More than 60% of kelp forests worldwide have been lost since the 1950s.
Photo: Adobe Stock
Two European seaweed specialists, SeaForester and Seaweed Solutions, have agreed to merge and form SeaForester Group, while simultaneously launching a capital raise to support further expansion.
The merger combines SeaForester’s work in large-scale kelp forest restoration in Portugal and Norway with Seaweed Solutions’ expertise in seaweed genetics, seed propagation and commercial cultivation via its flagship farm near Trondheim in Norway.
The companies say the combined group will operate across the seaweed value chain, linking ecosystem restoration with the production of regenerative biomass for commercial markets.
The transaction comes as seaweed attracts growing attention as a tool for marine ecosystem restoration and as a source of regenerative biomass for food, feed and agriculture. Seaweed forests are the largest vegetated ecosystems in the ocean, covering an area estimated to be larger than the Amazon rainforest, yet more than 60% have been lost since the 1950s as oceans have warmed and coastal pressures have increased.
“Two of the biggest challenges in the world are loss of nature and lack of sustainable biomass,” said Pål Bakken, chief executive of SeaForester. “By combining seaweed restoration with excellence in seaweed genetics we can restore the forgotten forests and establish future-proof biomass production at scale, proving that restoration and cultivation go hand in hand.”
Under the new structure, Seaforester Group will focus on developing climate-resilient, high-yield seed lines, expanding kelp forest restoration using proprietary seeding and nursery technologies, and scaling biomass production through its own farming operations as well as a growing network of partner farms across Europe.
Jon Funderud of Seaweed Solutions described the merged group as “an exciting new platform that will deliver the scale of regenerative seaweed practice that the planet needs by leveraging the core strengths of seeds and genetics alongside restoration.”
The group holds permits targeting restoration projects covering up to 10,000 hectares and plans to supply industrial customers while supporting buy-back programmes with coastal seaweed farmers, the partners said.
Michael White, who advised on the transaction and will become chairman of the new group, said the model is designed to offer investors, corporations and policymakers a way to support ocean restoration with measurable and verifiable outcomes, "and to build an industry where regeneration and profitability go hand in hand.”
An existing investor in both companies, WWF Ventures, said the merger strengthens the commercial case for large-scale restoration. “By bringing together ocean restoration, commercial cultivation and seed genetics under one platform, SeaForester is uniquely positioned to deliver both ecological recovery and economic value,” said Paul Dobbins of WWF Ventures. “Seeing them unite is a validation of the potential at the intersection of ocean health and sustainable industry.”
Financial adviser Aquamarine – Impact Capital Partners acted for both companies on the merger and has also been appointed lead adviser on the capital raise, which the partners said will be used to accelerate investment in its three core areas of genetics, restoration and cultivation.
SeaForester previously announced in October 2025 it had raised USD 1.9 million from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Schmidt Marine Technology Partners in order to accelerate its global expansion and further technology development.
This was followed by the company's announcement in December of a new technology partnership with Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), and Kongsberg Discovery focused on creating a monitoring system to guide large-scale kelp restoration efforts.
