Inside Seaweed Fed DeGobbi

Sachi Singh is the Founder and CEO of Rootless. With a decade of experience in international climate change solutions and a Masters in Environmental Management from Yale University, Sachi is well aware of what we’re collectively up against. In seaweed, she found hope! Seaweed is one of the most nutritious foods on the planet, and actively regenerates the environment in which it is grown. Yet, most of us don't eat it on a daily basis. Sachi is trying to change that with Rootless and its hero product, The Daily Bite. Since their debut in 2022, The Daily Bites have been helping women and people support hormone health, sustain all-day energy, and nurture their gut health. Today, Sachi is on a mission to build a better food system while empowering millions of women to reclaim their health and feel good about their bodies during major hormonal transitions, including menopause, pregnancy, and beyond - all through seaweed. 
Check out ⁠⁠Inside Seaweed Newsletter⁠⁠! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to ⁠⁠insideseaweed.com ⁠⁠

Timestamps:


0:00:00 - Intro
0:02:14 - Sachi's turning point towards seaweed
0:06:22 - Overview of seaweed's nutrient composition
0:11:06 - Meaningful insights from recent papers on seaweed health benefits
0:13:27 - Bioactive compounds of particular interest in seaweed
0:15:36 - Iodine in seaweed and its protective qualities
0:21:59 - The role of seaweed in menopause
0:23:11 - Fucoid and fucoxanthin 
0:25:31 - Seaweed's prebiotic fibre and potential benefits
0:29:15 - Sachi's experience as an entrepreneur in the seaweed industry
0:33:38 - Rootless's product: The Daily Byte
0:37:35 - Habit stacking and habit replacement strategies
0:42:04 - Unexpected benefits of The Daily Byte
0:46:07 - Development and testing of The Daily Byte recipe
0:47:44 - Challenges of educating consumers about the value of seaweed
0:48:02 - Sachi's goal of positioning seaweed as a solution for women's hormonal health
0:53:17 - Rootless's manufacturing process and challenges
0:58:07 - Rootless's crowdfunding campaign details
1:02:16 - Trends in the health space where seaweed could become a compelling solution
1:04:47 - Proving health claims and regulations in the nutraceutical industry
1:08:26 - Resources for learning more about seaweed and health
1:09:20 - Upcoming events related to seaweed and health
1:09:39 - Final message and how to get in touch



Useful Links:

Rootless crowdfunding campaign: learn more here!
Sachi Singh on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ and Instagram
Rootless: ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠, Blog, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠.

Seaweed For Health Conference (22th-24th May 2024, Cork, Ireland): learn more and register here!


Resources:

Sachi recommended the book "Seaweeds – Edible, Available, and Sustainable" by Ole Mouritsen. 



Get in touch on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, Instagram or by emailing me directly at fed@insideseaweed.com - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!

Andrew Wilkinson is Seafood Specialist and Chef Director of Research and Development at North Coast Seafoods.
He is a chef with a deep love for fresh ingredients and a passion for creating exciting, delicious food for people to enjoy every day. He developed this passion from a young age, working on the lobster docks in Maine and watching his mother cook traditional New England meals. Wilkinson is a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and has extensive international experience, having worked in Germany and Japan. He has also served on the US Culinary Olympic Team. Throughout his career, Wilkinson has worked as a chef and partner at Skipjack's Restaurant Group and as the executive chef of the Rainbow Room in New York City. Currently, he is on a mission to promote healthy eating for children by introducing sustainable seafood options, including seaweed, to school menus. He believes that seaweed is a healthy and underutilized ingredient, and is always looking for innovative ways to incorporate it into his dishes.
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Check out ⁠⁠Inside Seaweed Newsletter⁠⁠! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time.
Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to ⁠⁠insideseaweed.com ⁠⁠
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00:00 - Intro
00:18 - Chef Andrew Wilkinson's Background
00:51 - Availability of Episode on Video
01:24 - How the Host and Andrew Met
02:03 - The Role of Chefs at Kelp Conferences
03:06 - Andrew's First Encounter with Seaweed
04:13 - Andrew's Mission with North Coast Seafoods
05:20 - The Turning Point for Andrew's Kelp Journey
06:43 - Andrew's Previous Work with Non-Mainstream Ingredients
08:49 - The Plan for Kelp Development During COVID
11:09 - Making Kelp the Centre of the Plate
13:52 - The Development Process for Kelp Products
15:14 - The Importance of Making Kelp Centre of Plate
16:39 - Team Involvement in Kelp Product Development
18:10 - Lessons Learned from Product Development Phase
19:57 - Choosing the Burger as the Main Product
20:50 - The Formula for Kelp Meatballs and Burgers
22:29 - The Role of Schools in Kelp Product Adoption
24:08 - The Story Behind Choosing the Burger
25:01 - Differences in Formulas for School Products
26:29 - Challenges of Working with Schools
27:59 - Regulations Around Using Kelp in Food
30:29 - The Role of Taste, Health, and Environment in Product Success
32:12 - The Role of Chefs in Championing Seaweed
35:40 - The Importance of Storytelling in Marketing Seaweed
37:09 - Educational Collaboration in Schools
39:57 - The Impact of the Green Plate Club
42:33 - The Future of Kelp Products and Education
44:01 - The Role of Chefs in Seaweed Innovation
46:16 - The Importance of Marketing and Storytelling
49:09 - Andrew's Future Plans and Ambitions
52:08 - Potential for Other Underutilized Seaweed Species
54:43 - Closing Remarks and Invitation to Try Kelp Meatballs
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Useful Links:
Andrew Wilkinson on ⁠LinkedIn⁠
North Coast Seafoods: ⁠Website⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠,

