Afrikelp

What Afrikelp does

Afrikelp (Pty) Ltd, founded in 1971 in Cape Town, South Africa, manufactures liquid seaweed biostimulants derived from fresh Ecklonia maxima kelp harvested on the country's southwest coast. The company's core technology is its proprietary Cold Micronisation Process (CMP), a mechanical extraction method that avoids heat, pressure, enzymes, and chemicals to preserve sensitive bioactive compounds. Its product portfolio comprises three SKUs — Afrikelp LG-1, Afrikelp Double Strength, and Afrikelp Concentrate — applied via foliar spray, drench, dip, or irrigation across more than 47 crop types. Quality control is enforced through a triple-layer protocol involving bacterial/fungal testing, LC-MS chemical analysis, and an in-house Mung Bean Bioassay that benchmarks biological activity against an IBA standard, with efficacy validated across 170+ field trials in 55+ countries. Afrikelp holds ISO9001:2015, Ecocert, and OMRI certifications, has a wholly-owned US subsidiary (Afrikelp USA, Fresno, California), and is backed by RMB Ventures, Nedbank, and Bachique.

The company operates a channel-partner go-to-market model: COMPO-EXPERT serves as exclusive global distributor in key markets, supplemented by regional exclusive partners — ED&F Man (Italy), FarmaChem (Greece), and Elim Fertiliser (South Africa/Namibia) — and a network of state-level US distributors. Afrikelp USA provides direct North American coverage. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; customers are routed through a find-a-distributor portal to local partners for quote-based pricing, making revenue mechanics distribution-margin dependent rather than direct-sale driven. The company serves two horizontal segments: commercial farmers seeking yield, quality, and abiotic stress resilience, and sustainable/organic growers requiring natural-input compliant solutions. Afrikelp generates revenue from one-time product sales of its seaweed biostimulant range, with a global employee base of 11-50 and operational leadership under CEO Dr. Nicole Hart (appointed 2021).

Name

Afrikelp

Legal name

Afrikelp (Pty) Ltd

Website

https://afrikelp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Afrikelp manufactures liquid seaweed biostimulants from South African Ecklonia maxima kelp using its proprietary Cold Micronisation Process, serving commercial and organic farmers across 55+ countries via a global distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Biostimulants

NAICS

Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (32532), Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)

SIC

Agricultural Chemicals (2870)

akta.pro primary industry

Biological Formulation, Fermentation & Scale-Up Manufacturing (AFABAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Seaweed Hydrocolloids (Agar, Carrageenan, Alginates) (AFAJAMAD)

Keywords

• Seaweed biostimulants
• Agricultural inputs
• Crop yield enhancement
• Ecklonia maxima extracts
• Plant biostimulant manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Seaweed Biostimulant Products: Afrikelp generates revenue through the sale of its seaweed biostimulant products derived from Ecklonia maxima kelp. Products include LG-1, Double Strength, and Concentrate formulations that are sold through a global distributor network to farmers across 55+ countries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Afrikelp manufactures and globally distributes liquid seaweed biostimulant products derived from fresh Ecklonia maxima kelp harvested off the southwest coast of South Africa, processed through its proprietary Cold Micronisation Process (CMP). The portfolio comprises Afrikelp LG-1, Afrikelp Double Strength, and Afrikelp Concentrate, which are sold to commercial farmers through a worldwide distributor network covering 55+ countries to improve crop yield, root development, and resilience against abiotic stress.

Product overview

Afrikelp is a seaweed biostimulant company offering a portfolio of three liquid products — Afrikelp LG-1, Afrikelp Double Strength, and Afrikelp Concentrate — all derived from fresh Ecklonia maxima kelp harvested on the southwest coast of South Africa and processed using the proprietary Cold Micronisation Process (CMP). The products are applied via foliar spray, drench, dip, or irrigation and are validated across 170+ field trials on 47+ crops in 55+ countries. The portfolio is distributed globally through a network of regional distributors and the exclusive distributor COMPO-EXPERT, and holds ISO9001:2015, Ecocert, and OMRI certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LG-1: Seaweed biostimulant product line offering
• Double Strength
• Cold Micronisation Process (CMP)

