When Nicholas Kee was a child in Kingston, Jamaica, the idea of becoming a seaweed farmer would have seemed laughable—after all, he didn’t know how to swim and green foods weren’t exactly his favorite. However, growing up amidst significant wealth inequalities and the slow degradation of Jamaica’s natural environment and their people’s health planted the seeds for a passion Kee couldn’t ignore. “I felt frustrated by the lack of opportunities and grew passionate around the idea of being able to create better and more accessible opportunities for everyone,” Kee said.
He spent his early career navigating the world of tech startups and research labs. By 2020, his focus had shifted to Jamaica’s coastal communities, which were grappling with the dual crises of declining marine ecosystems and limited economic opportunities. “At the time, I was interested in starting a company that drove social impact and was researching potential solutions to problems that I saw on the island,” Kee recalled. “Seaweed kept surfacing again and again as a way to supply a nutritionally dense food source, create jobs for local folks, and improve the local environment.”
For Kee, the spark that launched his business came not from a corporate office or a lab, but instead through chance. After posting his thoughts about seaweed on social media, an old schoolmate reached out with a shared vision. Together, they navigated the world of entrepreneurship, securing permits, funding, and staff to bring their idea to life.
This was the start of Kee Farms, a venture built around the cultivation of seaweed—a humble yet transformative crop.
“In short, we want to restore the environment and find alternative livelihood for fisherfolk in Jamaica,” Kee said. “This problem isn’t just about money. It affects people’s health and their access to good food. Fish is a major source of protein for many Jamaicans. When there’s less fish, it’s harder to get healthy food. This can lead to more health problems, strain the healthcare system, and make life worse for everyone.”
The stakes in Jamaica couldn’t be higher. Ocean acidification, driven by rising carbon dioxide levels, has decimated coral reefs—a keystone of marine biodiversity. For fisherfolk, this ecological collapse has meant smaller catches of lower-value fish, compounding economic hardships. But the impact of these challenges extends beyond economics. Fish, a dietary staple in Jamaica, is becoming harder to access, exacerbating public health issues and driving up food insecurity.
Through Kee Farms, Kee and his team hope to combat these challenges by cultivating seaweed in a way that regenerates coral reefs and boosts fish population. Kee was able to observe the direct impact of these efforts, not just within environmental restoration, but also in the improved livelihoods of fishermen and their families.
“For Kee Farms, that moment happened for me when I got to learn about a fisherman who came on board with us,” Kee shared. “Prior to working with us, he used to free dive to harvest seaweed that he would sell to provide for his family. It’s not uncommon, but it does carry some significant risk because of the currents and other hazards that have been known to result in folks losing their lives. Now he’s able to provide for his family with consistent revenue by harvesting seaweed in a way that [isn’t] a risk to his life or wellbeing.”
While the work is rewarding, it comes with challenges. He admits that the uncertainty of entrepreneurship, particularly financial instability, can be draining, but he continues to draw strength from his community and his commitment to the mission.“I like fixing things. I’m a naturally curious person and so getting to have a job that lets me learn about systems, question the status quo, and find ways to change it is pretty fun to say the least,” Kee said. “I feel lucky to have such supportive friends and family who remind me that I always have a couch to sleep on if I need it.”
Kee’s resilience and curiosity have been critical in his work to create systemic change. This mindset has been essential as he works to shift deeply entrenched systems and beliefs, whether it’s rethinking how coastal communities manage their resources or helping fisherfolk embrace sustainable practices.
“Things take much longer than anticipated,” Kee admitted. “Within the social impact space, systematic change is the order of magnitude for true transformation. When there are already existing doctrines and principles ingrained in a culture for decades or centuries, it becomes hard to shift perspectives amongst people. This is where patience and compassion will need to be exercised in your journey along disrupting the status quo as a social entrepreneur.”
His work is a testament to the fact that systemic change begins with a single, audacious idea—and the resilience to see it through. For Nicholas Kee, seaweed farming is more than just a business. It’s a way to nurture a fragile ecosystem, uplift communities, and pave the way for a sustainable future.