Simon Davis is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of SEADLING, a seaweed biotechnology startup, that has been leading innovation in the seaweed sector in South East Asia since 2018. Simon has been active in the seaweed industry for 8 years, serves on the advisory board of UN Global Compact’s Safe Seaweed Coalition and is a passionate advocate for the pivotal role that seaweed will play as a source of new materials for a sustainable future whilst combatting carbon and restoring abundance to our oceans.
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Check out ⁠⁠Inside Seaweed Newsletter⁠⁠! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time.
Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to ⁠⁠insideseaweed.com ⁠⁠
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01:01 - Simon's Career Break and Sailing Journey
02:05 - Discovering Seaweed During Travels
03:46 - Simon's Deep Dive into the Seaweed Industry
05:08 - The State of Seaweed Farming in Southeast Asia
07:44 - Innovation Gaps in the Seaweed Industry
08:05 - Comparing Asia vs. Europe/North America
09:37 - The Scale and Potential of Seaweed Farming in Southeast Asia
10:09 - Opportunities for Innovation
11:02 - Exploring New Seaweed Species and Applications
11:56 - The Role of Local and International Stakeholders
12:57 - Bridging the Gap between East and West
14:08 - Learning from China
15:24 - The Future of Seaweed Cultivation
16:18 - The Potential of Equatorial Seaweed Farming
17:10 - Lessons from Asia
18:00 - The Importance of Diversification in Seaweed Products
19:11 - Seedling's Focus on Pet Food Ingredients
20:36 - The Role of Seaweed in Animal Feed and Biostimulants
21:22 - The Future Directions of the Seaweed Industry
22:13 - Opportunities for Entrepreneurs
23:01 - Simon's Call for Talent at Seedling
24:05 - Avoiding Past Mistakes in Seaweed Industry Development
25:06 - The Need for Diversification and Resilience
26:02 - Potential Contributions from Global Entrepreneurs
27:42 - The Challenges of Innovating in Southeast Asia
29:30 - The Importance of Expanding into more Applications
30:14 - Quality Standards and Certifications
31:18 - Seedling's Approach to Innovation
32:06 - Developing Seaweed-Based Products
33:22 - Seedling's Farming Partnerships and Supply Chain
34:06 - Research and Innovation in Tropical Seaweeds
36:16 - The Importance of Building Relationships in Asia
37:37 - Seedling's Focus on Pet Food and Biostimulants
38:58 - Seedling's Product Development and Market Expansion
40:19 - Exploring New Seaweed Species and Varieties
41:07 - The Potential of Red Seaweeds
42:05 - Opportunities in Red Seaweed Applications
43:27 - Encouraging Global Entrepreneurs to Explore Red Seaweeds
44:08 - Seedling's Call for Talent Across Various Roles
45:21 - How to Connect with Seedling
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Useful Links:
Simon Davis on LinkedIn
SEADLING: Website, LinkedIn and Email
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Get in touch on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, or by emailing me directly at fed@ins

Courtney Boyd Myers (Founder & CEO of AKUA) is an entrepreneur, environmentalist, writer, and new Mama to Romy Ocean. Prior to launching AKUA, she helped build the Summit Community, a global network of founders, creatives, and innovators. Previously, she helped market companies such as Four Sigmatic and Unframed Ice Cream. She began her career as a journalist at Forbes Magazine and The Next Web and has been recognized as one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business. She currently serves as an advisor to GreenWave.
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Check out ⁠⁠Inside Seaweed Newsletter⁠⁠! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time.
Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to ⁠⁠insideseaweed.com ⁠⁠
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2:55 Seaweed and food a one possible solution for climate change and environmental crisis
5:10 The spark and hopes behind starting a food brand, Akua.
10:30 Bringing an innovative product into the market: Akua's story and key lessons.
14:00 The Kelp Beta Burger Club: how Akua engaged with their audience and learn what they wanted.
17:05 How to build a successful food brand - advice for startups. 
18:25 Does sustainability drives why consumers buy products?
21:10 Measuring positive environmental impact for a food brand.
22:15 Marketing and storytelling: how Akua's message and strategy evolved.
35:05 The risk in forcing the climate and sustainability message.
36:55 Dos, Don’ts and practical advice for entrepreneurs starting a food business.
42:00 Potential for using different seaweed species and regenerative food sources.
43:05 The importance of simplification where the seaweed supply chain is so complicated.
44:15 How our brain works around food and how to change perception.
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Useful Links:
Courtney's presentation given at Seagriculture in Portland.
Courtney Boyd Myers: LinkedIn, Website, Blog, Twitter.
Akua: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook.
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Get in touch on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, or by emailing me directly at fed@insideseaweed.com - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
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Next year Seagriculture conferences:
Seagriculture EU: 18 - 20 June 2024, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
Embark on a journey that is truly one of a kind! Seagriculture EU 2024 is not just a conference, it i

