At this year’s Evoke Ag event in Australia, thought leaders Clare Bradley and Bren Smith went to Australia to explore the future of food and farming. Among the standout conversations was Bren’s bold vision for how the ocean could become our next great agricultural frontier.
Imagine a world where food grows silently beneath the waves—no fields to till, no fertilisers, no freshwater, just the ocean’s vast, natural bounty. In Open-source 3D Ocean Farming: A Blueprint to Feed the World, Bren introduces a pioneering idea: underwater vertical farms that need none of the traditional inputs of land agriculture.
Picture a simple scaffolding: ropes anchored below, supporting seaweeds, mussels, and clams in a delicate dance with the sea. This 3D ocean farming method requires no feed, no fertilizers, no fresh water, and no land—only sunlight and the ocean itself. It’s farming that “disappears” into the water, invisible from the surface, yet abundant in its yield.
Why does it matter? Because this isn’t a niche project—it’s a scalable solution. Farms like these could stretch across coastlines, restoring marine ecosystems while feeding communities globally. This is nature’s design: restorative, regenerative, and refreshingly simple. As water scarcity and climate pressures mount, the sea might just hold the answers to our food future.
