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Adam Parker is a seasoned brand leader with over 13 years of experience building consumer goods brands into household names. Currently leading Ocean Saver, a UK brand creating plastic-free, plant-based cleaning products that protect ocean life. He's passionate about scaling next-generation brands that are transforming entire categories.

Prior to Ocean Saver, Adam was the first employee and Managing Director of PÄRLA, a plastic-free oral care brand that he established as the #1 challenger in the category with over 1,000 distribution points across major retailers including Boots, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose.

Before his startup ventures, Adam spent six years as Brand Director of Oral-B at Procter & Gamble, managing a £500 million revenue business. Under his leadership, Oral-B achieved market share leadership and became the #1 most popular brand within P&G's entire portfolio. His notable achievements include making Oral-B the top-selling product on Amazon Prime Day for three consecutive years.

Adam studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford University and completed leadership training at the Institute for Young Leaders in Jerusalem.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro 

00:01:10 - Meet Adam Parker: Background and Leadership Training 

00:07:21 - Studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford 

00:13:57 - The Journey at Procter & Gamble 

00:16:14 - Learning from Brand Management at P&G 

00:22:12 - The Importance of Consumer Research 

00:25:49 - Transitioning to Ocean Saver 

00:28:53 - The Challenges of Sustainability in Big Corporations 

00:32:10 - The State of Ocean Saver Upon Joining 

00:35:05 - The Role of Re-founders at Ocean Saver 

00:41:14 - Creating an Ocean Megabrand 

00:44:14 - Differentiating from Niche Eco-Brands 

00:46:45 - The Power of the Ocean in Marketing 

00:50:26 - Consumer Psychology and Purchase Decisions 

00:51:23 - Making the Leap of Faith Smaller for Consumers 

00:53:12 - Where to Find Ocean Saver Products and Closing

Useful Links & Resources:

Ocean Saver website: ocean-saver.com

Ocean Saver on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube  

Adam Parker on LinkedIn

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Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at [email protected]

The Ocean Age Podcast is produced by Charlotte Raffo and edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. Eliana Caragia manages Distribution and Engagement. 

Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!

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As the founder of BioMara, a marine biotech startup based in Scotland, Jay Dignan is dedicated to transforming regenerative seaweed into functional and healthy B2B ingredients for the food and wellness industries. His professional journey began in New Zealand and includes a diverse range of experiences, from deep-sea salvage and working with Tibetan yak wool to media mergers and acquisitions.

Jay has over two decades of cross-disciplinary experience as a founder, CFO, and strategic consultant. His self-described "squiggly" career path was complemented by an MBA from a UK university. He is passionate about seaweed's potential to contribute to a sustainable future and help feed the world. Jay is focused on finding synergies among researchers, innovators, investors, and business leaders to help realise the promise of the seaweed industry for a healthier planet and healthier people.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Intro 
00:01:44 - Jay's Background and “Squiggly” Career Path
00:06:50 - The Importance of Diverse Experiences
00:10:33 - The Role of an MBA in an Entrepreneur's Journey
00:14:03 - The Tibetan Yak Herder Experience
00:20:31 - The Challenges of the Western Seaweed Industry
00:24:54 - Frustrations Faced as an Ocean Entrepreneur
00:34:25 - The Founding of BioMara and Its Business Model
00:41:02 - Developing and Validating the biorefinery System
00:43:43 - Understanding BioMara's Core Products
00:46:40 - The Potential of Fucoidan in Human Health
00:54:19 - Lessons from the Ashwagandha and Manuka Honey Markets
00:58:55 - The "Health by Stealth" Approach
01:09:18 - The Process of Building a Founding Team
01:12:54 - A Call to Action for Food and Nutraceutical Companies

Useful Links & Resources:

Jay Dignan on LinkedIn

BioMara’s website: Food & Wellness. Products: Seafibrex & Thalivra & Revyntra

BioMara on Linkedin

Biomara’s White Paper on Fucoidan 

Scientific paper by BioMara’s team with an overview of fucoidan, its applications and extraction technique.

***

Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at [email protected]

The Ocean Age Podcast is produced by Charlotte Raffo and edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. Eliana Caragia manages Distribution and Engagement. 

Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!

