GreenWave Value Chain Development Grant (up to $100K)

Enriched accelerator · Found: 2026-03-11 08:25

For Communities / Cooperatives For NGOs Foundation Grant Technical Assistance Aquaculture Blue Economy Capacity Building Climate Marine Conservation Seaweed & Algae
GreenWave grants up to $100,000 per project for regional kelp value chain collaboration, infrastructure, and efficiency. Rolling applications.

Source: https://www.greenwave.org/impact

Funding Details

Funder
GreenWave
Funding Goal
Support regenerative ocean farming through training, subsidies, and market access for small and medium-scale kelp and shellfish farmers, with a focus on fishermen, Indigenous groups, and climate-vulnerable coastal communities.
Funding Amount
Up to $100,000 per project (Value Chain Development Grant); Kelp Climate Fund paid $75,000+ to 9 farms in 2021–22, growing to $250,000 in 2022–23. (up to 100.000 €)
How to Apply
Rolling applications. Contact via GreenWave website (https://www.greenwave.org/contact). Specific grant application portal not described on the impact page.
Target Region
United States (documented); potentially broader coastal regions
Contact
Contact page: https://www.greenwave.org/contact. Social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn (@greenwaveorg).
Last Checked
2026-03-11 16:37

Application Checklist

Eligibility
Project Scope
Required Documents
Constraints

Summary

GreenWave is a US-based non-profit founded in 2014 to scale regenerative ocean farming — primarily kelp, shellfish, and other ocean crops. Their programs combine direct farmer training (3,500+ farmers and hatchery techs trained since 2017), financial subsidies via the Kelp Climate Fund, and market access through the Seaweed Source buyer network. The organization targets small and medium-scale ocean farmers as its primary beneficiary population. The Kelp Climate Fund (KCF) is GreenWave's core funding mechanism on the impact side: it pays farmers a subsidy bundle covering carbon sequestration, nitrogen removal, and reef restoration contributions. In the 2021–22 season, nine farms received over $75,000 in total payments; the fund grew to $250,000 for 2022–23. The Value Chain Development Grant (up to $100,000 per project) supports regional collaboration, infrastructure, and operational efficiency improvements in kelp value chains, with rolling applications. GreenWave places explicit emphasis on equity: programming prioritizes fishermen transitioning from declining fisheries, Indigenous communities (including the first two Indigenous-owned seaweed hatcheries in the US), and other under-resourced coastal groups directly affected by climate change. Their Ocean Farming Hub and Seaweed Source platform provide complementary technical resources and sales-channel access. The program is primarily US-focused, with documented activities in Long Island Sound, Southern New England, and national farm networks. International applicability is not described on the page. The funding is most relevant for organizations or individuals active in seaweed/kelp aquaculture who seek operational subsidies or value chain infrastructure support.

Historical Context

GreenWave was established in 2014. The Kelp Climate Fund launched as a pilot in 2021–22 with 9 farms and $75,000 in payments, scaling to $250,000 in 2022–23. The Farmer-in-Training Program launched in 2017 in Southern New England. The Ocean Farming Hub launched in 2022.

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