Seawater Farms Bahia Kino (SFBK) introduces a new technology of integrated aquaculture, agriculture and forestry activity utilizing seawater effluent from existing shrimp farms on the coast of the Gulf of California to irrigate salt-tolerant crops and produce additional products for feeding both people and farm animals.

SFBK is unique in the partnerships that have come together to make its development possible. Participants include the government of Mexico, led by former President Vicente Fox; the State of Sonora, Mexico, led by Governor Eduardo Bours; and the Seawater Foundation. The Seawater Foundation brings to SFBK the resources of 30 years of Seawater technology development and has completed transfer to Global Seawater Inc. which will completely commercialize the business. (See Global Seawater Inc. Video)

SFBK is the first of what will be a number of associated projects initially along the coast of Sonora, then moving south into Sinaloa. These farms will arrest the environmental challenges usually associated with shrimp aquaculture.

SFBK will turn what is now a problem into a major resource by redirecting the flow of the effluent water inland to irrigate new salt-tolerant crops developed by TSF from 30 years of selection and breeding. These new crops produce high quality vegetable oil, protein meal, and animal fodder. The rivers of redirected water will be used for the production of seaweeds, oysters, other bivalves, and finfish.  Under development are additional seawater based crops (halophytes) that will soon complement the world’s production of wheat, rice and alfalfa.

This contribution to the world’s food supply is needed due to problems that have resulted in declining irrigated agriculture per capita since 1978.  Also unique is seawater farming forestry. SFBK will ultimately plant 11,000 hectares of new mangrove forests irrigated with seawater. These forests will produce animal fodder, wood for lumber, pulp production, and honey.  As products from SFBK provide economic resources, the overall farm operation will also lead to the profoundly important regreening of the region.  

 A benefit from the halophytic plants is that they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store carbon in their roots. As such they provide one answer to the increasingly serious problem of global warming.

During our and our children’s lifetime, the world will face the daunting challenge of balancing the food and freshwater requirements of a growing population .We must meet that challenge even as we work to reverse the negative environmental trends currently confronting us. SFBK’s innovative integrated seawater farming technology provides new and effective tools to meet these challenges in profitable and environmentally enhancing ways.