Harnessing the Power of Seaweed for a Regenerative Future
Before sustainability became a significant part of business and regenerative agriculture was widely understood, AgriSea was already at work on its climate-friendly biostimulants. In 1996, co-founders Jill Bradley and Keith Atwood left their jobs to experiment with a garage-brewed seaweed solution. That leap of faith has grown into a powerhouse of agricultural innovation, pushing the limits of what’s possible in biotech, farming, and marine ecosystem regeneration.
Back then, synthetic fertilisers and chemical-heavy farming were the norm, making AgriSea’s nature-based approach a bold outlier. The business invested in harnessing seaweed’s natural ability to regenerate soil, strengthen crops, and improve animal health, remaining steadfast and driven by the belief that working with nature held the key to a more sustainable future.
Nearly three decades later, that same commitment is reshaping industries, with AgriSea’s seaweed biostimulants trusted by dairy farmers, beekeepers, viticulturists, and horticulturalists across New Zealand and the world.
A proudly family-owned business, AgriSea is blending indigenous knowledge with world-class innovation. Clare Bradley, AgriSea’s Chief Executive Officer says, “For us, it’s about kaitiakitanga - honouring our role as guardians of the environment and ensuring that everything we do creates lasting impact.”
This ethos extends beyond sustainability and is about embedding integrity and responsibility at every level of the business. AgriSea hand-harvests Ecklonia radiata seaweed that has washed ashore, ensuring that 30% is left behind to preserve the onshore micro-ecosystem it supports.
This considered sourcing aligns with AgriSea’s commitment to environmental stewardship and its vision for a regenerative future. It also reflects why its collaboration with GreenWave, a US-based non-profit dedicated to regenerative ocean farming, was a natural fit. Together, the two organisations are working to build sustainable seaweed value chains in North America, ensuring fair economic returns for farmers while advancing ocean conservation.
This international partnership demonstrates how AgriSea has focussed on leveraging its entire value chain to unlock game-changing possibilities. This includes collaborations with New Zealand’s leading research institutions, developing new products like ‘nanocellulose’ – a breakthrough material poised to replace plastics, petroleum-based chemicals, and synthetic additives. With applications in wound healing, filtration systems, and sustainable packaging, nanocellulose is set to transform industries worldwide.
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