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Kira Smiley is the Global Director of Sales and Marketing at TidalX AI, a startup born from Google[x] (now X, the moonshot factory), focused on developing radical technologies to support the ocean economy while sustainably managing and protecting it. Since joining Tidal in 2020, Kira has worn several hats across business development, product, international customer operations, and program management. She served on the leadership committee for Alphabet’s Women of X organisation for several years and is a member of the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture. Kira attended Stanford University and received both a B.S. in Earth Systems and an M.S. focused on sustainable global food security and the environment. She is a 2019 recipient of the DoSER Public Engagement Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Kira Smiley and TidalX Technology
00:04:19 - Importance and Environmental Impact of Tidal's Technology
00:08:49 - Health Monitoring and Sea Lice Management
00:10:23 - Tidal's Mission and Origin at X the Moonshot Factory
00:13:29 - The Origin Story of Tidal and its Partner Mowi
00:20:03 - Kira Smiley's Background and Interest in Aquaculture
00:23:13 - The Sustainability of Fish as a Protein Source
00:27:06 - The Culture of Innovation at X
00:32:49 - The Principle of "Starting with the Hardest Thing First"
00:35:10 - Transition from R&D to a Commercial Product
00:40:51 - Early Challenges and Pivots in Development
00:43:18 - Factors Leading to the Spin-off from Alphabet X
00:48:52 - Tidal's International Expansion and Strategy
00:57:10 - The Future of the Blue Economy and Investment
01:07:10 - A Call to Action for Innovators and Final Remarks

Useful Links & Resources:

Kira Smiley: LinkedIn
TidalX AI

Aqua Nor Conference, Trondheim, 18-21 August 2025

World Bank Report - Harnessing the Waters: Sustainable Aquaculture

Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture
Global Salmon Initiative

Google X: Website

***

Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at [email protected]

The Ocean Age Podcast is produced by Charlotte Raffo and edited by Nebojsa Lešević. Sarah Carpenter and Giulia Leanza are our research assistants. Eliana Caragia manages Distribution and Engagement. 

Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!

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Linzi Hawkin is a creative strategist passionate about protecting the ocean through the power of strategy, storytelling, and education. She is the co-founder of Protect Blue - an ocean-focused organisation built around two core pathways: a creative agency that partners with NGOs, governments, and brands to drive tangible impact, and a direct support platform for ocean advocates and activists, providing the tools, community, and resilience they need to lead lasting change.

Through this dual approach, Linzi strengthens conservation efforts while nurturing a thriving network of grassroots ocean leaders - helping them stay energised, impactful, and deeply connected to nature.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction to The Ocean Age Podcast and Expert Guest
00:01:04 - Defining Impact Strategy for Purpose-Driven Businesses
00:02:40 - The Importance of Gaining Clarity on a Problem To Solve
00:07:44 - Finding Your Niche in the Ocean Space and Experimentation
00:11:42 - The Importance of Real-World Feedback and Minimum Viable Product
00:16:16 - The Challenge of Saying No to Opportunities to Maintain Focus
00:19:48 - Strategy as a Filter for Decision Making in Impact Ventures
00:20:52 - Practical Frameworks for Building an Impact Strategy 
00:28:50 - How to Identify When Your Strategy is Flawed or "Off"
00:30:53 - Measuring Real Impact vs. Misleading "Vanity Metrics"
00:35:01 - Understanding and Avoiding Common Vanity Metrics
00:42:52 - Course Correction and Strategy Adjustment
00:48:50 - "Green Hushing" and Brands' Fear of Greenwashing Accusations
00:52:40 - Balancing Profit with Positive Impact for Financial Sustainability
00:57:07 - Case Study: The Innovative Seaweed Surfboard Project
01:04:17 - Challenges Faced by Ocean Activists and Entrepreneurs
01:06:58 - Advice for Young Professionals
01:13:11 - Upcoming Projects
01:20:00 - The "Stoke" Piece: Importance of Wellness and Fair Pay in Impact Work
01:23:44 - Conclusion and Where to Find More Information 

Useful Links & Resources:

Linzi Hawkin: Website and LinkedIn
Protect.Blue: Website

Wavemakers 

UnderCurrent

IDEO free courses

Acumen Theory of Change free course

The Seaweed Surfboard Project

Get in touch with The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at [email protected]

The Ocean Age podcast is produced by Charlotte Raffo and edited by Nebojsa Lesha. Sarah Carpenter is our research assistant.

Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!

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Olly Hicks is a world record-breaking British ocean explorer, motivational speaker, and ocean entrepreneur. Known for his minimalistic, human-powered expeditions, Hicks is the first and currently only person to have rowed solo from America to England, completing this feat in 2005 at the age of 23, making him the youngest person to row any ocean solo. He has spent over 2.5% of his life alone on the ocean, covering more than 7,000 miles on various expeditions since 2005.

