chicken-and-egg dilemma: seaweed farmers struggling to find value-added markets for their production, while seaweed processing within the food industry remains largely artisanal.

SEA4EARTH MISSION

As an answer to the growing demand and market status Sea4earth’s mission is to drive a sustainable shift toward plant-based food production by creating an integrated agro-industrial model for seaweed cultivation and processing. This replicable, comprehensive system focuses on:

• - Cultivation
• - Industrial processing
• - Development of customized products

The long-term goal is to position macroalgae as a staple in European diets.

CULTIVATION: Sea4earth’s Farm4.0 project, in partnership with CEA Tech, forms the foundation of our raw material production. This innovative seaweed farming model aims to produce 900 tons per hectare annually with minimal environmental impact. The Farm 4.0 specifications book has been completed and we are now addressing the first work package for the design engineering.  Diversification of the sourcing is also involved in the strategy for processing offshore and seashell farms seaweed productions.

PROCESSING: Our innovative industrial plant for dried seaweed sheets, along with outsourced productions, are tailored to efficiently process cultivated seaweed and to deliver a large range of products aligned with market trends and consumers’ demand. Our industrial pilot is set to be completed next month allowing us to standardize production of high-quality, locally cultivated seaweed sheets.

PRODUCTS:  On one hand we will be replacing imported sushi nori sheets and develop related products, a European market worth approximately €300 million and projected to double by 2030. We've demonstrated feasibility in producing dried seaweed sheets from locally cultivated seaweed

On a second hand, Seaweed will also be marketed as an ingredient adding flavor and nutritional benefits into mainstream products while improving their nutritional score and environmental impact. Recipes have been developed, and initial product releases are expected by mid 2025, aligning with France’s growing plant-based food market, which is estimated to reach €1.4 billion by 2028.

DEPLOYMENT PLAN: Our deployment plan covers the next 5 to 7 years.

If 2023-mid 2024, was dedicated to the feasibility studies,   mid 2024- mid 2026 is focused on finalizing the proofs of concept for the Farm 4.0 design and engineering and to advance on our industrial processing capabilities, while launching our first products on the market.

Then 2027  will see the first implantation of our integrated concept including first operational farm 4.0 to which the processing facilities will be attached; we will also accelerate the commercial development of our products.

Once our first site would be perfectly reliable & optimized by 2029, we will deploy this concept on several other locations

FUNDING: To fund this 2025-2026 deployment (before Series A – €5M in 2026), we need €900,000, covering both development and operational expenses, with half of this allocated to the Farm 4.0 proof of concept. We have already secured approximately 35% of the required amount, partly through our longstanding partners who continue to support us. The remaining funds will be obtained through a mix of additional financing sources, including business angels, grants, and  loan.

TEAM: Our team includes not only The founders but also senior French and Korean associates bringing their experience and network to move efficiently forward on our strategic development.

We have also recruited a PhD specialized in biomarine technology to consolidate our R&D on the long term.