Canadian Cascadia Seaweed Announces the Official Opening of an Advanced Seaweed Processing Facility in Port Edward

The Canadian company Cascadia Seaweed announced a few days ago the official opening of an advanced seaweed processing facility in Port Edward, British Columbia, marking a major milestone in the Company’s development as a vertically integrated seaweed production and biomanufacturing business.

“This facility represents a significant milestone in building a fully integrated seaweed-based agricultural inputs company in Canada,” says Michael Williamson, CEO and Co-founder of Cascadia Seaweed. “We’ve built this business step by step from cultivation through to advanced processing, overcoming the challenges of scaling within this sector. With the facility now operational, our focus shifts toward expanding market adoption and growing our presence in agriculture markets, starting with North America.”

The Port Edward processing facility emerged within a broader context as a strategic opportunity to establish northern processing capacity. The facility had completed its final stages of commissioning, with secondary processing equipment installed. The grand opening celebration took place on May 14, marking an important milestone in the development of Cascadia‘s northern processing capability. Full operational capacity is expected by summer 2026.

Long Story

The relationship between Cascadia Seaweed and the Metlakatla First Nation and the Metlakatla Development Corporation (MDC) began in 2021, as early discussions emerged around the potential for a northern hub of aquaculture and processing operations. What started as exploratory conversations has evolved over several years of sustained engagement, site visits, technical collaboration, and joint evaluation of infrastructure opportunities in the Prince Rupert region.

They explain that, from the outset, discussions with MDC have focused on exploring how existing marine infrastructure and licensed tenures could be repurposed to support a more diversified and resilient coastal economy. Over time, this dialogue has included trials, funding collaborations, environmental baseline work, and ongoing evaluation of integrated aquaculture systems, including kelp cultivation and a processing capacity.

A consistent theme throughout this period has been the shared focus on long-term opportunity rather than short-term transactions. This has included parallel progress on permitting, early-stage site trials, and technical planning for processing infrastructure capable of handling rapidly perishable seaweed biomass at scale.

Strengthened Presence

The Port Edward processing facility emerged within this broader context as a strategic opportunity to establish northern processing capacity. In 2024, Cascadia strengthened its regional presence with the appointment of Dan Pedde as Project Manager, Northern Developments.

In March 2025, Cascadia signed the lease for the Port Edward facility, formally advancing the project from planning into construction and commissioning. Since then, the facility has progressed through installation, commissioning, and early system validation, including turning on the power in January 2026 and first “practice runs” of seaweed processing in March 2026.

They explain that, as with many first-of-kind infrastructure projects, the build phase has included execution challenges with contractors, including equipment delays and resulting scope adjustments. These changes led to a revised project plan and modest budget escalation, while ultimately increasing direct control over installation and commissioning activities.

By spring 2026, the facility had completed its final stages of commissioning, with secondary processing equipment installed. The grand opening celebration took place on May 14, 2026, marking an important milestone in the development of Cascadia‘s northern processing capability. Full operational capacity is expected by summer 2026.

Importantly, Cascadia and MDC continue to explore potential joint venture structures for both farming and processing operations. The relationship continues to evolve, grounded in ongoing collaboration, shared objectives, and a long-term view of regional industry development.

Cascadia Seaweed grow local species of seaweed on marine farms in partnership with coastal First Nations. They then harvest that seaweed and manufacture liquid biostimulants for farmers across North America. “Our products enhance nutrient use efficiency while achieving the same or even better yields, providing a clear return on investment for farmers.