Today, Hicks is a co-founder of Algapelago, which operates as the largest UK licensed offshore kelp cultivator. This mariculture business focuses on rewilding oceans and producing sustainable agricultural products through its Blue Forest Programme, aiming to boost marine biodiversity and sequester carbon.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Introduction to Olly: Ocean Explorer & Three-Time World Record Holder.
00:16:00 – Childhood Dreams and Early Inspirations for Ocean Rowing.
05:57:00 – The Most Significant Expedition: Solo Atlantic Crossing.
07:06:00 – Expedition Preparation.
08:04:00 – The Mental Game of Expeditions: Solitude and Adaptation.
10:26:00 – Securing Sponsorship: A Thousand Letters and Key Partnerships.
14:14:00 – Challenges of Sponsorship: Competition and Personal Interest.
16:30:00 – Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing "Blind Optimism".
19:46:00 – Learning from Failures: The Attempt to Row Around the World.
20:40:00 – Cultural Outlooks on Failure (UK vs. US) and Startup Mindset.
24:05:00 – Toughest Moments: Preparation Stress and the "Jumping Off" Transition.
27:05:00 – Expeditions as "99% a Mental Game".
28:05:00 – Cherished Moments: Awe in the Wilderness and Gaining Perspective.
30:53:00 – Balancing Risk: Evolving Perspectives with Life Stages.
33:57:00 – The Innate Human Need for Adventure: Treading New Ground.
38:42:00 – Founding Archipelago: Pioneering Offshore Mariculture.
40:46:00 – Similarities Between Leading Expeditions and Entrepreneurship.
44:42:00 – The Solitary and Uncomfortable Nature of Startup Leadership.
46:31:00 – Main Lesson for a Startup Founder: "KBO" (Keep Buggering On).
49:30:00 – The Blue Forest Programme
52:54:00 – Nutrient and Biodiversity Credits to fund ocean regeneration projects
01:05:40 – The "Secret Sauce" of the Seaweed Sector: Diversified Business Models.
01:08:56 – Connecting with Olly and Archipelago

Useful Links:

Olly Hicks: Website, LinkedIn, Wikipedia page.
Algapelago: Website
Blue Forest Programme: Website 

Olly’s TEDx Talk “The benefits of risk” 

Get in touch The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing directly at [email protected]

The Ocean Age Podcast is produced by Charlotte Raffo and edited by Nebojša Lešević. Sarah Carpenter is our research assistant.

Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!

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Emily Power is the founder of OceanMade, who is bridging the gap between terrestrial agriculture and ocean innovation with her groundbreaking Kelp Pots. Sparked by Bren Smith's seaweed farming feature on '60 Minutes', Emily transitioned from her corporate role at Microsoft to ocean entrepreneurship. After pivoting from an initial sustainable marketplace concept, she discovered her mission while confronting the plastic pollution in her own garden. Drawing on seaweed's remarkable properties, Emily developed biodegradable seed starters that significantly outperform both plastic and existing alternatives. In this episode, Emily shares her winding path from corporate life to sustainable innovation, the challenges of developing Kelp Pots, and the surprising results of her experiments. She offers candid insights about imposter syndrome, the value of communication, and building a business that solves real problems while helping the planet. You will appreciate her insights on market validation, product testing, and communicating complex marine benefits to everyday consumers. This conversation offers valuable perspectives for anyone working to translate ocean innovation into practical, scalable solutions that create both environmental and economic impact.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction and Emily's experience at Microsoft
00:06:44 - Most valuable skills learned in corporate life: communication and initiative
00:10:45 - Leaving Microsoft
00:13:50 - First iteration of OceanMade as a sustainable marketplace
00:15:06 - Products must solve problems first, sustainability comes second
00:17:45 - Building your business as your own "utopia"
00:20:35 - Most expensive mistakes: premature branding and imposter syndrome
00:24:50 - How doubt led to thorough research and product validation
00:27:30 - Current focus of OceanMade and Kelp Pots description
00:28:45 - The "eureka" moment that inspired Kelp Pots while gardening
00:30:40 - Problems with existing biodegradable pots in the market
00:33:25 - Research, development and prototyping process
00:35:47 - Breakthrough discovery: complete biodegradation and superior growth
00:39:27 - Moving from MVP to market validation
00:40:47 - Future R&D plans for different seaweed species and applications
00:41:56 - Importance of seeking mentors and support
00:44:31 - Making decisions with limited information and moving forward
00:45:54 - Marketing strategy and pre-sale success
00:49:01 - Using storytelling and the hero's journey in marketing
00:52:06 - Target audience: home gardeners and anyone who wants to grow
00:53:31 - Marketing channels: word of mouth, Reddit, and gardening communities
00:57:31 - Future vision: eliminating plastic from gardening and agriculture
00:59:01 - Challenges with scaling and maintaining sustainability
01:02:26 - Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in sustainable products
01:04:56 - ChatGPT as a research assistant and closing information

