What is the name of your organization?
Ocean Purpose Project
What is the name of your solution?
Project Tanah Air
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Project Tanah Air explores seaweed-based biostimulants for regenerative agriculture, carbon sequestration, and marine conservation.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Singapore
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
SGP
What type of organization is your solution team?
Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
Southeast Asia faces a severe ocean pollution crisis, with marine ecosystems threatened by harmful algal blooms (HABs), nutrient runoff, and plastic pollution. Singapore's coastal waters suffer from eutrophication—an excess of nutrients that fuels HABs, leading to mass fish die-offs and ecosystem degradation. Unsustainable aquaculture practices further worsen water quality, while chemical-based solutions harm marine life. Globally, 80% of wastewater enters the ocean untreated, contributing to biodiversity loss and economic damage, with HABs alone causing $82 million in annual losses to global fisheries. This crisis directly impacts coastal communities and fish farmers, leading to livelihood losses, food insecurity, and environmental health risks, with over 200 million people worldwide relying on small-scale fisheries and aquaculture. Ocean Purpose Project’s Project Tanah Air addresses these challenges through bioremediation using seaweed and mussels, biostimulants for regenerative agriculture, and blue carbon research. By tackling ocean pollution and promoting circular economy solutions, we aim to improve water quality, support sustainable aquaculture, and create long-term environmental and economic resilience.
What is your solution?
Project Tanah Air transforms seaweed and mussels from polluted waters into natural biostimulants that enhance soil health and promote sustainable agriculture. By using bioremediation, these marine species filter excess nutrients and toxins from coastal waters, preventing harmful algal blooms. After harvesting, we process them through methods like fermentation, cold pressing, and enzymatic extraction to create nutrient-rich plant fertilizers. These biostimulants reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers, improve crop resilience, and support carbon sequestration in soil. Additionally, our research quantifies the blue carbon potential of seaweed-based solutions, positioning them as viable climate mitigation strategies. By integrating marine restoration, regenerative agriculture, and climate action, Project Tanah Air offers a scalable, nature-based solution for healthier oceans and sustainable food systems.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Project Tanah Air serves coastal communities, smallholder farmers, and environmental stakeholders who are directly affected by water pollution, soil degradation, and climate change. Coastal fishers and seaweed farmers struggle with declining marine health due to pollution and harmful algal blooms, reducing their livelihoods. Smallholder farmers, especially those in Southeast Asia, face soil depletion and rising costs of synthetic fertilizers, making sustainable farming increasingly difficult. Our solution provides an alternative: natural biostimulants derived from seaweed and mussels, improving soil fertility, increasing crop resilience, and reducing reliance on chemical inputs. By restoring polluted waters and creating a market for sustainable biostimulants, we empower coastal communities with economic opportunities and equip farmers with affordable, eco-friendly soil solutions. Additionally, our research on blue carbon sequestration supports global climate action, benefiting society by promoting healthier ecosystems and sustainable food production.