Fredericton startup taps Atlantic seaweed for innovative soil booster

Marie Dankworth, co-founder of Fredericton-based SeaGreen Solutions Ltd., believes Atlantic Canada holds an untapped resource in its abundant seaweed. A PhD student at the University of New Brunswick, Dankworth has dedicated her research to studying kelp, a type of seaweed that forms underwater forests.

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The seaweed adds more value to the biochar when you use it in the soil because the seaweed has nutrients from the ocean: magnesium, potassium and all sorts of good things plants need.

SeaGreen Solutions Ltd. utilizes a process called pyrolysis to transform seaweed into biochar. This byproduct is a soil enhancer, rich in ocean-derived nutrients like magnesium and potassium, which are essential for plant growth. Dankworth suggests this biochar could significantly reduce the need for fertilizers and improve the moisture-retention capabilities of the province's clay-like soil, potentially mitigating drought conditions.

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The biochar basically locks in all the nutrients and water in the soil, and releases it slowly.

The company is currently collaborating with the City of Fredericton on a pilot project. The biochar is being tested in flower pots downtown to assess its ability to help the city's green spaces retain more water. Mike LaCroix, the city's foreman of horticulture, noted that a successful pilot could lead to reduced operational costs for the city and allow for the reallocation of resources. If the results are positive, the city plans to implement the biochar on a larger scale.

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If this works, we’ll be able to reduce our operating costs and the application of resources through watering and then redeploy those resources to do other things.