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

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

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

Applicant must be an active ocean farmer or hatchery operator engaged in regenerative kelp or shellfish cultivation
Priority given to fishermen, Indigenous communities, and under-resourced coastal populations affected by climate change

Project Scope

Project must focus on regional kelp value chain collaboration, infrastructure development, or operational efficiency
Grant amount up to $100,000 per project; Kelp Climate Fund payments are separate subsidies tied to specific climate impact metrics (carbon, nitrogen, reef restoration)

Required Documents

Submit application via rolling process — no fixed deadline; contact GreenWave directly through their website
Demonstrate measurable climate impact outputs (carbon sequestration, nitrogen removal, reef restoration) for Kelp Climate Fund eligibility

Constraints

Program appears US-focused — international applicants should confirm eligibility before applying

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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