Pictured from left: Chris Sewall, Chemist at Ocean Organics, and Marina Bowie, Program Associate at Biobased Maine, standing in front of 275 gallon “totes” of seaweed extract at the Ocean Organics plant.

In February, Biobased Maine visited member company Ocean Organics for a tour of its facility in Waldoboro, Maine. Founded in 1991, Ocean Organics is a specialty fertilizer manufacturing and seaweed processing company. The Ocean Organics proprietary extraction technologies produce high performance seaweed extracts from the seaweed specie Ascophyllum nodosum (wild harvested rockweed).  Ocean Organics has recently expanded by adding a new laboratory and is increasing their research and development efforts and capabilities.

Rockweed takes up nutrients from the ocean directly. Properly processed, rockweed is rich in nutrients and antioxidants that contribute to plant growth and health. Ocean Organics has been investing in university research since its founding to continually refine their product line and use instructions. In fact, a Central Valley California table grape grower used Ocean Organics’ Guarantee® kelp extract, and reported his best grape crop ever, citing improvements in uniformity, rachis stretch (bunch cluster length), and bunch and berry size. Ocean Organics seaweed extracts aren’t just great for table grapes, though. Their product has been tested and proven to yield positive results for a number of agricultural applications including strawberries, squash, blueberries, potatoes, celery, citrus, cotton, and cucumbers, to name a few. Ocean Organics fertilizers are also used on golf course turfgrasses, in greenhouses and nurseries, and for hydroponics.  

Biobased Maine applauds Ocean Organics for their commitment to the sustainable cultivation and harvesting of Maine’s marine algae. The rockweed used in Ocean Organics’ products is harvested in such a way that maintains healthy seaweed beds, and which research demonstrates can help reduce local ocean acidification.

Biobased Maine enjoys visiting member companies and sharing exciting developments within the biobased industry. Biobased Maine also brings information about its member companies to local, national, and international conferences and industry events, developing relationships with other companies and potential investors. Join Biobased Maine today and ask us how we can assist with your business development efforts.

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