GreenWave

As climate change accelerates and current land farming practices deplete our soils, GreenWave has developed a regenerative ocean farming model to create a blue economy. Built and led by ocean farmers, GreenWave’s vision is an economy that ensures we all make a living on a living planet. If deployed in just 5% of U.S. waters, GreenWave’s regenerative ocean farming practices can potentially remove 12,350 tons of CO2 and 412.5 tons of nitrogen annually.

The Problem
Approximately 40% of the U.S. population lives in coastal communities and is struggling to survive in the face of warming waters, collapsing fisheries, and declining economic activity caused by climate change. The nation’s fishing sector — which contributes more than $200 billion in economic activity each year and supports 1.6 million jobs — faces climate change-driven declines in productivity, revenue, and jobs. Coastal indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable, facing land loss due to rising seas and declining marine species. At the same time, climate change exposes vulnerabilities in the nation’s land-based agriculture, which accounts for 10.5% of greenhouse gas emissions and relies heavily on dwindling fresh water supplies, fossil fuel-based inputs, and increasingly limited, expensive, and degraded land. Little attention and few resources have been focused on the ocean’s potential to address these issues. Oceans absorb 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gas emissions and 30% of the world’s CO2 annually.

The Solution
Regenerative ocean farming offers a powerful solution to the climate crisis while addressing social and economic inequalities in coastal communities. This polyculture system grows seaweeds and shellfish with zero inputs, making it the most sustainable form of food production by capturing carbon and rebuilding reef ecosystems. Farms are vertically positioned below the ocean’s surface, yielding high productivity with a small footprint. The model is easily replicable due to low startup costs; with 20 acres, a boat, and $20,000-50,000, anyone can start a farm. Regenerative ocean farming restores ecosystems, captures blue carbon, and produces food, fertilizer, animal feed, and plastic alternatives.

By the end of 2026, GreenWave’s resources will reach over 10,000 farmers, seed producers, processors, and buyers. Frontline coastal communities will be mobilized to build farmer-owned regional infrastructure, fostering an industry resilient to economic, environmental, and climate challenges. Small and medium-scale producers will gain tools to access emerging market opportunities, projected to grow by an additional $11.8 billion globally by 2030.

To achieve this, GreenWave is expanding its capacity to deliver farmer training and support through a mix of high- and low-touch programs. For indigenous groups and fishing communities directly impacted by climate change, GreenWave provides intensive support in collaboration with local partners. Their online Regenerative Ocean Farming Hub, the world’s first, offers a comprehensive suite of seed-to-sale resources. Currently, over 7,800 users actively engage with the Hub’s courses, tools, and community space.