March 31, 2024
Hello from Ketchikan, Alaska! We're excited to bring you this business update as we start feeling the beginnings of Spring!
Why we're growing kelp:
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A natural Giant Kelp forest - beautiful, but under threat.
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A question we often get is "There's so much wild kelp in the oceans - why spend the time growing it?" And while harvesting the natural kelp beds might seem like the easiest option, its actually not the best option - for a few reasons.
Natural kelp beds, like the one pictured above, are under a lot of pressure: pressure from warming waters that inhibit their growth, pressure from invasive species that eat away at the kelp, and pressure from those who harvest the kelp beds.
While this method has been practiced by coastal communities for generations, it is unable to sustain the rising global demand for kelp. If wild kelp is harvested faster than it can grow back, populations can be depleted over time and the health of the entire kelp forest ecosystem can be threatened. Harvesting also harms the many species that depend on kelp forests for food and shelter including sea otters, fish, octopuses, and invertebrates.
At Pacific Kelp Co., we cultivate kelp as a profitable and sustainable alternative to wild harvest. Unlike wild harvesters who negotiate for limited resources, we have control over the new patches of kelp we’ve grown - allowing us to manage the beds to protect against the effects of warming waters and invasive species. Cultivating kelp satisfies rising customer demand, reduces pressure on wild populations, and allows kelp forests to recover.
Learn more about how scientists are tracking the impacts of wild harvesting here.
R&D Work: Back in the lab
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We've spent the last few weeks working with our liquid kelp extract, using it to create lotions and cosmetics. As readers of this newsletter will know, our kelp extract, which is full of healthy minerals and powerful compounds, is the perfect sustainable ingredient for a number of products.
Cosmetics is an especially exciting application with several leading products on the market already making use of kelp today. Kelp is used as a functional ingredient, highly sought after for its moisturizing and anti-wrinkle properties. In a recent study, scientists noted that the kelp extract "exhibited anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and healing properties", as well as collagen enhancing properties.
As demand for healthy skin grows but access to wild kelp supplies shrinks, companies will be in a tough spot - unable to source enough kelp to meet growing customer demand. That's why we're so excited to get our kelp farm and processing facility operational - to meet the massive demand for healthy and sustainable ingredients.
Looking ahead
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Views from around Ketchikan
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We are settling in to life in Ketchikan - and we've been blessed with great weather over the last few months. We are working on partnerships with local groups in Ketchikan for hatchery space to grow our kelp as well as for processing space. Stay tuned for more information as we finalize our plans!
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Best,
Pacific Kelp Co. Team
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