Yucatán Plant Transforms Sargassum Into Profitable Biofertilizers

New facility can produce 50 million liters of fertilizer monthly while creating specialized jobs

A new plant in Yucatán is turning the Caribbean’s biggest environmental headache into agricultural gold. The Implementaciones Estratégicas Marinas (IEM) facility opened this week at the Scientific and Technological Park of Yucatán, converting massive amounts of sargassum seaweed into biofertilizers and animal feed.

The 600-square-meter (6,460-square-foot) facility can produce up to 50 million liters (13.2 million gallons) of fertilizer each month. It also churns out 3 metric tons of animal feed monthly. Plans call for expanding to 850 square meters (9,150 square feet) as demand grows.

“We convert a challenge like sargassum into profitable, necessary and sustainable solutions,” said Jesús Delgado Madrid, IEM’s director general. The company uses automated processes, solar power and efficient water systems to “produce more with less.”

From Beach Nuisance to Farm Booster

Sargassum has plagued Caribbean beaches since 2011, when ocean currents began carrying unprecedented amounts of the brown seaweed from the Atlantic. The floating masses now form a belt stretching 8,000 kilometers (4,970 miles) from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico, weighing over 13 million metric tons.

When seaweed washes ashore, it creates serious problems. As it rots, it releases toxic hydrogen sulfide gas, threatening tourism and marine ecosystems. Hotels spend millions annually removing the smelly brown mats from once-pristine beaches.

However, entrepreneurs across the region are finding new uses for abundant biomass. Companies in the United States report that sargassum-based fertilizers save farmers up to 20% on chemical fertilizer costs while increasing yields by an average of $990 per acre.

Testing Shows Promising Results

The IEM plant’s biofertilizers have shown impressive results in trials. Delgado Madrid said crops treated with their products see “up to 27% increase in weight.” The facility includes a 65-square-meter (700-square-foot) research lab for continued testing and development.

Scientific studies from the Bahamas and Portugal show sargassum extracts at 25% concentration effectively boost seed germination, plant development and production in crops like tomatoes, rice and lettuce.

The plant directly creates 13 specialized jobs. It operates within an innovation network that includes the Yucatán Research, Innovation and Technological Development System, the Yucatán Scientific Research Center, and the National Institute of Forest, Agricultural and Livestock Research.

Growing Green Industry

Secretary of Economy and Labor Ermilo Barrera Novelo called IEM “the development model we seek to establish in Yucatán.” He emphasized companies that add value while protecting the environment and investing in applied research.

The facility strengthens key sectors including chemicals, food and plastics. It opens export opportunities in fertilizers, soaps and animal feed markets, positioning Yucatán as “an emerging pole of the national bioindustry.”

Governments across the Caribbean are exploring similar solutions. Grenada pledged to transform 10,000 metric tons of sargassum into useful products by 2026. The European Union has supported Caribbean efforts to build green industries, which were impacted by the seaweed influx.

Innovation Rankings Target

Yucatán currently ranks 22nd nationally in Mexico’s Innovation and Technology sub-index. State officials see projects like IEM as essential for improving that position and building a more competitive, responsible economy.

Mexico has become a regional laboratory for sargassum innovations, with companies producing biogas, biofertilizers, eco-concrete, packaging materials and even vegan leather from the abundant seaweed.

“The opening of IEM shows that Yucatán doesn’t just seek to attract investment, but to promote scalable and sustainable projects that generate economic, social and environmental impact,” Barrera Novelo concluded.

The facility represents a growing trend of turning environmental challenges into business opportunities. As sargassum continues arriving annually in massive quantities, solutions like IEM’s may help coastal communities profit from nature’s unexpected abundance.