Innovative Lincolnshire Climate Business Vying for Top National Award

Up-and-coming climate tech company, Seaweed Culture, is one of the final 100 businesses from across Great Britain aiming to take home a top award at the Santander X UK Awards.

The Lincolnshire-based business seeks to tackle climate change by reducing methane emissions in livestock through the use of seaweed and is one of 60 business vying to win the Launch category at the Santander X UK Awards, where the national winner will take home a top prize of £15,000.

Seaweed Culture’s Founder and CEO, Luke Smith, developed his passion for supporting the environment whilst studying at the University of Lincoln, UK, and identified seaweed as a way to help the livestock industry meet net zero targets and create climate conscious products.

Luke, who received advice and funding from the University’s Student Enterprise Services to support his start-up journey, has developed a novel land-based cultivation system to grow a seaweed species not native to the UK.

When incorporating less than 0.2% into their daily diets, this seaweed species can reduced methane emissions from cows by up to 95% with no effects on the quality of meat or milk while also increasing productivity and reducing cost.

Having been selected from a field of 500 applications, Luke is now taking part in a tailored, intensive business training programme ahead of pitching heats at the Oval in London on 28th November where the Awards finalists will be selected.

Six businesses from the Launch category will be chosen to take part in the final the following day at London’s One Marylebone where the judging panel will be headed up by Santander UK CEO Mike Regnier.

Speaking about his progress in the Awards, Luke said: “Being part of the Santander X Cohort has really helped the business refine its approach moving forward. It has been a great opportunity to learn and strengthen our own understanding alongside supporting the business.”

Should Seaweed Culture bring home the award, it would add to the growing list of accolades which both Luke and the business have already secured. The company won the Environmental/Sustainable Business of the Year at the Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards 2022, whilst Luke has previously been recognised as one of Lincolnshire’s 30 Under 30.

Luke has also delivered recently delivered a TEDx talk with TEDxBrayfordPool on seaweed tackling climate change in the livestock industry.