The Pioneering Story of Zeewaar: The First Seaweed Farm in the Netherlands
Seaweed is an amazing food source that has been enjoyed by cultures around the world for centuries. In recent years, seaweed has become increasingly popular as a sustainable and nutritious food option. The Seaweed Company’s acquisition of Zeewaar is a significant milestone in the development of sustainable seaweed farming in the Netherlands and the EU.
The Seaweed Company is one of the leaders in this movement, specializing in the development of high-quality seaweed products for people, animals, soil, and plants.
One of the most exciting developments in the field of seaweed farming is the emergence of organic seaweed farms. Zeewaar is the first Dutch and organically certified seaweed farm located in the Oosterschelde National Park. The farm was started by Rebecca Wiering and Jennifer Breaton in 2013 with the goal of creating sustainable seaweed cultivation in the Netherlands. Their mission was to get sustainable seaweed farming off the ground in the EU, and they have succeeded in doing so by collaborating with brands such as Hema, ProLaTerre, and The Dutch Weedburger.
Zeewaar grows seaweeds in the Oosterschelde National Park in an organic and sustainable manner that is ideally suited for human consumption. The seaweed is grown on an area of about 2 football fields with the possibility of expanding in the future. The harvest is processed locally in its own processing facility. It is the first seaweed farm in the EU to have implemented the highest food safety standards.
Over the past decade, the founders have put their heart and soul into developing Zeewaar into a reliable producer of premium seaweed products for food purposes. The emphasis is now on logistics, and therefore the time has come for the founders to pass on the baton.
The Seaweed Company aims to collaborate with all partners, from government to research institutions, and from consumers to other seaweed and fisheries companies, to bring seaweed applications and ingredients to the menu of more consumers and businesses in Europe. The acquisition of Zeewaar is a significant step towards achieving this goal. By continuing the sustainable cultivation of seaweed and expanding its distribution, the Seaweed Company hopes to make seaweed a more mainstream and accessible food source.