From sea to soil: Our journey of growth

For over 25 years, Afrikelp has offered farmers a reliable way to enhance their yield in an ever increasingly unpredictable agricultural landscape.

OUR PURPOSE

We Nurture Growth

At Afrikelp, our purpose to nurture growth guides everything we do. We nurture growth that enables the sustainability of our people, partners, products, performance, and planet. Our commitment to nurturing growth underpins our core values of care, passion, science, quality, and sustainability.

Purpose is worthless without action

That’s why we live and breathe it through the growth and ESG initiatives we drive.

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OUR PROMISE TO FARMERS

A dependable partner in an unpredictable world

In the unpredictable world of farming, Afrikelp promises the experience, care, and certainty farmers can rely on. We combine science-backed excellence, sustainable practices, and global agricultural leadership to nurture growth, strengthen resilience, and deliver meaningful value for farmers.

OUR ORIGINS

Where nature and science meet

Our journey started on the rugged southwest coast of South Africa, where Ecklonia maxima kelp thrives. Through decades of rigorous research and development, we have established proprietary extraction processes, quality control measures, standardization protocols, and sustainable technologies that are key to unlocking – and future-proofing – Ecklonia maxima’s full potential. Today, through key strategic partnerships with global agricultural players, we serve farmers in over 55 countries.

FIVE DECADES IN THE MAKING

Our journey so far...

1971

Company founded

Founded by Klaus Rotmann, securing South Africa’s first seaweed rights and establishing the country’s inaugural agar factory.

1980s

Ecklonia maxima innovation

Expanded into aquaculture, supplying Ecklonia maxima as feed for abalone, oyster, and mussel farms.

2000s

Became a key agriculture input player

Entered the agricultural market, developing liquid seaweed extracts aligned with the global shift toward sustainable and organic farming practices.

2010s

Entered the global arena

Grew into a global player, distributing to multiple countries through strategic partnerships with international formulators.

2021

A new leader

Under CEO Nicole Hart’s leadership, Afrikelp strengthened its impact by investing in people, innovation, sustainability, and science-led growth.

2024

Defining the Future of Farming

Achieved significant milestones, including conducting over 160 statistical and commercial trials on all crop groups, moving to world-class facilities and laboratories, and attaining ISO9001:2015, Ecocert, and OMRI compliance.