Symbrosia Is Using Seaweed To Fight Climate Change

Seaweed is going to save the world? What is Symbrosia going on about? 

Cows and methane are major problems in terms of their effect on climate. Methane is highly effective in keeping greenhouse gases within our atmosphere. Cows fart methane. The more cows, the more methane. The more methane, the direr our situation. 

Many have suggested cutting beef out of our diets in order to combat this problem. I don’t know if you’ve gotten to know America, but we will cling to our cheeseburgers until the world burns to the ground. 

Mmm, taste the char on that burger, patriot. 

Thankfully, Symbrosia is here to say, “Don’t worry, Mr. Stubborn America, you can keep eating your beef. Instead, how about we change what the cows eat?” 

Change what the cows eat, change the world, no burgers missed. What Symbrosia has found is a win-win scenario for action on climate. 

Meet Alexia Akbay, Founder and CEO

Alexia Akbay founded Symbrosia in 2018 and is the current CEO. Always passionate about the environment, Akbay saw an opportunity and ran with it. 

“[We were] founded … on the back of some really cutting edge research out of Australia that showed that supplementing the diet of cattle and dairy cows with a specific red seaweed asparagopsis taxiformis that reduces their methane emissions by over 90 percent.

“The issue at the time was that this seaweed was not commercially grown prior and there were no methods to do so.

“So, Symbrosia was founded on this problem that we were going to develop production technologies and conventional supporting technology to scale this industry and create carbon-neutral beef and dairy.”

The species of seaweed Symbrosia is farming for cattle feed is called Asparagopsis taxiformis. 

All About Aspargopsis Taxiformis

Asparagopsis taxiformis, also known as “red algae,” is a seaweed species found in tropical to warm temperate waters. It’s an edible seaweed and one of the more popular types of limu (general Polynesian term for edible underwater plants). 

In the Hawaiian language it’s known as Limu kohu, or “pleasing seaweed.” It has a bitter taste, and is a common ingredient in poke. Who doesn’t like poke? 

In short, you can eat it. So, why not let cows eat it too? 

How Does Seaweed Reduce Methane Emissions?

Symbrosia has done their homework. They’re the kid in class always raising their hand and getting “As” but they’re also really likeable and are also somehow really good at sports and the lead in the play and make it all look so easy. 

Screw them, right? jk lol. 

There have been no shortage of studies proving A. taxiformis’ effectiveness in reducing methane emissions. One study, Kinley 2020, found that red algae induced enteric (relating to or occurring in the intestines… read a biology book, why don’t you?) methane mitigation. In lamens terms, it made cows fart less. It also found that the productivity in cattle had improved significantly. 

“We’re seeing higher milk yield in dairy cattle [by as much as] 15 percent. And then beef cattle we’re seeing faster growth because that energy isn’t being released from the animal.”

I, too, notice that I am more productive and energetic when I’m less gassy. Who wants to work when they’re embarrassingly gassy, right? Diet plays a critical role there. Turns out that seaweed, like A. taxiformis, is far healthier than typical cattle feed. 

How Do You Farm Seaweed?

There is a specific way to farm seaweed, and it ain’t difficult. 

“We only need saltwater, nutrients from the sun, and the nutrients that we can utilize from waste resources. So, in terms of its impact on the environment in general, it’s one of the most sustainable crops you could grow.”

“On top of that, productivity per acre is extremely high. It’s over 10x that of any traditional [crop] – like soy, corn, or other feeds – that we commonly use.”

When it comes to farming seaweed, it’s mostly been for humans. If you’ve ever eaten miso soup at a Japanese restaurant – that leafy green thing floating around ain’t lettuce. 

As we search for creative, sustainable means to combat climate change, seaweed has increasingly become a part of the solution. 

“We believe that we’re kind of at this really interesting inflection point for algae producers because historically algae is mostly produced for human nutraceuticals, so health benefits or other markets where algae or seaweed is more culturally relevant in food. 

“We’re really seeing this inflex in lots of startups in our space that recognize the sustainable properties of seaweed as a crop and using those for industrial applications, which is cool.”

How Symbrosia Is Using All of This To Save Our World

We need action on climate change. One major challenge is combatting all of the methane released from cattle. Since America looooooves its beef, it’s hard to imagine the country taking on a vegan diet. Symbrosia is the first of its kind to offer a solution so perfectly suited to this situation. 

“We are the first commercial entity that is out there to start this seaweed [production]. And we’ve proven that in a number of the initial proof points so far – first commercial trials, first scaled production. 

“It’s been a really great journey and we’re continuing to grow.”

Symbrosia is in exactly the right climate for this kind of success. As our situation becomes increasingly dire, as does the popularity for taking part in efforts to effectively combat it. 

“I think that the climate catastrophe is becoming super in everyone’s face – whether it’s on television, social media, or talking to your friends – I think more and more Americans and the global population is recognizing that climate change is real. 

“We have to make significant efforts, mass significant efforts to save our species on the planet.”

Outside of providing sustainable, healthy, environment-friendly feed, Symbrosia also has a carbon offset program where you can offset your personal emissions. Or gift it to your favorite environmental activist (hint hint holidays are coming up hint hint).

What’s Next For Symbrosia

Next year, Symbrosia will be scaling up bigger and better. 

“We’re scaling up production, scaling up the duration, size, and number of commercial trials, and bringing Asparagopsis taxiformis to market. The next year is going to be a huge one for Symbrosia and the nascent asparagopsis industry.”

Expect to hear more from Symbrosia. They are taking on the battle for our climate and doing it with a chill, confident, and infectious smile. These are the folks you want working to make our world a better place.