EAT-FOS (Eat Farmed Organic Seaweed)

As demand for seaweed products increases so has pressure on our wild seaweed beds. Kelp forests are disappearing at a rapid rate and wild harvesting seaweeds is accelerating this loss. Seaweed beds are a foundational component of our marine ecosystem and the loss of these beds has a tremendous impact on our oceans and the marine food chain.

It is imperative we make the shift to farmed seaweeds, especially organic farmed seaweeds.

The key reasons to EAT FOS are:

• Farmed seaweed is sustainable and regenerative. It cleans our oceans, remediates carbon and nitrogen fighting global warming and ocean acidification, and leaves our endangered wild seaweed beds and habitat undisturbed. It also supports local marine communities.

• Organic seaweed is traceable from seed to plate and assures your seaweed was grown in pristine waters. Many non-organic seaweed farms are located in waters closed to shellfish farming and other aquaculture due to known contaminants and pathogens. Organically certified farmed seaweeds are required to be grown in areas free of contamination. USDA Organic certification assures your seaweed is the best available.

• Seaweed, considered a superfood, provides amazing nutritional and health benefits when eaten in moderation. Researchers recommend roughly 5-10 grams of seaweed per day to obtain the majority of benefits seaweed offers. Avoid eating large servings of seaweed as it is so nutrient dense you may ingest too much of a good thing, such as iodine.

Eating farmed organic seaweed assures that you are getting the best seaweed for you and the planet! Make the right choice - buy farmed organic seaweed!

Food Safety

The MSE is actively developing food safety standards for seaweed aquaculture, processing, and products. We also host food safety training programs and have extensive food safety resource materials available to our members.

Aquaculture Regulation
The future of our industry relies on a coherent and cogent regulatory rubric. The MSE is advocating for common sense regulations that benefit our members, our industry, our communities, and our planet.

Kelp Collaborative
The Kelp Collaborative is a Maine Seaweed Exchange Program designed to encourage the development of an organic network of seaweed farmers and processors. Through training, support, and market opportunities we seek to develop a high quality, high-value seaweed aquaculture industry based on shared values, collaboration, and passion for our work.

Program Highlights:

• The Kelp Collaborative is focused on creating a network of organically certified seaweed farms, drying facilities and processors to scale the industry in a community-based, collaborative way.

• The Kelp Collaborative is open to new or existing seaweed farmers and anyone with an interest in drying or processing seaweed for additional income. MSE will assist farmers, dryers, and processors with required certifications, training, and facilitation services.

• Kelp Collaborative members run their own independent businesses but work together as a larger industry. Members may list offers to buy, sell, distribute, or process farmed seaweed, or offer seaweed related services. Organic certification, shared standards, and shared infrastructure will allow members to work together to grow, dry, process, and sell high quality, high-value seaweeds.

• New Kelp Collaborative members are eligible to paired with a guaranteed a buyer for their seaweed at prices up to $15 per pound!

Learn more about the Kelp Collaborative here.

Maine Seaweed Fair

The Maine Seaweed Fair celebrates all things seaweed! At the fair we share, celebrate, and explore all the ways seaweeds can better us and the environment. There are art and educational presentations, vendors, foods, activities, and demonstrations.

Covid-19 Update: Due to concerns about the health of fair participants and attendees, the 2021 Maine Seaweed Fair has been postponed indefinitely. Stay tuned for updates on a new date for the fair.

Practical Seaweed Farmer Conference
The Practical Seaweed Farmer Conference is a full day of seaweed farming know-how from industry experts. It is also a unique networking opportunity to meet fellow farmers, researches, investors, and customers.

Covid-19 Update: Due to concerns about the health of conference participants and attendees, the 2021 Practical Seaweed Farmer Conference has been postponed indefinitely. We are currently exploring the possibility of a virtual conference. Stay tuned for updates on a new date for the fair.

Research
MSE is passionate about advancing the future of seaweed and aquaculture and discovering new ways that seaweed can have a positive effect on the environment. In partnership with our members and leading institutions such as MIT, UMass, and USDA, the MSE is working to develop the technologies of the future.
 

Kelp Collaborative
The Kelp Collaborative is a Maine Seaweed Exchange Program designed to encourage the development of an organic network of seaweed farmers and processors. Through training, support, and market opportunities we seek to develop a high quality, high-value seaweed aquaculture industry based on shared values, collaboration, and passion for our work.

Program Highlights:

• The Kelp Collaborative is focused on creating a network of organically certified seaweed farms, drying facilities and processors to scale the industry in a community-based, collaborative way.

• The Kelp Collaborative is open to new or existing seaweed farmers and anyone with an interest in drying or processing seaweed for additional income. MSE will assist farmers, dryers, and processors with required certifications, training, and facilitation services.

• Kelp Collaborative members run their own independent businesses but work together as a larger industry. Members may list offers to buy, sell, distribute, or process farmed seaweed, or offer seaweed related services. Organic certification, shared standards, and shared infrastructure will allow members to work together to grow, dry, process, and sell high quality, high-value seaweeds.

• New Kelp Collaborative members are eligible to paired with a guaranteed a buyer for their seaweed at prices up to $15 per pound!

Learn more about the Kelp Collaborative here.

Maine Seaweed Fair

The Maine Seaweed Fair celebrates all things seaweed! At the fair we share, celebrate, and explore all the ways seaweeds can better us and the environment. There are art and educational presentations, vendors, foods, activities, and demonstrations.

Covid-19 Update: Due to concerns about the health of fair participants and attendees, the 2021 Maine Seaweed Fair has been postponed indefinitely. Stay tuned for updates on a new date for the fair.

Practical Seaweed Farmer Conference
The Practical Seaweed Farmer Conference is a full day of seaweed farming know-how from industry experts. It is also a unique networking opportunity to meet fellow farmers, researches, investors, and customers.

Covid-19 Update: Due to concerns about the health of conference participants and attendees, the 2021 Practical Seaweed Farmer Conference has been postponed indefinitely. We are currently exploring the possibility of a virtual conference. Stay tuned for updates on a new date for the fair.

Research
MSE is passionate about advancing the future of seaweed and aquaculture and discovering new ways that seaweed can have a positive effect on the environment. In partnership with our members and leading institutions such as MIT, UMass, and USDA, the MSE is working to develop the technologies of the future.