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INNOVATIONS | 51

"It takes time to launch a revolu-
tionary new material, there has
to be a push from governments,
innovators and consumers", says
innovator Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez,
co-founder, and co-director of Not-
pla, which is revolutionising the
plastic packaging industry with a ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
membrane made from algae that is IN THE DEEP BLUE OCEAN
biodegradable and edible (recently
awarded the Earth Shot Prize). "80% of the seabed is unmapped. But the seabed
is ecologically and economically valuable because it
sequesters carbon. We need high-quality, clear data
to be able to take advantage of artificial intelligence.
THE CHALLENGES We're at a tipping point," says Joost den Haan,
OF SUSTAINABLE MARITIME head of Plan Blue, a seabed mapping technology
TRANSPORT that could be deployed on the high seas. This view
is shared by George Richards, Director of Commu-
Vital to the global economy, since it carries around nity Jameel, who wants to involve indigenous com-
90% of world trade, maritime transport accounts munities in the global data acquisition process, and
for almost 3% of total global emissions, a rate that Jean-Marc Temmos, Director of Semantic TS, which
could rise by 84% by 2050. Some of the proposals has been using underwater noise to develop artifi-
covered at this panel discussion include develo- cial intelligence (AI) dedicated to the marine environ-
ping algae-based biofuels in South Africa (SEAH4), ment for 30 years, focusing on monitoring Posidonia
launching the first clean container ship in the Baha- meadows, a major carbon sink. It's now possible to
mas (Veer) - which uses wind power and green hy- analyse seabed data from cloud servers. However,
drogen, optimising empty containers that could "AI needs reliable data to train current systems. Once
cut CO emissions by 50% (Navlandis), investing in the network has been trained effectively, AI can create
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breakthrough technologies aimed at decarbonising a virtuous circle capable of detecting errors", explains
the world (Extantia Capital). the expert. Kortney Opshaug, founder of Blue Ocean
Gear, a technology company offering smart buoys
that provide critical data for commercial fisheries, is
THE FUTURE OF COASTAL also calling for a data pool that can be shared with
INFRASTRUCTURE governments to achieve sustainability goals for the
ocean ecosystem.
The experts discussed the latest advances and best
practices in the design and development of sustai-
nable coastal infrastructure, which are essential for “The solutions are there, and so is the
mitigating and adapting to climate risks: From instal- will. But the scale of the work to be done
ling floating photovoltaic farms capable of withstan- means that these solutions and this
ding category 4 typhoons near the coast (Ocean Sun) determination need to be given a new
to transforming wind farms into underwater species perspective. Above all, this means that
conservation parks (ARC Marine), desalinating we need to work in a coordinated way
seawater using solar photons (Desalenator), captu-
ring CO from the seas using electrodialysis techno- with businesses, scientists, financial
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logy (Captura) and, of course, developing a patient experts, and everyone else involved
investment strategy (Future Planet Capital). in making changes. Without this
coordination, we won't be able to give
the various initiatives mentioned here
the scope they deserve”.
“Sustainability can't just be a trend, it has HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco
to be integrated into your business plan. at the closing ceremony of the
th
That's how we can make long-term positive 4 Ocean Innovators Platform
changes”.
Thomas LeQuinquis, Marketing Director
at Lancaster