This Week in Startups How ocean farming can solve world hunger with Alora CEO Luke Young | E1698
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Mar 14, 2023 Luke Young, CEO of Alora, joins the discussion to explore the cutting-edge world of ocean farming. He shares how his startup is engineering salt-tolerant crops and overcoming the challenges of growing food in salty seas. The conversation covers breakthroughs in crop resilience and the exciting first taste of innovative salt-resistant rice. Luke emphasizes the need for sustainable agricultural practices to combat global hunger, highlighting the transformative potential of ocean farming and the promise it holds for future food security.
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Ocean-Friendly Crops
- Alora created salt-tolerant crops by activating dormant genes found in plants like seagrasses and mangroves.
- These genes, found in common crops like rice and corn, enable growth in salty environments, including oceans.
Biotech Advancements
- Recent biotech advancements in genome mapping and gene editing, particularly CRISPR, enable precise gene activation.
- This precision allows for targeted modifications, mimicking natural evolution over shorter periods.
Crop Origins
- All crops originated in the ocean but evolved to grow on land, leaving salt-tolerance genes dormant.
- Alora's challenge is reactivating these genes without excessive salt accumulation, unlike plants like samphire.