Innovation to Repurpose Sargassum For Beneficial Use
Public Innovation Challenge No. 1
Public Innovation Challenge No. 1
The Miami-Dade Innovation Authority (“MDIA”) seeks early-to-growth stage startup companies with novel and sustainable solutions for repurposing Sargassum seaweed for beneficial use. Sargassum public innovation challenge partners include Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, The Nature Conservancy and Miami-Dade County.
Challenge Winners
Challenge Finalists
What Is Sargassum and Why Does It Matter?
Sargassum is a brown macroalgae (also known as seaweed) that inundates the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Florida coastlines in warm months, peaking in volume during June and July. Miami-Dade County and other regions of Southeastern Florida continue to experience excessive amounts of Sargassum seaweed, which pose both economic and ecological concerns as well as adversely impact quality of life for residents and visitors who frequent our beautiful beaches.
Notably, decomposing Sargassum not only produces hydrogen sulfide gas which can cause breathing difficulties in humans, but also deters tourists, impacts local fishing industries and necessitates expensive collection, removal and clean up.
Why Process Sargassum For Beneficial Use?
As part of a zero-waste strategic objective, Miami-Dade County seeks to beneficially repurpose sargassum seaweed collected from its shorelines to avoid disposal in landfills and incinerators. Consistent with MDIA’s model of fast tracking innovative solutions to local issues, Sargassum seaweed presents an unique opportunity to align private market solutions that repurpose the organic material through processing connected to clearly defined uses and benefits for the environment, community, and economy.
Ideal solutions that process Sargassum seaweed must be sustainable, conducted in an environmentally responsible manner and prioritize the health and safety of end users. Companies must ensure compliance with all applicable health, safety, and environmental regulations during any processing activities as well as obtain any necessary permits, licenses, or certifications.
Specifically, solutions may:
Reduce disposal costs to relevant institutions, including local government
Develop and implement a processing method(s) that optimizes the extraction of beneficial compounds and minimizes waste;
Iterate processing methods that provide new benefits to multiple stakeholders, including the community and environment.
Sargassum Challenge Timeline
Final Application Deadline: Friday, September 29, 2023
Selected Companies Notified: December 4, 2023
Product Testing Program: 3 - 4 month period during the 2024 Sargassum seaweed season (anticipated start date of April 2024)
About MDIA
Miami-Dade Innovation Authority bridges the gap between private innovators and the public sector to fast track innovation that improves quality of life for residents.Through our signature Public Innovation Challenge, we identify, invest in and support early-to-growth stage companies from across the globe to pilot, test and validate their technology and solutions to pressing public challenges in collaboration with the economic engines within Miami-Dade County.