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Alaska Seaweed Handling and Processing Workshop: Kelp Stabilization Demonstration
Alaska Sea Grant and GreenWave invite kelp farmers, processors and industry members to apply to participate in a free one-day demonstration of primary processing and stabilization technology for raw kelp.
Fresh seaweed degrades rapidly after harvesting, inhibiting farmers and processors from bringing a quality product to market in sufficient quantity. To solve this problem, Alaska Sea Grant, GreenWave, Macro Oceans, Kodiak Archipelago Leadership Institute and Alaska Ocean Farms have partnered to develop an open-source primary processing line capable of stabilizing kelp at ambient temperature as close to the farm as possible. If successful, this technology could be deployed in rural communities across Alaska, allowing remote kelp farms to extend the shelf life of their product and secure access to markets.
The demonstration will cover the design and operation of a processing line built to transform whole, wet, freshly harvested kelp into an intermediate chopped format to allow for easier handling and stabilization via reagents, fermentation or drying. Macro Oceans will provide stabilization reagents to be homogenized with the chopped kelp, and the end product will then be shipped to Macro Oceans’ facility in California to be monitored for stability.
The results from this trial will be made public, and project partners will make the processing line design and operating parameters freely available for the benefit of all Alaskans, particularly rural and Indigenous communities.
Travel funding is available. Priority will be given to Alaska residents, members of rural and Indigenous communities, and active kelp farmers.
Applications must be received by February 29.
For questions, contact Melissa Good.
This demonstration is funded as part of an Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation Joint Innovation Grant. Project partners include Alaska Sea Grant, GreenWave, Macro Oceans, Kodiak Archipelago Leadership Institute, and Alaska Ocean Farms. Read the full project proposal here.
Approved applicants will be notified by March 7.