Products and services

• Afrikelp LG-1 Liquid seaweed biostimulant derived from fresh Ecklonia maxima kelp using the proprietary Cold Micronisation Process (CMP), designed for use across all crop groups via foliar spray, drench, dip, or irrigation. Improves root structure, alleviates abiotic stress, and enhances yield.
• Afrikelp Double Strength Higher-concentration variant of the Afrikelp seaweed extract, offering the same bioactive benefits of Ecklonia maxima with greater dosage efficiency per hectare.
• Afrikelp Concentrate Highly concentrated intermediate kelp extract produced during the Cold Micronisation Process, allowing for in-depth analysis, quality control, and custom blending before field-ready standardisation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Yield increase of 9% in wheat (Western Cape, South Africa)
• +29 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• COMPO-EXPERTcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCOMPO-EXPERT serves as Afrikelp's exclusive distributor in key markets globally, leveraging their established agricultural distribution network to reach farmers across multiple countries.
• ED&F MancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorED&F Man is Afrikelp's exclusive distributor for Italy, managed by Marco Raffanini. They provide fertilizzanti products and serve the Italian agricultural market with Afrikelp seaweed biostimulants.
• FarmaChemcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFarmaChem is Afrikelp's exclusive distributor for Greece, operating from Thessaloniki under the management of Tasos Michailidis, serving Greek farmers with seaweed biostimulant products.
• Elim FertilisercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElim Fertiliser, led by CEO Izak Le Roux, serves as Afrikelp's exclusive distributor in South Africa and Namibia, distributing seaweed products to farmers since the partnership began.
• Core Bio AgcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCore Bio Ag operates as Afrikelp's distributor in the United States with locations in Yankton, South Dakota and Carroll, Nebraska, serving agricultural customers across the Midwest.
• Sterling Valley AgronomysecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSterling Valley Agronomy distributes Afrikelp products in Washington state, providing local agricultural support and product availability to Pacific Northwest farmers.
• Marion Ag ServicesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarion Ag Service distributes Afrikelp products from St. Paul, Oregon, serving agricultural customers in the Pacific Northwest region.
• Eco Pro AgriculturesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEco Pro Agriculture is a distributor based in Thomasville, Georgia, serving the southeastern United States agricultural market with Afrikelp biostimulant products.
• Big Valley Ag ServicessecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBig Valley Ag Services distributes Afrikelp products in Northern California from Gridley, providing local agricultural support to farmers in the region.
• Bear River Supply Inc.secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBear River Supply Inc. operates from Rio Oso, California, serving Northern California farmers with Afrikelp seaweed biostimulant products.
• Advanced FoliarsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdvanced Foliar, based in Bakersfield, California, specializes in foliar application products and distributes Afrikelp for spray applications to Central Valley farmers.
• AJ SalessecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAJ Sales operates from Oxnard, California, distributing Afrikelp products to farmers in the Ventura County agricultural region.
• Mid Valley AgsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMid Valley Ag distributes Afrikelp products across California, serving farmers with irrigation and agricultural input products.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Valagro (Syngenta Biologicals): Italy-based biostimulant specialist acquired by Syngenta, now part of Syngenta Biologicals. A much larger incumbent operating broadly across biostimulants, biopesticides, and micronutrients, competing with Afrikelp for retailer and distributor shelf space globally.
• UPL Limited: Indian-headquartered global crop protection and seed company with an expanding biologicals and biostimulant portfolio (via subsidiaries and partnerships). Competes broadly with Afrikelp at the distributor level, particularly in emerging markets.
• Brandt Consolidated: US-based specialty crop input company with a significant seaweed-based biostimulant line (Brandt Organics). Comparable as a competitor in the North American specialty crop biostimulant market, with broader agronomic input coverage.

Direct peers

• BioAtlantis: Ireland-based developer of seaweed-derived biostimulants and crop stress products. Comparable as a science-led, trial-validated seaweed biostimulant specialist selling through international distribution into fruit, vegetable, and broadacre crops.
• Hello Nature (formerly Italpollina): Italy-based producer of organic fertilizers, biostimulants, and biopesticides with global distribution. Comparable as a biostimulant specialist with international distribution and a similar orientation toward organic and sustainable agriculture.
• Acadian Seaplants: Canadian-based global leader in seaweed-based biostimulants (from Ascophyllum nodosum) for agriculture, animal nutrition, and turf. Directly competes with Afrikelp in the seaweed biostimulant category with a comparable crop-trials-led commercial proposition.
• Stoller Enterprises: Global specialty plant health and biostimulant company focused on hormonal balance and stress mitigation in high-value crops. Directly comparable as a science-led biostimulant specialist selling into the same fruit, vegetable, and row crop growers Afrikelp targets.
• Kelpak: South African producer of seaweed extract biostimulants also derived from Ecklonia maxima. Closest direct competitor in the same geography and raw material base, targeting global horticulture and broadacre markets via a similar distributor-led model.
• Seasol International: Australian manufacturer of seaweed-based biostimulant products for horticulture, broadacre, and home garden segments. Comparable seaweed-derived product portfolio and crop-trial-driven marketing approach to Afrikelp.
• Tradecorp International: Spain-based specialty crop nutrition and biostimulant company (part of Rovensa). Directly comparable as a biostimulant specialist with a portfolio including seaweed-derived products and a similar crop-trials-based GTM into horticulture and broadacre.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCe4xLaWITJWy5u6Jlj4LolQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Afrikelp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-afrikelp-group

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Afrikelp