© Cold Current Kelp
Maine-based aquaculture company Cold Current Kelp has received a significant boost in the form of USDA Rural Development funding, which it plans to use to scale up operations, enhance marketing, and streamline production. The grant reflects growing support for innovative aquaculture ventures that leverage the Gulf of Maine’s resources sustainably.
Cold Current Kelp, founded by Krista Rosen and Inga Potter, transforms farmed kelp into high-end luxury skincare products. The duo currently handles much of the business’s operations but plans to use the funds to bring in local marketing and business professionals to assist with their expansion. As part of this effort, the company will collaborate with the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership to conduct a manufacturing feasibility study.
Rhiannon Hampson, USDA Rural Development Maine State Director, highlighted the broader significance of the project. “Maine’s long history of innovation on the sea is not a thing of the past. Companies like Cold Current Kelp demonstrate the potential for the Gulf of Maine to provide us with new, sustainable economic opportunities,” she said, as reported by Seafood Source.
The grant also aligns with the Maine Aquaculture Association’s vision for the region’s industry. Executive Director Sebastian Belle emphasised that developing value-added products, such as Cold Current Kelp’s skincare line, is essential for the aquaculture sector's growth. “The development of innovative value-added products is critical to the continual growth of the aquaculture sector,” he noted, adding that federal support plays a critical role in advancing such efforts.
