Cultivating giant algae capable of retaining the carbon dioxide that warms the planet: this is the winning idea of a Dutch start-up, developed in Namibia, off the coast of Luderitz, a city known for diamonds. But the real treasure of these places is today found underwater, about ten meters deep.
The Dutch start-up involved in this project to help protect biodiversity and fight climate change is Kelp Blue , which has also developed a method to measure carbon storage by offshore algae, necessary to generate credits.
On the seabed, brown algae rise like light branches pushed upwards, giant specimens capable of storing everything that is most harmful to global warming. Thanks to their properties they are a resource capable of defending marine fauna and protecting the biodiversity of the oceans.
The algae are partly intended to be processed and transformed into “green” products: from cosmetics to biodegradable food packaging and biostimulants used to increase yields and drought resilience, News.24 reports
Off the coast of Luderitz there are currently two experimental kelp forests. The start-up made up of marine biologists, divers and other ocean-related professions works every day with the aim of regularly harvesting the upper part of the algae canopy, destined for processing products, hoping to reach up to 150 tons per year.
The positive impact of this project is not only environmental, but social. Namibia faces a serious youth unemployment problem every day, with peaks of 50 percent. Seaweed cultivation produces job opportunities especially for marine experts who work harder than other professions.
Source : AFRICAVARISTA
