Innovation Program Has Opened Applications for Ocean Food
Female founders building sustainable ocean food solutions can now apply for a new 12-month support program.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Healthy Food
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Hatch Blue and Conservation International Ventures have opened applications for the 2027 Women in Ocean Food Innovation Studio. This equity-free program provides market intelligence and strategy support for businesses focused on sustainable marine and aquaculture solutions.
Why it matters
The studio aims to accelerate the growth of sustainable seafood and marine technology, building on the success of prior cohorts that collectively secured $11.7 million in funding to advance their impact on food systems.
Alumni of the studio have raised a total of $11.7 million in funding, including success stories like Aqua Viridi securing $1.5 million in combined grants and investment. The efficacy of the program's support model for future cohorts remains under investigation.
The players
Hatch Blue
An aquaculture-focused innovation hub that provides investment and strategic support to early-stage companies.
Conservation International Ventures
An investment arm of a global nonprofit that supports ventures focused on environmental and ocean conservation.
Aqua Viridi
A Brazil-based company that has secured $1.5 million in total funding for its sustainable ocean food initiatives.
MareaRosa
An Ecuador-based aquaculture business that attained a major sustainability certification to export shrimp to the U.S.
The details
Selected founders participate in a nine-day intensive session in La Paz, Mexico, followed by 12 months of tailored support. The curriculum focuses on areas like blue carbon, seafood value chains, and marine biotechnology, helping entrepreneurs scale sustainable production methods. These innovations include efforts like those of MareaRosa, which recently achieved the Aquaculture Stewardship Council Shrimp Standard to facilitate broader access to international markets.
Timeline
Applications for the program close on Nov. 7, 2026.
Selected founders begin a nine-day session in La Paz on Jan. 25, 2027.
Health Landscape
The global aquaculture industry is currently transitioning toward regenerative models to meet growing protein demand without exhausting marine ecosystems. This program supports this shift by providing the business infrastructure needed to align with sustainability benchmarks like the Aquaculture Stewardship Council Shrimp Standard.
Consumers interested in the sustainability of their diet can track the growth of certified products from companies that participate in such innovation pipelines. When shopping for seafood, check for third-party certifications like those recently achieved by program alumni to identify environmentally responsible options.
The takeaway
Innovation programs like the Women in Ocean Food Innovation Studio help bridge the gap between scientific aquaculture research and consumer-ready sustainable food. Readers looking to support marine health can prioritize purchasing seafood that carries verified sustainability certifications at the market.
What happens next
Selected applicants will participate in the nine-day program session beginning Jan. 25, 2027, in La Paz, Mexico.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in sustainable nutrition in our Healthy Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Undercurrent News.
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