In Bel-Ombre, Yohan and Luc-André Gallet’s expertise in seaweed composting transforms beach seaweed into green gold, enriching the soil for growing vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Discover this innovative composting initiative by Sealife Organics in this week’s Dimanche/L’Hebdo.
At their composting and organic fertilizer production unit in Bel-Ombre, Sealife Organics converts marine algae into rich compost and slow-release fertilizers. This transformation turns seaweed into a vital resource for sustainable agriculture. On Monday, August 26, Yohan and Luc-André Gallet invited us to explore their facilities. Consequently, we observed firsthand how they convert marine waste into nutrient-rich compost and slow-release fertilizers.
Founded in 2020, Sealife Organics specializes in producing organic compost and fertilizers, including slow-release fertilizers and 100% seaweed-based biostimulants. Yohan Gallet explained that their compost blends organic ingredients such as leaves, wood chips, seaweed, chicken manure, and eggshells. Therefore, they create ideal conditions for plant health. Initially, Sealife Organics produced eight tons of compost monthly. However, they now generate 150 tons each month.
Yohan Gallet described the process of turning seaweed and green waste into valuable compost. His team collects Sargassum seaweed and Syringodium seagrass washed ashore on southern beaches. Specifically, they only collect the brown seaweed from the shore, removing sand by hand before transporting it in bags.
Sealife Organics also receives green waste, including leaves, branches, and coconut shells, from local gardens and hotels. They carefully inspect incoming waste to remove plastics and other prohibited items. If they find any non-compliant waste, they return it to the sender.
They deposit the green waste and seaweed at their site, which they liken to a green “Mare-Chicose.” Afterward, they shred the green waste, sift it, and mix it with seaweed before placing it in composting rows. They then add eggshells, wood chips, and chicken manure to enrich the mixture and accelerate decomposition. Regularly, they turn the compost rows to aerate the mixture, which promotes faster decomposition.
Moreover, they monitor moisture levels to keep the compost moist but not soggy. They cover the rows with old “Flex” from Rent A Sign, which helps protect the compost. This coverage ensures the compost maintains optimal temperature and moisture levels.
Over time, microorganisms and bacteria gradually convert the organic matter into rich compost. Although this process can take several months, their composting technique yields finished compost in 12 weeks. Consequently, they sift the mature compost to remove any large, undecomposed pieces and package it for use in gardens, vegetable plots, and farms.
Sealife Organics has recently upgraded to semi-industrial production with support from investors such as ENL Agri Ltd, Ingenia, Turbine, G.O.A.L.S, Seed Capital, and Jog Investment. Currently, they offer multipurpose peat-free soil and slow-release fertilizers in sizes of 10 kg, 20 kg, 25 liters, and 50 liters. Additionally, in the coming months, they will introduce a 100% seaweed-based liquid biostimulant.
