Earth reviving feed supplements for happy, healthy ruminants

The future of climate-conscious agriculture is innovation in action

About Us

Bahari Labs, proud alumni of the OceanHub Africa Accelerator Program, is Africa's first Climate Tech startup that exists to reduce ruminant methane emissions by making livestock more efficient, using seaweed.

Our upcoming methane-blocking feed supplement turns ruminant animals into warriors for climate action, now!

Bahari Labs is a team of pioneers, cultivators, accelerators, creators, and innovators. We’re dedicated to growing seaweed-based supplements for ruminant livestock.
Seaweed is a natural, sustainable, and nutrient-rich supplement that improves the health and well-being of our ruminant friends while significantly reducing methane emissions.

Seaweed has joined the mission to fight GHG emissions!

The tide is turning

The decade between 2020 and 2030 is the "Decade of Ecosystem Restoration" according to the United Nations.

Unleash nature’s methane-blocking powerhouse

In the last decade, researchers have tested a range of seaweeds, discovering the potential to reduce methane emissions when added as a feed supplement for livestock.
Recent studies have proven that methane reduction persists in vivo and that the use of the supplement does not have any negative effects on animal health, milk flavour, or meat quality.

A little goes a long way

Just 0.5% of this supplement in a cow's daily diet leads to a significant reduction in methane emissions. Welcome to the future of animal feed!

We’re disrupting agriculture for a future we can all count on. We’re doing it for…

The Planet

Reduced methane emissions help mitigate global warming and climate change by decreasing the greenhouse gas effect

Farmers

Farmers save costs on feed as their animals are more efficient. They will also be able to market a low carbon foodprint product, and enjoy additional revenue via carbon credits.

Livestock

Cows, sheep and goats love the taste of these supplements and they're safe to use.

Consumers

Consumers will soon be able to enjoy highly nutritious beef, dairy, mutton and venison with a clear conscience.

The Economy

Initiatives to feed the next billion in Africa are already underway and we're excited to support them, whilst fostering job creation in the process.

Future Generations

By curbing methane emissions, we can create a healthier and more sustainable world, ensuring a livable planet with cleaner air, reduced pollution, and greater resilience to the impacts of climate change for generations to come.

Team

Jay Van Der Walt

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Jay has been building sustainable environmental impact and future of food ventures for the past decade.
He previously managed projects for The Farm Transformation Institute and managed community engagement for Shojinmeat Project.
Jay most recently co-founded Mzansi Meat Co., Africa’s first cultivated meat biotechnology company, and was integral to the company’s fundraising, growth and operations from inception to pre-seed stage.
He also has extensive product and project management experience at multinational corporates and is a certified Business Analyst and Product Manager.
Jay holds a Masters in Metaphysical Science from the University of Metaphysics, Sedona and has a keen interest in promoting Regenerative Agriculture initiatives in Africa.

Dr. Kathryn Morrissey

Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Kathryn Morrissey is a highly accomplished scientist and entrepreneur with a deep passion for sustainability and environmental conservation.
She holds a PhD in algal biology, from Ghent University in Belgium, and has several years of experience as a Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cape Town and Rhodes University.
With her deep knowledge of algal biology and strong passion for sustainability and regenerative solutions, Kathryn’s work has significant implications for the use of algae in environmental remediation and biotechnology.
Kathryn is also a passionate advocate for ocean health and sustainability, and her work is closely aligned with the UN Ocean Decade initiative.
She believes that by working together, we can develop innovative solutions that promote sustainable use of the world's oceans and protect them for future generations.

Andrea Plos

Co-Founder & Head of Techical Operations

Andrea is a highly competent and versatile scientist with a degree in Marine Biology and courses completed across various fields including information systems, engineering, and design, with over 20 years of experience assisting with the design, development and execution of various marine research projects.
She has a passion for marine technology and practical applications of marine research and development.
She has hands on experience building equipment and managing a research aquarium and this makes her ideal for managing the operations and scale-up innovation for the company.

Mariska Van Tonder

Head of Research & Development

Mariska is a talented Animal Nutrition scientist, with an MSc in Animal science from the University of Pretoria, and a passion for improving sustainability in animal agriculture.
She has conducted research on the use of South African seaweeds as potential anti-methanogenic feed supplements for ruminants. She also has experience working at Nutrilab at the University of Pretoria, both commercially and academically, conducting nutritional analyses.
Mariska is well versed in both current agricultural practices for optimising ruminant production, and analytical techniques for assessing the environmental impact of animal production.

Angus McIntosh

Advisor

Angus McIntosh is lovingly known as Farmer Angus.
He grew up on a cattle ranch in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Studied Management Accounting at Stellenbosch University before stockbroking for Goldman Sachs in London for just over four years.
After declining the offer of promotion, he left his job and moved to South Africa where he built a clay home and with inspiration from various mentors on the way eventually become a biodynamic student, grass farmer and carbon sequestrator.
Under the mentorship of Christo Kok, he started farming on Spier, outside Stellenbosch, South Africa, in December 2008.
Farmer Angus achieved a world first in 2013 where he became the first person globally to sell Carbon credits for increasing the Carbon contents of the pastures where his cattle graze.

Dr. Brink Van Zyl

Advisor – Livestock Nutrition & Ruminant Efficiency

Dr. Van Zyl is an expert in animal nutrition, commercial feed formulation, and sustainable livestock production.
He currently serves as the Head of the Department of Animal Sciences at Stellenbosch University, where he bridges the gap between advanced academic research and commercial agricultural applications.
Brink brings over 25 years of private-sector experience to the team, having previously worked as a Ruminant Specialist and Technical Marketing Manager for AFGRI Animal Feeds, and as a Sales Manager for Molatek (Transvaal Sugar Limited).
His work focuses on leveraging data-driven animal nutrition and modern agricultural technologies to optimize herd efficiency, improve regional food security, and ensure the economic sustainability of livestock markets.
Brink holds a Doctorate (PhD) in Animal Sciences and an MBA, both from Stellenbosch University.

Miné Cronjé

Mechatronic Engineering Intern

Miné is currently finishing up her undergraduate studies at the University of Stellenbosch.
Miné will be contributing to the development of our upcoming methane measurement product, helping to bring together the mechanical, electronic, and control systems that make the device function.
With a strong academic background in mechanical design, circuit analysis, programming, and control systems, Miné enjoys multidisciplinary engineering projects that combine hardware and software to solve real-world challenges.

Dr. Melinda Griffiths

Production Consultant and Advisor

Dr. Melinda Griffiths is an expert in algal biotechnology.
She has an extensive research background, with 10 years of experience in commercial cultivation of Spirulina.
Her formal training includes a PhD in Bioprocess Engineering (UCT), an MPhil in BioScience Enterprise (Cambridge University) and an undergraduate degree in Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Physiology (UCT).
She is currently Chief Scientific Officer at SPRU Living Spirulina and was previously Managing Director at Green Create Nutra— a large-scale raceway pond Spirulina farm in Mauritius.
She is also a consultant on biogas production.

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