GreenWave’s Approach to Addressing Climate Change

Approximately 40% of our global population lives in coastal communities, struggling to survive in the face of warming waters, collapsing fisheries, and declining economic activity.

Regenerative ocean farming–a zero input, polyculture model that grows a mix of seaweed and shellfish–is a replicable and scalable climate solution. Ocean farmers partner with the ocean in order to play a role of revival, growing crops that breathe life back into the ecosystem while creating jobs, feeding communities, and addressing the climate crisis.

As a non-profit, GreenWave works with ocean farmers to replicate the model throughout North America and beyond to build a blue economy that ensures we all make a living on a living planet. Their goal is to train and support 10,000 ocean farmers by 2030 to build community-based climate solutions out at sea that yield positive environmental and economic impact at scale.

When more than 8,000 aspiring farmers signed up for GreenWave’s training program, the organization pivoted their strategy to expand their reach and jumpstart the industry. GreenWave launched the Regenerative Ocean Farming Hub in April 2022, a free online resource including a suite of seed-to-sale courses, 80+ how-to videos, interactive farm design tools, and an online community for aspiring and active farmers to connect and propel the industry forward.

In addition to training and technical assistance, GreenWave supports small- and medium-scale seaweed farms through climate subsidies; market cultivation across food, agriculture, biomaterials, and other industries; as well as the development of farmer-owned kelp seed hatcheries, dock-side processing, and storage infrastructure.

By Bren Smith