Sustainability

Our industry is facing more challenges than ever, with difficult growing conditions due to climate change and local government regulations like restrictions on synthetic chemicals and fertilizers. Greenhouse gas emissions, like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), are a leading cause of climate change. 

For every ton of seaweed we harvest we are able to absorb 362 kg of CO2, as well as pull 4.18 kg of nitrogen and 0.26 kg of phosphorous from the ocean for a healthier marine ecosystem. This is on an annual basis. 

Biostimulants are the new technology we need to protect against rising abiotic stressors caused by climate change and help protect yield and quality in a volatile environment. 

Our products are proven to work synergistically with other crop inputs, delivering the long-term benefits of regenerative agricultural practices, while advancing sustainability and boosting productivity at the same time for a strong return-on-investment (ROI) for the grower. 

A key area of regenerative ag is restoring degraded soil. Only healthy soil can grow healthy plants and good soil has microbes, which help with plants’ nutrient uptake, growth, pathogen control and stress tolerance. Without these tiny helpers working symbiotically with the plant, you cannot create an environment that is healthy and fertile. 

APH seaweed extracts are scientifically proven to improve soil micro-biodiversity in the following ways: 

• Increased growth of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi 
• Enhanced plant-microbe symbiosis 
• Optimized nutrient availability 
• Increased nodulation on the roots (helps the plant to absorb nitrogen and use fertilizer more efficiently) 
• Increased soil aggregation and improved soil structure 
• A well-developed microbiome overall, which can help out-compete pathogens, allowing for better crop establishment, which can lead to improved yields 
• CO2 “storage sink” (through long-term carbon sequestration). Plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and convert it into carbohydrates, which they use to grow leaves, stems and roots 
• Promotes carbon content in soil through the development of healthier soil and increased root biomass 

At Acadian Plant Health, longevity of our raw materials supply is important to us, because it ensures we can supply the agricultural industry, in a sustainable way. We carefully oversee every step of our raw material harvest to ensure a healthy habitat for the animals and other marine plants. In fact, we are one of the only seaweed companies that can guarantee a supply of high-quality product while doing so sustainably. 

We responsibly harvest less than 25% of the allowed quota of our raw material, using tools that are gentle on the ecosystem and allow for quick regrowth of the resource. After decades of harvesting, we’re able to determine the impact on the biomass and height of the seaweed. 

Our research shows no significant decrease in the biomass and in some cases the biomass even increased! We’re proud to say that our world-leading resource management system has led to a seaweed stock that is both plentiful and healthy. 

We have a dedicated research and regulatory team to ensure we’re operating in an environmentally sound business model. This includes our tools and techniques, as well as where and how often we harvest Ascophyllum nodosum. Our team includes specialists with PhDs, and their job is to monitor the growth and ecology of the Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed beds, with a focus on ensuring we keep this valuable resource. Because of this we are granted long-term governmental licenses, which allows us to ensure security of supply globally.