The Kelp Blue project in Lüderitz is setting the stage for a potential agricultural revolution by creating a biostimulant from seaweed.

This Namibian company, founded by Daniel Hooft in 2020, cultivates kelp in Lüderitz’s nutrient-rich Shearwater Bay, where the Benguela Current fosters rapid, year-round seaweed growth.

Kelp Blue is currently conducting a three-year trial.

Operations deputy director manager, Iriya Jona, said it hopes to be in full operation by 2027 when its three-year trial ends as per the Ministry of Agriculture’s policies.

“The biostimulant we are producing, although still on trial, has yielded good results, particularly for our farm, the garden of Eden,” she said.

She said this during a media tour on Tuesday in Lüderitz.

At the heart of the project is the production of a seaweed-based biostimulant, a natural additive that boosts crop growth, especially in low-fertility soils.

Extracted from seaweed pulp, the biostimulant enhances plants’ ability to absorb nutrients and tolerate environmental stresses, which can improve crop yield and quality.

Currently focused on European markets where demand for biostimulants is high, Kelp Blue has already drawn investment with De Beers as its primary investor.

The project has injected around N$350 million and anticipates reaching N$3 billion in total investment over the next three years.

The company aims to reach self-sustainability to eventually deliver returns to its investors. However, Hooft noted the high costs of the trial phase and called for a review of the Ministry of Agriculture’s three-year trial requirement, which he described as a challenge to business ease.

“Although we are producing biostimulants for the market, we hope to go full operational so we can self-sustain to pay returns to the investors,” he said.

The company’s sales and agronomic leader, Michael Mwinga, explained that the product undergoes extensive testing to ensure it works.

“Crops differ to ensure the biostimulant works. We normally do a trial efficacy test for about 5 to 7 weeks to see if the plants develop roots,” he said.

The initial seaweed plantation in 2022 has attracted diverse marine species, suggesting a potential benefit for local fishing communities.

Species such as sardines and lobsters, which are drawn to the seaweed habitat, could provide new income streams for residents.

Kelp Blue’s commitment to Lüderitz extends beyond agriculture.

The company employs around 80 to 95 people, predominantly young Namibians, contributing to local employment and skill development.

The project currently spans 30 hectares of seaweed cultivation, yielding about 150 tonnes per hectare each year.

With ambitions to expand to 6 000 hectares by 2030, the company’s Lüderitz factory can process up to 3 500 tonnes annually.

Source - https://www.observer24.com.na