Matthew is the Founder and CEO of Macro Oceans, a startup transforming seaweed into low-carbon chemicals for use in materials, cosmetics, food, and many other applications. Matthew is an experienced technology entrepreneur, having built and sold his first company, Yield Pop, to The Climate Corporation. He has more than a decade of experience in terrestrial agriculture and was the first business hire at Inari, a gene-editing technology company, where he helped raise over $100M in venture capital funding.


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Check out ⁠⁠Inside Seaweed Newsletter⁠⁠! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time.
Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to ⁠⁠insideseaweed.com ⁠⁠


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[2:20] Matthew's ambitions and motivations at the outset of his career.
[3:55] Early career in terrestrial agriculture: Syngenta, Yield Pop, The Climate Corporation, Inari.
[7:30] Lessons in bringing technology to terrestrial agriculture.
[9:50] Main differences and similarities between land farming and ocean farming.
[13:25] Learning from other industries to innovate and solve problems in seaweed.
[14:44] The genesis of Macro Oceans and the consideration in starting the company.
[20:50] Macro Oceans business model and role in the industry.
[25:15] Product strategy, the importance of profitability and optimising unit economics.
[27:45] The role of technology in addressing some of the industry's pain point.
[32:00] The cosmetic industry as an interesting application for seaweed.
[34:00] Possible opportunities and challenges in developing nutraceuticals.
[35:10] The supply chain in the cosmetic industry, the importance of brands and storytelling.
[38:30] The trend of brands trying to simplify and "clean up" their labels.
[40:20] Adopting solutions from terrestrial agriculture that are missing in seaweed.
[43:15] Final thoughts


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Useful Links:
Matthew Perkins: LinkedIn
Macro Oceans: Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Newsletter and email at hello@macro-oceans.com


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Get in touch on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, or by emailing me directly at fed@insideseaweed.com - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!


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Seagriculture EU: 18 - 20 June 2024, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands


Embark on a journey that is truly one of a kind! Seagriculture EU 2024 is not just a conference, it is a unique experience – a limited edition. Join the exclusive site visit to Ocean Rainforest: It will be a full-day trip to explore their facilities, experience a scenic drive on the Faroe Islands and gain

Californian designer Julia Marsh is the CEO and co-founder of Sway, a venture-backed materials company which produces compostable packaging made from seaweed. Julia's work is inspired by a lifelong affection for the ocean, and the belief that designers must take part in solving the planet’s greatest challenges. Sway is on a mission to replenish the planet by supporting healthy ocean ecosystems, eliminating plastic waste, and creating a more inclusive climate movement.
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Check out ⁠⁠Inside Seaweed Newsletter⁠⁠! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time.Would you like to get a super short email from me every month, with three actionable insights for your seaweed business? I will search the seaweed industry for the most important lessons, the most useful conclusions and relevant actions, condensed into a half page that I will share with you, each month. It's easy to sign up and just as easy to cancel. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to ⁠⁠insideseaweed.com ⁠⁠
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[1:05] Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize.
[7:55] Supply chain: sourcing ingredients and seaweed species.
[14:00] The price of raw seaweed biomass and materials.
[15:20] Using non-food grade biomass and benefits for farmers.
[17:00] Current and future challenges in supplying seaweed biomass and materials.
[20:40] Thoughts around the flow of information within the industry.
[24:50] Opportunities and untapped potential for entrepreneurs.
[28:35] Considering the holistic value of seaweed in developing subsidies and policies.
[31:35] Design as key factor behind Sway's success.
[32:40] Imagining a positive and exiting future and how this could be communicated.
[35:00] How those who are closest to the problem are closest to the solution.
[36:25] What will drive B2B customers to adopt bioplastic in future.
[42:05] Competitors and competitive advantage of seaweed-based bioplastic.
[43:40] Biological circularity and how it can be applied to seaweed and bioplastic.
[46:35] Partnering with small-scale seaweed farmers.*
Useful Links:Julia Marsh: ⁠LinkedIn⁠Sway: ⁠Website⁠, ⁠LinkedIn⁠, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Tom Ford Plastic Innovation Prize
Macro Oceans: website
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Get in touch on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, or by emailing me directly at fed@insideseaweed.com - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!
*
Next year Seagriculture conferences:
Seagriculture EU: 18 - 20 June 2024, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
Embark on a journey that is truly one of a kind! Seagriculture EU 2024 is not just a conference, it is a unique experience – a limited edition. Join the exclusive site visit to Ocean Rainforest: It will be a full-day trip to explore their facilities, experience a scenic drive on the Faroe Islands and gain insights from captivating presentations.
Register until 1 December with Late Bird rates at www.seagriculture.eu
Seagriculture