What are some sustainable solutions to food production?

I run a vertically integrated seaweed company that farms certain species. Precision aquaculture is starting to enter our sector with sensors, capturing data, etc. However, most of the innovation is happening at the seed level before it is even planted in the ocean. The type and quality of seed has so much impact on yields that it is worth spending the time and money to invest in this area. Farming the ocean has certain similarities with land based agriculture, but because one is farming in the wild ocean it is hard to control the variables. It is also hard to check one's farm on a regular basis out in the ocean so sensors and automation are going to be the wave of the future.

Precision agriculture has a variety of benefits. From a business perspective, it is helpful in determining the most efficient way to utilize resources. For an environmental perspective, it can reduce water and nutrient input. This can help conserve water in drought prone regions and prevent excess fertilizer from running off into streams and rivers.

We farm a high protein seaweed and we have extracted and tested these proteins. They have a PDCASS score similar to soy, have only a fraction of the carbon footprint, and grow in tanks on non-arable land. It is estimated the world will need 360 million MT of protein to feed everyone and we can accomplish that in a geography the size of Portugal

I think alternative proteins will always be a hard sell to consumers. Many people do not have a desire to eat ultra processed foods and many more will choose real meat. I think a more effective solution would be to promote smaller scale food production and shift away from the types of large scale monoculture farming that drives the overproduction of meat. Americans especially eat far more meat than is necessary and a significant portion of protein can be gotten from legumes and other standard grains. Providing access to small, sustainable farmers can help fill the protein gap and help shift the current culture of meat consumption.

Since we farm our seaweed on land and can control the entire process, we can size a processing facility that can operate continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, using 100% of the biomass for commercial purposes. Moving agriculture from a "batch" process to a continuous process is the biggest innovation in agriculture in 10,000 years

One way to drastically improve the quality of your soil is to find a local horse stable or dairy farm. Many of them will give you as much manure compost as you want, for free, if you go pick it up. Make sure to ask about the quality of the feed, living conditions of the animals, and what type of material it is mixed with the manure. Consistently amending with well composted manure can drive down your cost of inputs and in some cases eliminate the need for them all together. Healthy soil will foster healthy plants that are more resistant to pests and disease.

We're always looking for new processing technologies as it is a big differentiator with customers. Some buyers of our products are very focused on heavy metal levels and others get concerned if iodine levels are too high. We've learned to first read through all the available research on the topic and to reach out to the universities that have done work in a particular area, but frequently it's only a starting point. Coming up with creative solutions for clients makes them more likely to want to work with us.

We have developed extraction and processing technology of our signature seaweed strains that enables us to produce the worlds first "carbon-negative" protein isolate. As we feed the world we will also be healing the planet in the process.

This is another area where improving opportunity for small scale sustainable farmers can have a dramatic impact. Helping local food systems thrive can support an environment in which fresh food is consistently available without the need for advanced processing technology.

We operate in an industry where consumer education is extremely important. Seaweed is becoming a trendy ingredient, but a large portion of consumers have very little knowledge about it. There are many aspects of seaweed that can be appealing including it is one of the most climate friendly foods on the planet, it is nutrient dense, and it is actually packed with glutamates that provide an umami flavor. One thing we learned is that less is more when it comes to consumer education. Trying to highlight too many positive attributes is not effective. Find one or two themes that resonate with consumers and then focus.

UV-C LED water treatment - 222nm far UV-C surface disinfection - 254nm UVGI air treatment. These are often overlooked pathogen-control climate-tech solutions that food and beverage processing companies commonly overlook.

Education and behavior change must happen to achieve a high functioning sustainable food system. I believe this can be achieved by shifting subsidies and tax incentives away from large scale monoculture producers and toward small scale sustainable farmers. Millions of young farmers would be able to start a farm business in their communities. This could shift people and the food culture towards healthier options and drive localized circular farming economies.

Sustainable solutions for food production include agroecology, precision agriculture, and vertical farming to optimize resource use. Prioritize local and seasonal production to reduce transportation emissions. Embrace organic farming, agroforestry, and smart irrigation for eco-friendly practices. Explore alternative protein sources to mitigate the environmental impact of traditional livestock farming. Implement waste reduction measures and circular economy principles. Adopt regenerative agriculture techniques and innovative crop varieties resilient to climate change. Leverage technology for supply chain transparency. Promote community-supported agriculture and educate stakeholders on sustainable practices.