We believe in the Blue Economy

In the old ‘business-as-usual’ model, nations develop their ocean economies through the exploitation of maritime and marine resources – for example, through shipping, commercial fishing, and oil, gas, and mineral development.  Often, they don’t pay adequate attention to the effect of these activities on the future health or productivity of the same resources and the ocean ecosystems in which they exist. The ‘blue economy’ concept provides a more holistic vision that embraces economic growth – when it is sustainable and does not damage other sectors. Similar to the ‘green economy’, the blue economy brings human well-being, social equity and environmental sustainability into harmony.

The blue economy embraces economic opportunities.  But it also protects and develops more intangible ‘blue’ resources such as traditional ways of life, carbon sequestration and coastal resilience in order to help vulnerable states mitigate the devastating effects of poverty and climate change.

Harvesting Seaweed

The Caribbean is home to several tropical species of Rhodophyta (red algae). The phycocolloids (alginates, agar, and carrageenan) in red algae are the economically important compounds. Agar and carrageenan are polysaccharides that are produced by the cell walls of many red algae species. They are used in a wide range of industries from pharmaceutical to textile, as suspending, thickening, stabilizing, and emulsifying agents. Kee Farms works with local marine biologists to domesticate native wildcraft species. Kee Farms intends to sustainably cultivate a variety of the red seaweed biomass to supply to seaweed extraction markets in North America and Europe.


Agar Production

Agar or agar-agar is a jelly-like substance consisting of polysaccharides obtained from the cell walls of some species of red algae, primarily from the species Gracilaria.

Agar is non-digestible and is used in food products where its emulsifying, stabilizing, and gelling properties and the heat resistance of its gel are useful. These unique properties are also widely utilized in the biotechnology industry and as bacteriological media. The use of agar is well established in vegetarian and health food products, including prepared cereals, meat substitutes, and desserts. Agar is used as a vegan substitute for gelatin and is used by poultry canners as a gelling material at 0.5 to 2% of broth weight to eliminate transit damage of fragile tissues.


Training

Our team believes that ocean farming is a high impact, low cost way of helping the environment whilst stimulating the regional climate economy by providing jobs and income to fishing communities within the Caribbean. The current aqua-economy in Jamaica relies heavily on fishing activities. Today, as a result of said activities, our fish reserves have been significantly depleted, which has led to compounding overfishing as a consequence. Kee Farms’ varied mariculture approach through seaweed and oyster farming explores a relatively untapped market. A key facet of our mission is to encourage responsible farming and consumption practices locally.


Biochar Production

Biochar is a carbon-rich “biological charcoal”. It is produced through the process of slow pyrolysis, in which biomass is combusted in the absence of oxygen. Biochar is a carbonized fertilizer used to ameliorate dry soiled areas that need additional nutrients. It can also enhance natural rates of carbon sequestration in the soil.


Activated Carbon

Activated carbon are unique and versatile adsorbents, that is, materials that allow particulate matter of other substances to stick to its surface. Activated carbon is unique by having extended surface area, microporous structure, universal adsorption effect, high adsorption capacity, and a high degree of surface reactivity.


Growing Shellfish

Oysters will be raised in floats, large baskets mimicking an oyster bed. The oyster seeds we use will be placed in protective bags and allowed to feed and grow, safe from predators.

Oysters can filter 50 gallons of water a day from pollutants such as nitrogen, a result of agricultural runoff and climate change. They either expel these pollutants or absorb them in their shells or tissues.