How this deeptech startup is driving seaweed cultivation along the western coast of India

Despite the presence of a vast coastline, seaweed cultivation is still a nascent area in the country.

Mumbai-headquartered deeptech startup ClimaCrew is spearheading efforts to ramp up cultivation of seaweed—which is considered a powerhouse of nutrients—by engaging with coastal communities and end-user industries.

Packed with essential vitamins, minerals (such as iodine, calcium, magnesium, and iron), amino acids, and dietary fibres, seaweed is used as a nutritive element across industries. For instance, seaweed extract acts as a biofertiliser and a soil conditioner in agriculture, while the pharmaceutical industry uses it in capsules and supplements.

Seaweed grows in salt water. Though the sea is vast, not all of it is viable for seaweed cultivation. Therefore, it is important to identify the spots suitable for cultivation, based on factors such as salinity, oxygen level, turbidity, the presence of heavy metals in water, and the speed of wind and waves. The ideal conditions for seaweed cultivation include clean, nutrient-rich water; a stable salinity level of 27-35 parts per thousand; appropriate temperature; ample sunlight; and mild currents.

ClimaCrew’s AI-driven marine technology platform analyses satellite data to identify suitable spots for seaweed cultivation.

How it began

About four years ago, the team at ClimaCrew, which was providing marine and weather advisories for the coastal communities of Gujarat and Maharashtra, began studying the impact of flooding on the fishing communities of coastal areas.

The team understood how climate change caused many challenges to the fishing community, including depletion of fish and the shifting of fishing grounds. Also, the fishing community was looking at additional sources of income during the pandemic-driven lockdown.

Eventually, the team began to focus its efforts on seaweed cultivation—which can be done without venturing deep into the sea, and women too could be engaged in it. Traditionally, seaweed cultivation involves tying seaweed seedlings to bamboo structures (like rafts or stakes) and throwing them into the sea.

“ClimaCrew’s technology platform can take any square feet of area across the sea and assess all its marine parameters to understand whether it can be used for seaweed cultivation or not,” says Devleena Bhattacharjee, Founder & Chief Operating Officer of ClimaCrew, and a serial entrepreneur in the area of data intelligence.

The other co-founders of ClimaCrew are Dr Susanta Kundu and Rahul Mehta.

How it works

ClimaCrew gets raw data from the geographic information systems of satellite companies, including NASA. Its platform then analyses the data using a combination of AI algorithms, machine learning, big data, and analytics to identify potential spots for cultivation.

Once the insights are drawn, marine biologists and marine scientists test patches of water to finalise the spots for seaweed cultivation.

Apart from site assessment, the ClimaCrew team also trains the fishing community on scientific methods of seaweed cultivation, including how one should tether the rope and what distance to maintain between the seaweed plants. They also advise on the quality of seaweed seeds, which varieties are fit for consumption, and weather conditions.

The ultimate goal is to maximise yield and ensure the best quality of seaweeds.

Bhattacharjee says it is not enough to provide advisories and inputs on seaweed cultivation; the team also gives confidence to the fishing community that seaweed cultivation is financially rewarding.

ClimaCrew operates on a CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organisation) model, wherein it buys the cultivated seaweed from the fishing community, processes it, and later supplies it to various industries, including agrochemicals, agri feeds, and food processing.

The startup has a seaweed processing plant in Chiplun, Maharashtra, where the seaweeds undergo quality checks. It supplies 100-120 kilolitres of seaweed every month to various industries.

“Our primary goal is to be the one-stop shop for global organisations that are using seaweed in any of their products,” says Bhattacharjee.

ClimaCrew currently works in the coastal areas of Gujarat and Maharashtra through partnerships with non-governmental organisations that work with the fishing community. It has trained over 800 individuals from the community in seaweed cultivation. It recently raised Rs 15 crore in funding from angel investors.

Going forward, ClimaCrew plans to provide its AI-driven technology platform under a SaaS (software as a service) model for multiple applications in fisheries, seaweed cultivation, and near-sea cultivation. It also plans to expand into international markets.