Submitted Ideas

Multi-Sites Deployment of Pilot Scale Technology for Integrated Nearshore and Ocean Farming ( open water aquaculture for Seaweed/ fish/ Mussel and ocean energy) to meet NEXUS and Blue-growth Development

Posted by Sulaiman Olanrrewaju | Limburg, Netherlands

The ocean and related water resources remain one of the new frontiers for humanity to explore and optimize human civilization. Everything has been created from water. The ocean is at the curing center of the planet health system, absorbing loads of land activities’ waste which feeds the vast ocean life. The ocean occupies a huge portion of the planet for a reason; much of its resources remain untapped and unexplored, mainly due to the lack of suitable technology. The use of aquatic plant seaweed macro algae for various biotech products including preventive medicine, pharmaceuticals, neutraceutical, food, marine energy, seaweed biofuel is becoming popular. A nature-based complex approach will make sea farming profitable. Our project involves: development of integrated technology for the water resources exploration (Inland, coastal, sea and ocean), co-utilization for marine renewable energy, food (seaweed, mussel, and fish), and incorporation of feed ecological requirements at downstream and their application at upstream, need for various marine biotech products (textile, seaweed bioplastic, seaweed solar etc.).

The project develops a technology platform for the large scale offshore aquaculture plantation, exploration and management of water resources through pilot/production farming in selected regional sea sites using NEXUS approach for co-production of macroalage, energy, fish aquaculture, seafood and a range of marine biotech materials for industrial and agriculture use ( fertilizer, animal feed etc. ). The project will collaborate with maritime cluster, industry, SME and community, regulatory bodies, environmentalist, site permit authorities, local fabricators for pilot project that involve scale up data collection related to technology, fitness, market research, risk and reliability, cost defectiveness, investor relations for production and farming. It will provide cooperation with UN bodies to positively impact life for developing nations and needy communities.

Seaweed farming will bring multiple nature- based solutions to problems being faced by fish farmers or hydro energy technology professionals. We have collected a wide of range of data that provide confident nature-based solution ready for implementation. We have done the first principle work, risk analysis, lab trial, biochemical, and material and prototype sea trial. We have also tried an integrated farming (fish, seaweed and wave energy) to collect relevant data useful for scale up. We have conducted research with industry and international universities under the frontier of knowledge in this area.
We believe that various biotech materials from seaweed can solve various environmental problems. By growing seaweed, there will be systematic marine bioremediation, carbon sequestration, acidification reduction, and disaster risk reduction for coastal protection. We also have a vision for improvement of life quality for needy community through hybrid and urban/rural, blue/green, river/coastal farmer systems with energy housing, education and transportation facilities.

The project is a socio-economic, integrated, environmental, technical, circular, economy-friendly model that adapts offshore technology for sustainable and reliable aquaculture activities as well as exploration of ocean resources for human and environmental good. The project will reduce barriers for floating structures usage in sea farming and contribute to quest for new jobs, food and energy production, water security, resilient ocean ecology and coral reef health and boost new marine biotech materials.