Welcome to Carbon13’s podcast “Climate Takes” where we ask special guests for their “takes” on their industry and climate challenge, as well as setting a call to action, asking what will it take to solve the climate emergency?
In this episode “Climate Takes Sea Robots” we speak to Joyeeta Das, CEO and Co-Founder of Samudra, the robotics and AI company which is mega-scaling ocean carbon capture. Samudra is backed by the European Space Agency and the British Design Fund, as well as winner of the 2024 COP29 Global Green Innovation Challenge People’s Choice Award, and nominee for the Earthshot Prize.
About the episode
This episode is all about the ocean and the technology revolution taking place far beyond the landlubber’s horizon. The fact that our guest’s venture is backed by the European Space Agency tells you how we should be thinking of mankind’s next frontiers.
Joyeeta herself has founded three successful startups and serves on the boards of global companies, passionately advocating for the use of technology to drive social good. She has been recognized as an Innovate UK Women in Tech Ambassador, featured in the Financial Times BAME 100 list, and honored with the UK Pioneering Woman in Tech award from Diversity UK. Joyeeta’s influence as a speaker extends to prestigious platforms like the UN, the World Economic Forum, and the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association
With such experience behind her, we dive into topics such as:
- The growing importance of the seaweed industry and its evolution in the last two years
- The need for a radical approach to ocean carbon capture
- Joyeeta’s mindset as an investor, looking at not just capturing a global market, but creating one.
- The biggest learning from her first pilot: defining success
This episode is hosted by Sara Jones, Head of Marketing at Carbon13.
We're no longer just thinking of land, which is less than 30% of the planet. We're thinking of the biggest resource on the planet, 70%, which is the oceans.
Joyeeta Das, CEO of Samudra
Why do sea robots matter?
The ocean is the primary source of protein for 3 billion people, its economy is estimated at over $2 trillion, and it absorbs 25% of carbon emissions – making it one of the greatest weapons in the fight against global warming.
The ocean economy includes shipping, oil and gas, defence etc, and all those sectors will be disrupted by robotics and decarbonisation technology such as green fuel or carbon sequestration.
But it’s the seaweed industry that Samudra’s sea robots will focus on mega-scaling first.
Seaweed may seem unimportant to the average consumer, but the demand is rising fast: it’s predicted to reach $5 billion by 2030 in Europe alone. This is driven by its uses in food, plastic alternatives, biostimulants and fertilisers, even industrial applications and cosmetics.
It’s fast growing, doesn’t require land use, and can capture up to 20 times more carbon than trees.
Yet the current farming techniques are antiquated and difficult to scale, in fact in Europe 99% of harvested kelp was grown wild.
Sea robots can scale the farming of seaweed to meet demand, while also benefitting biodiversity and ocean health.
Who’s this episode for?
Whether you’re completely new to “climatetech” or a seasoned founder/investor/innovator, this podcast’s for you.
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Climate Takes Concrete looks at the challenges of scaling green hardware without the green premium in the competitive but gigantic industry of steel and concrete.
