The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) announced a solution proposed to produce sustainable seafood and algae in a desert environment.
TRSDC strives to explore innovative technology solutions in response to growing consumer demand for sustainable protein during their travel experiences and support regenerative ambitions.
CEO Joe Pagano indicated that this project would set a new global standard in sustainable, multitrophic desert aquaculture where the company can turn sunlight into seafood.
“The [LARA] system has a minimal environmental footprint and will aid in carbon sequestration for our flagship destination as well as future projects on the Red Sea coast in alignment with the company’s aspiration to achieve 100 percent carbon neutrality,” added Pagano.
The project is done in collaboration with Blue Planet Ecosystems (BPE).
The Land-based Automated Recirculating Aquaculture (LARA) system works by replicating natural aquatic ecosystems in a modular and automated system.
LARA converts CO2 directly into chemical-free seafood using phyto and zooplankton as transitional stages. It is constructed of a tower of three horizontal units.
Pagano explained that the top unit uses the sun’s energy to grow microalgae which powers the entire system. The microalgae are then moved to the subsequent division down, where it nourishes zooplankton. The zooplankton is then transported to the bottom unit, where fish eat it.
