Blue Economy · Semporna, Sabah
Building Sabah'sblue economyfrom the coast up
We turn Sabah seaweed into a local biostimulant for Malaysian agriculture, farmed with coastal communities in Semporna. Grown here, made here, so the value stays here.
Sabah seaweed, made into a biostimulant for Malaysian agriculture
Malaysia's farms import almost all of the seaweed biostimulant they use, made from the very crop grown on this coast. We close that loop locally.
Farmers grow seaweed
Cultivated by coastal farming families in the waters around Semporna, under agreed, fair buyback terms.
We make biostimulant
Processed locally into liquid and granular biostimulant for crops, guided by our research advisors.
Growers apply it
A Sabah-origin, traceable input for plantations and nurseries, in place of a shipped-in one.
Revenue funds the loop
Sales bring more farmers into the programme, and keep the value cycling within Sabah.
Supply we can stand behind
Behind the product sits our own farming technology, developed and tested in Semporna, that protects each harvest and gives us a supply we can commit to. We share the details with partners and investors directly.
Product formats and specifications are being finalised through our pilot programme with research partners.
Buying inputs for your crops, or investing in the blue economy? Let's talk.
Sabah has the seaweed. The value often leaves elsewhere.
Sabah is one of Malaysia's most important seaweed-producing regions. Yet many coastal farmers remain at the lowest-value point of the supply chain. They sell raw, dried seaweed as a basic commodity while facing unstable prices, crop damage, disease and weather risk.
At the same time, agricultural businesses keep buying higher-value seaweed-based products from outside the local supply chain.
Where the value is lost today
- 01
Coastal farmer
cultivates the crop
- 02
Raw seaweed
sold as a commodity
- 03
Missing value-add
processing happens elsewhere
- 04
Higher-value product
used in agriculture
Borneo BioTide was created to help close this gap.
A connected seaweed & coastal aquaculture platform
One joined-up platform, built in four stages, each designed to keep more value, and more capability, within Sabah.
Support
Give selected coastal farmers access to improved cultivation systems, operating guidance and monitoring support.
Aggregate
Create a more structured and traceable supply of locally cultivated seaweed.
Develop
Work with technical and research collaborators to develop higher-value seaweed-based products.
Connect
Build pathways between Sabah producers and agriculture, food, marine and industrial buyers.
Our goal is to help more value remain within Sabah, while improving the resilience of coastal production.
Livelihoods, local industry & healthier coastal systems
Livelihoods
Support coastal households through more stable market access, skills development, and participation in higher-value industries.
Local industry
Encourage more processing, product development, technical capability and commercial value to remain within Sabah.
Coastal resilience
Explore cultivation practices that reduce crop damage, improve monitoring, and support more responsible use of marine resources.
Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals
These describe the value Borneo BioTide is designed to create. They are intended outcomes to be tested and measured during pilot implementation, not results already proven.
Built in the water, with Semporna
This is not a lab project. Our work happens on the water, alongside the coastal families who know it best.
Every part of what we do has been shaped by real conditions at sea, and by the people who farm it every day.
01
02
03
04The sea is our workplace. Semporna is our home base.
Built with Sabah, by operators and scientists
Gerard Tan
Founder & CEO
Software and AI background, with previous experience in agritech. Leads technology, strategy and partnerships.
Lezlee Liew
Co-founder & Operations Lead
Background in business development, finance and stakeholder engagement. Leads operations and government relations.
Sharon Tan
Co-founder & Finance Lead
Chartered Accountant with experience in audit and financial management. Leads finance and governance.
Dr. Adibi M. Nor
Advisor & Researcher
Marine biologist and aquaculturist with two decades in fisheries. Works on seaweed, IMTA and community-led coastal aquaculture, and leads our scientific and field validation.
Currently exploring collaboration with
Who we're building this with
For coastal farmers
- More structured market access
- Greater production support
- Reduced exposure to price uncertainty
- A path into higher-value supply chains
For agricultural buyers
- Locally sourced seaweed-based products
- Greater traceability
- Potentially shorter supply chains
- Access to Sabah-origin biomass
For government & development partners
- Rural livelihood development
- Blue-economy participation
- Local value creation
- Skills and capacity building
For research & industry partners
- Field-testing opportunities
- Product-development collaboration
- Marine data collection
- Pathways for applied research
Built in Semporna, Sabah
Protects harvests.Feeds crops.Heals the coast.
We build in the water, with the coastal communities who know it best, in partnership with local researchers.
From the Sea, For the Community
“Others stopped at Sabah. We're starting there.”
We're looking for partners who believe Sabah's marine resources can create stronger livelihoods, local industry and long-term value.