Kelp Innovation Grows at Naas Foods

Where Innovation Meets Tradition

Off the coast of Ahousaht Territory, Naas Foods is doing more than growing kelp. They are cultivating food security, opportunity, and ocean-based innovation rooted in Indigenous knowledge. With support from the Indigenous Food Security and Sovereignty Fund, they’ve made major progress installing their kelp farm in Clayoquot Sound, opening the door to long-term sustainable impact.

Planting Seeds in the Sea

Naas Foods set an ambitious goal to install 25 percent of what will become the largest single-tenure kelp farm in British Columbia. This milestone has now been achieved. It wasn’t easy. Marine farming on this scale is new territory, especially when paired with small-batch, community-led processing. But with dedication, strategy, and grant funding, they brought the vision to life.

More Than Food

Kelp is incredibly versatile. Naas Foods currently produces premium kelp flakes and seasoning blends using traditional and sustainable harvesting methods. But the team is also exploring other high-impact uses: kelp as biofuel, plant food, biodegradable plastic alternatives, and ecosystem restoration. This kind of innovation isn’t just about revenue streams, it’s about growing a circular, regenerative economy guided by Indigenous values.

Empowering Indigenous Industry

Led by Stevie Dennis of Ahousaht, Naas Foods is building pathways for Indigenous people to enter the ocean farming sector in a meaningful way. From youth engagement to harvesting and processing, the operation is rooted in local knowledge and built for future generations.

As kelp gains recognition for its role in climate resilience and sustainable food systems, Naas Foods is leading by example. They are showing what’s possible when Indigenous communities have the resources to grow on their own terms.

To learn more about Naas Foods, visit: https://naasfoods.com