Integrating automation and advanced breeding; bridging the gap between modern kelp aquaculture and agriculture

In order for modern aquaculture to increase scale and productivity lessons from the Green Revolution including the standardization of new farming equipment and widespread use of improved cultivars should be applied to the aquaculture space. In this proposal kelp farming results using an underwater automated line seeder a recent breakthrough in autonomous kelp farm technology developed by WHOI will be compared with farm yields using traditional overwater kelp farming techniques . The automated line seeder decreases the time needed to outplant kelp increases retention of individual kelp blades on a kelp farm and maximizes the outplanting window for a kelp farm. The automated line seeder should therefore help increase kelp farm yield and decrease kelp production costs. The automated line seeder will also help standardize kelp farming practices in the United States an understated benefit that was essential in agriculture success. Metrics such as cost time yield carbon/nitrogen content will be collected and compare and assess the automated line seeding vs. traditional methods. Additionally different sources of seed currently used in kelp farming (gametophyte and meiospores) will serve as the source for underwater and overwater outplanting comparisons. This comparison of seed source is important in order to verify MacroBreed's supposition that shifting US kelp farming towards the more reliable and productive seed from year-round gametophyte cultures is best for the industry . The automated line seeder has the potential to decrease costs and increase yields for kelp farmers while also generating a new standard for automated kelp farming.