Useful Links:

• Emily Power on LinkedIn
• OceanMade and Kelp Pots
• Macro Oceans
• Fun Stuff Designs
• Derek Sivers, author of "Anything You Want"
• Seth Godin, author and marketing expert
• Bren Smith, author of "Eat Like A Fish"

Get in touch The Ocean Age's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ or by emailing him directly at [email protected]

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This is a brief update episode where I share my plans for the direction of the podcast going forward and the thinking behind it. 

New episode coming later this month!

In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts; feel free to reach out on social media with your feedback or suggestions for topics you'd like me to cover.

Many thanks, and see you soon.

Best,
Fed

Fed DeGobbi on Linkedin and X.

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Sowmya Balendiran is Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer at Sea6 Energy, a pioneer of innovative technologies for sustainable, large-scale and mechanised ocean farming. Sea6 Energy was founded at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras with a vision to develop disruptive solutions to global problems. Sowmya has more than 10 years of executive-level experience in product development, marketing, sales and strategy. She has featured in ‘Top 50 Women in Biotech’ in India as well as in Forbes India’s ’30 under 30’ 2018 special mention in the ‘Science and Green Tech’ category and featured in women pushing boundaries by GP-ORF. Sowmya holds a degree in Biotechnology and an executive program at IIM Calcutta. 
 
Check out ⁠⁠Inside Seaweed Newsletter⁠⁠! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to ⁠⁠insideseaweed.com ⁠⁠

Timestamps:

 00:00:00 - Intro
 00:01:24 - The “Why” Behind Sea6 Energy
 00:02:44 - Challenges with Land Use for Biofuels
 00:06:00 - How Being Based Played a Role India
 00:07:21 - Changes in Perspective Over Time
 00:09:12 - Key Milestones and Wins
 00:10:43 - Current State and Future Goals
 00:11:32 - Timeline for Biomaterials
 00:13:19 - Balancing Farmer Income and Consumer Costs
 00:14:45 - Mechanisation and Productivity
 00:16:23 - Logistics Challenges in Seaweed Farming
 00:18:12 - Lessons Learned in Mechanisation
 00:19:23 - Regulatory and Market Acceptance Challenges
 00:21:41 - Regulatory Hurdles in Biostimulants
 00:23:10 - Evolution of Mechanisation
 00:27:16 - Ownership Models for Mechanisation Tools
 00:30:08 - Expansion to Indonesia and Focus on Tropical Seaweeds
 00:34:33 - Limited Research on Tropical Seaweeds
 00:37:02 - Exciting New Applications and Products
 00:39:08 - Importance of Site Selection
 00:40:57 - Positive Local Impact in Indonesia
 00:43:52 - Increasing Productivity 
 00:45:17 - Concerns About Mechanisation and Job Loss
 00:47:30 - What Not To Learn About Agriculture
 00:49:10 - The Link Developing Between Ocean Farming and Land Farming
 00:50:12 - Funding And Investments: The Gap Between West and East
 00:54:00 - What the West Is Misunderstanding and Underestimating
 00:56:18 - The Best and Worst Advice for Algae Entrepreneurs
 00:58:57 - Sowmya Biggest Frustration in The Industry
 01:01:12 - How to Get In Touch With Sowmya and Sea6

Useful Links:

Sowmya Balendiran on LinkedIn.
Sea6 Energy: Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube.
Potato Impact Partners: Website, LinkedIn and Instagram

Get in touch Inside Seaweed's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, Instagram or by emailing him directly at [email protected] 

Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!

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Danny Matthews is a branding expert with a big vision to solve the world’s biggest problems with creative design and brand strategy. Among his accolades he has been featured in the Huffington Post, BBC Radio, the FSB’s First Voice and has shared a stage with Facebook and Google. In 2019, Danny founded Short Story Ventures, a Venture Studio that helps early-stage founders build a fundable startup brand, gain traction and get to market successfully.
 
