JBV Project Report Q3 2024
WP 1: Site Selection Pilot and Full-Scale Permitting
Q3 2024 saw notable advancements in permitting efforts. One full-scale application reached the stakeholder review stage, with a decision expected by year-end. Three additional applications with significant environmental impacts are under preparation for review, aiming for a staged development plan to mitigate concerns.
For the second wave of pilot farms, applications faced stricter scrutiny due to nature-protected areas, with several approvals pending decisions in Q4. These efforts reflect KOASTAL’s commitment to balancing ecological considerations with seaweed farming expansion.
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WP 2: Optimizing the Design of Seaweed Cultivation Rigs
Rig designs continued to evolve, with refinements made to the spreader bar setup to enhance efficiency and reduce entanglement. The use of modular components and localized production reduced costs and increased flexibility.
Preparations for testing the innovative catenary array setup progressed, with deployments planned in Bohuslän and Göteborg later in the year. These advancements position KOASTAL to optimize space and cost efficiency in seaweed cultivation.
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WP 3: Designing, Testing, and Evaluating Harvesting and Processing Logistics
Q3 focused on fine-tuning harvesting setups and logistics. The spreader bar system saw performance improvements, including mesh bag adjustments for better cooling and stabilization during harvesting.
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New harvesting approaches integrating larger vessels and smaller "seaweed taxis" improved scalability. Efforts to streamline logistics with fish crates and larger fish boxes for storage and transport continued, aligning with KOASTAL’s goal of leveraging existing infrastructure to enhance efficiency.
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WP 4: Data Recording, Analysis, and Reporting Software
The Track’n’Trace app received significant usability upgrades to improve farmer adoption. Features such as location logging and photo-loggers were integrated, allowing farmers to monitor farm activities more accurately and consistently.
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Data collection systems now integrate environmental data from multiple sources, including HOBO loggers and satellite data, enabling better insights into farm performance. These developments further position KOASTAL as a leader in sustainable, transparent seaweed cultivation.
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WP 5: Farmer Onboarding, Education, and Assistance
Farmer debrief sessions and workshops helped solidify the farmer network. The first Skördefest brought together farmers, families, and the local community to celebrate and share insights, strengthening collaboration.
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While onboarding new farmers posed challenges, refinements in the onboarding process and increased buy-back rates have improved the business offering for prospective seaweed farmers. KOASTAL remains focused on building a resilient and enthusiastic farmer network.
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The third quarter of 2024 marked a period of significant progress for KOASTAL as the project continued to refine processes, expand operations, and address key challenges in seaweed cultivation. From achieving milestones in permitting to advancing rig designs and harvesting logistics, Q3 showcased the resilience and adaptability of the KOASTAL team. Collaboration with farmers and stakeholders played a pivotal role, strengthening the foundation for sustainable seaweed farming. This report provides an overview of the advancements made across all work packages during the quarter, highlighting KOASTAL's commitment to creating a transparent, efficient, and scalable cultivation model.
Conclusion
Q3 2024 has been a period of progress and collaboration. KOASTAL continues to refine its processes and expand its operations, fostering a sustainable seaweed farming network in Sweden. The groundwork laid this quarter ensures a strong foundation for future growth.
About the project
This project, co-financed by Jordbruksverket, commenced in September 2023 and will continue until September 2025. It aims to test an innovative business model in real conditions for deploying small-scale sea-based seaweed farms. KOASTAL provides customers, such as fishers, with a turnkey farm package and a buy-back guarantee for their crops, fostering the growth of local small-scale seaweed farming.
About Jordbruksverket
The Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) plays a vital role in supporting rural development and sustainable agricultural practices in Sweden. It provides information and regulations related to animals, plants, food, and beverages, focusing on trade and health standards. The agency also oversees the implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Maritime, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Programme, offering support for rural development measures and agri-environmental payments. Jordbruksverket is a key co-financier of projects that promote innovative agricultural solutions, such as the development and customer piloting of sustainable seaweed cultivation models.
About KOASTAL
KOASTAL is developing the most resource-efficient production system of seaweed biomass using a franchise model building on the current resources of the fishing industry. We help fishers set up, operate and scale their farms, and aggregate and certify their production to result in the best product-market fit for large-scale buyers.