VentureWell is supporting us with a non-dilutive grant that will fund a critical part of our solution and allow us to bring on additional expertise to better guide our work. For a small but determined team like ours, this support means we can move faster and focus on building the systems needed to make a real impact.

At Fiora Mara, our mission is to use seaweed to capture and sink carbon in the open ocean – creating a natural, scalable way to sequester massive amounts of carbon while protecting our environment. This investment will help us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in ocean-based carbon removal and the next step toward turning this vision into reality.

This is a proud moment for our team, and we’re grateful to VentureWell for believing in our mission. We’re excited for the months ahead and look forward to building an optimal solution with this investment.

(This article originally published here – https://www.1000gretas.org/post/1000-gretas-welcomes-fiora-mara-pioneering-ocean-based-climate-solutions)

“I remembered learning about climate change in grammar school,” Adam recalls. “And now, as a full-fledged adult, I was hearing the same warnings all over again—with little meaningful progress to show for it.”

The frustration wasn’t just about the slow pace of change. It was about the lack of bold action—the kind of industry-scale solutions that could not just slow climate damage, but reverse it. That question kept ringing in Adam’s mind:

If I had infinite resources, what would I build to solve climate change?

From Forests to the Ocean

At first, Adam’s mind went to land-based solutions. He began researching optimal reforestation strategies—what combinations of trees, shrubs, and plants would be most effective. He spoke with botanists, landscape architects, and forestry experts.

Then, on a call with a colleague, someone posed a game-changing question:“If your goal is carbon removal, maybe you should be looking into seaweed.”

That simple suggestion flipped the script.

Why Seaweed?

Seaweed, Adam discovered, absorbs carbon up to 20 times faster than terrestrial forests of the same size. It grows in the ocean, making it less vulnerable to deforestation. And because the ocean covers 71% of our planet, seaweed farming offers a scalable, long-term climate solution that doesn’t require competing for land, water, or food resources.

Adam joined a climate fellowship and led a 14-person capstone team to explore the feasibility of large-scale seaweed infrastructure. The team consulted oceanic lawyers, bamboo engineers, seaweed farmers, financial strategists, and climate scientists—designing a business model to make seaweed farming both practical and impactful.

The Birth of Fiora Mara

From this research, Fiora Mara was born—a venture dedicated to ocean-based carbon removal through innovative seaweed farming. Adam and his collaborators are designing solutions that not only sequester carbon but also strengthen marine ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and create new economic opportunities for coastal communities.

“If Fiora Mara succeeds,” Adam says, “we’ll live in a world where carbon removal is no longer a desperate scramble—it’s a quiet, reliable part of a broader climate strategy.”

In Adam’s vision, climate action will no longer be seen as heroic, but habitual. And in that world, every species—not just ours—will get a fair shot at survival.

Learn More & Get Inspired

If you want to explore the science and strategy behind seaweed farming and other climate solutions, Adam recommends these resources:

• Project Drawdown – A comprehensive overview of strategies being used to fight climate change.
• Climate TRACE – Data-driven climate insights without the spin.
• Climate Solutions News – Positive reporting on climate progress and innovation.
• Greenwave – A leader in supporting seaweed farming and coastal restoration.
• Global Seaweed Coalition – Advocating for a sustainable global seaweed industry.
• How to Save a Planet – A podcast with two excellent episodes on kelp farming.
• A Matter of Degrees – Hosted by climate experts, including one with deep experience in ocean-based solutions.