Check out ⁠⁠Inside Seaweed Newsletter⁠⁠! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to ⁠⁠insideseaweed.com ⁠⁠

Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:11 - Setting the Scene: Building a Fundable Brand
00:01:26 - What is a Fundable Brand?
00:03:00 - Key Considerations in Setting Up a Brand
00:04:00 - The Concept of Pitching
00:05:00 - Effective Networking Pitches
00:08:00 - Example of an Introductory Pitch
00:10:00 - The BIO Framework: Brand, Investor, Origin Story
00:12:00 - Crafting an Investor Story
00:13:00 - Crafting a Brand Story
00:14:00 - Neuroscience of Buying Decisions
00:17:00 - Common Pitfalls in Building a Brand
00:19:00 - Importance of Obsessing Over the Problem
00:21:00 - Problem-Solution Fit vs. Product-Market Fit
00:23:00 - Traction: Data Plus a Promise
00:24:00 - Guidelines for Crafting the Right Story
00:26:00 - Storytelling Framework: Hero, Problem, Guide
00:28:00 - Real-Life Example: Cold Water Thermometer
00:31:00 - Role of Sustainability in Product Development
00:33:00 - Insights from the Mushroom Industry
00:36:00 - Tactical Advice for Brand Building
00:38:00 - Closing Remarks and Contact Information

Useful Links:
Danny Matthews on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter
Short Story Venture: Website

Get in touch Inside Seaweed's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, Instagram or by emailing him directly at [email protected] - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestions? Would love to hear what you think!

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Dr Craig Rose PhD is a marine biologist and the Founder and CEO of Seaweed & Co., the company behind his Doctor Seaweed range of award-winning nutritional supplements. Dr Craig has a degree in Marine Biology, a master’s in Marine Technology and a PhD in Marine Science. Dr Craig started the company in 2015 after working for many years with seaweed on commercial and research projects for various applications - from biofuels to food and nutrition and identified a huge opportunity and need for seaweed.

Check out ⁠⁠Inside Seaweed Newsletter⁠⁠! Just one short email per month, no spam and you can cancel at any time. If you'd like to give it a try, head over to ⁠⁠insideseaweed.com ⁠⁠

Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:48 - Focus on Nutraceuticals
00:01:05 - Importance of Personal Brand: Doctor Seaweed
00:03:27 - Launching Doctor Seaweed Supplements
00:03:43 - Reintroducing Seaweed into Modern Diets
00:05:12 - Iodine Deficiency in Modern Diets
00:06:43 - Symptoms of Iodine Deficiency
00:08:04 - Importance of Iodine for Both Genders
00:09:12 - Customer Needs and Product Benefits
00:11:25 - Natural vs. Synthetic Nutrients
00:13:38 - Unexpected Customer Benefits
00:15:17 - Research and Customer Feedback
00:16:13 - Weight Management Benefits
00:17:07 - Target Audience and Customer Persona
00:18:08 - Transition from B2B to B2C
00:19:06 - Challenges in B2C Model
00:20:13 - Validating Product Demand
00:21:34 - Choosing Capsule Format
00:22:36 - Capsule Size and Seaweed Content
00:23:52 - Exploring New Product Formats
00:25:00 - Sponsored Ad: Alvan Blanch
00:25:53 - Market Trends in Wellness and Nutrition
00:27:56 - Leveraging Sustainability in Branding
00:29:29 - Harvesting and Manufacturing Process
00:31:55 - Sales Channels: Direct and Retail
00:33:08 - Approaching Distributors
00:35:31 - Brand and Market Maturity
00:37:25 - Health Benefits of Seaweed
00:39:56 - Promising Areas of Research
00:40:56 - Focus on Specific Seaweed Species
00:41:28 - Lessons Learned and Future Focus
00:43:27 - Saying No to Opportunities
00:44:05 - Regulatory Requirements for Health Claims
00:45:17 - Testing for Contaminants
00:46:34 - Importance of Trust and Credibility
00:47:10 - Final Thoughts and Industry Growth
00:48:08 - Where to Find Dr. Seaweed Products
00:48:36 - Recommended Resources and Events

Useful Links:
Dr Craig Rose on LinkedIn.
Doctor Seaweed: Website, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Sponsors and Partners:
Alvan Blanch:  Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn
Seagriculture Conference: Website and LinkedIn

Get in touch Inside Seaweed's host Fed DeGobbi on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, Instagram or by emailing him directly at [email protected] - Please send in your feedback: what do you want to hear more or less of? Any suggestio