KELP BLUE MANAGES CARBON CREDITS FOR US$80 MILLION TO PRODUCE MACROALGAE.

Based in the Netherlands, and with operations in Alaska, New Zealand and Namibia, Kelp Blue is a company that grows the macroalgae known as Kelp (Macrosystis spp), which is mainly used for the production of biofertilizers and biostimulants, although it has other very important potential uses such as alginates to produce bioplastics. Kelp Blue is in the process of issuing a US$80 million Carbon Bond to finance the installation and operation of 1,000 hectares of Kelp in Namibia.

The carbon credit is a different financial instrument from carbon credits, since they are loans from investors that the company receives with the obligation to return them with interest within a set period. The fact that the resources are allocated to a specific objective that contributes to the mitigation of climate change due to the high carbon absorption capacity of this macroalgae, makes it very attractive among environmentally conscious investors who favor this type of project.

This example shows us the great financing potential that carbon credits represent for aquaculture, especially regenerative agriculture. At the COP28 meeting on climate change that is currently taking place in Dubai, the strengthening of carbon markets has been defined and important financing mechanisms are established for activities that contribute to the capture of carbon from the environment.