Touring Seaweed farms with Underwater Cowboys in Panama
A scout team recently returned from a visit to Panama, where the Brontide Corporation hosted and gave us a tour of their underwater seaward farming operation!
Below are a few of our favorite moments and photos.
Brontide has DEEP expertise (literally and figuratively) in ocean-farming and in producing animal feed and fertilizer ingredients, and their team was gracious enough to host us in Central America this week! Stay tuned as we learn more.
Also—can you spot our teammate in the crowd above?!
The scout team explored Brontide Corporation’s new property in Miramar, Panama, their future site and home to excellent underwater farming conditions.
Our hosts were eager to show us the benefits of seaweed farming, and there are plenty!
The Brontide website puts it well:
The health advantages of incorporating seaweed into animal diets are significant, offering a nutrient-dense superfood that enhances overall well-being and helps prevent disease. Moreover, using seaweed fertilizer in agriculture can greatly improve plant growth and health. Seaweed fosters greener agricultural practices and serves as a sustainable source of animal feed and micro-nutrients. By integrating seaweed into our daily routines, we can significantly enhance growth in animals, agriculture, and life itself.
Seaweed farming also has huge potential to boost ecosystem and fish habitats while mitigating coastal erosion and the effects of climate change.
Thanks to these new high-impact ag partners for the tour, and thanks to our C Fund impact investor community for making sure we have the ability to support these transformative ag businesses!
Above and below photos are Brontide showing us how to plant a seaweed crop. It's the one crop you don’t have to worry about droughts or floods!
Even more amazing, this seaweed crop is like raising 200 bushel corn and selling it for $864 per bushel. Our current price per bushel is $4.80. That is not a typo! 180x higher selling point!
Travel really is a funny thing, often paradoxical.
You go halfway round the world only to discover how similar we are all, regardless of culture and context, yet also how different we all are.
It's a beautiful thing, these opportunities to sit across from tables and hear farmer's stories and struggles. Our scout team aims to stay curious as each trip presents new opportunities to learn and serve, and this tour of Brontide Corporation's seaweed farming in Panama was no different.
This is an excellent business and team of people with hearts for the Kingdom and a clear strategy for success. As Kevin put it toward the end of the trip: "These are our people."
In fact, Kevin almost sounded ready to open an office in Panama and start his own farming operation!
A BIG thank you to our C Fund Impact Investors for positioning AgGrandize to respond and support strong, investment-ready businesses like Brontide. We're thrilled to be engaging more deeply in Central America and in the world of underwater farming!
It was all smiles on the water as we toured the seaweed farm with the founder of Algas Panamenas*, Eduardo Valdes, and his team of sea cowboys!
Warm tropical waters, safe shores, a welcoming economy, incredible sales potential, and likeminded vision and values are just a few of MANY reasons this underwater farming operation has us excited. Thanks to all you curious potential investors who've already reached out!
*Algas Panameñas is the name of the seaweed operation now owned by Brontide Corporation.
Photos courtesy of Christian Rath and Kevin Stark.
