Description

QuintaQuanta is an innovative concept, aligned with the Blue Growth concept defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: a strategic, innovative approach to improving the use of aquatic resources while simultaneously increasing social, economic and environmental benefits for communities dependent on fisheries and aquaculture. The promoter company is Mermaid Fragrance, Lda.

QuintaQuanta is dedicated to the identification, enhancement, and promotion of the natural heritage of native algae and halophyte plants, from the Portuguese Silver Coast (West), as well as the production of aromatic plants, in a biodynamic way.

Photographer: Pedro Cabral.

Bold algae are harvested by hand and halophytes and aromatic plants are produced in a dynamic farming mode on their own land with biological certification or harvested in places where they grow spontaneously and in the wild. The transformation processes consist of drying, steam dragging to produce dehydrated extracts and essential oils, and Hydrosols/Hydrolates. All processes, from harvesting to transformation, follow the guidelines of biodynamics, which ensures their sustainability.

On top of this, QuintaQuanta promotes knowledge sharing about native algae and halophyte plants from the Portuguese Silver Coast in partnership with universities and competent entities. This contributes to the regulation of the macroalgae sector in Portugal and Europe, which is essential for the sustainable management of marine biological resources. The project also includes studies at a global scale using algae to reduce emissions of methane, a major greenhouse gas.

To respond to the new socio-ecological challenges that lie ahead, as well as the needs of emerging markets, QuintaQuanta intends to expand its range of products and is therefore starting to develop extracts of various types, such as resinoids and absolutes through innovative and environmentally sound production methods. The funds raised through this campaign will be invested in the improvement of infrastructures, the reinforcement of equipment, the creation and maintenance of jobs, and the work of prospecting markets, with a view to the growth of the operation.

The Impact

Direct:

• Sustainable use of land, biological production, and biodynamics: halophyte and aromatic plants are produced on their own land with biological certification or harvested in places where they occur spontaneously. All processes follow the guidelines of biodynamics (Demeter certification), which ensures their sustainability. Now, there are already 6 hectares being converted to agriculture and soon more land will be used to produce aromatic plants. Additionally, the promoter demonstrates the viability of biodynamic practices to farmers in the region, who use conventional farming practices and who are faced with the devaluation of their products.
• Job creation: in this first phase, it is planned to maintain 4 full-time jobs, 3 part-time jobs, and seasonal work teams.

Indirect:

• Promotion of scientific knowledge: promoter's partnerships with universities, technological centers, and customers increase knowledge sharing about the characteristics of macro-algae and native halophyte plants in Portugal and their uses, increasing the availability of products of natural origin. QuintaQuanta is also investigating the feasibility of applying clean methods in the production of extracts, which are alternatives to the use of hydrocarbon-based solvents, often used in the perfumery and cosmetics sector. In addition, it is involved in an international research project that seeks to include algae in animal feed to reduce methane emissions, contributing to the mitigation of climate change.
• Valorization of the natural heritage: the harvesting of seaweed for fertilizing the land, feed, and the pharmaceutical industry was once an important economic and social activity in several locations in Portugal. QuintaQuanta counteracts the decline of these activities by promoting their appreciation.
• Promotion of the local economy: maintaining jobs generates income in an area with limited job offers. In addition, a sea science and technology park, the Smart Ocean, will be born in Peniche, with which QuintaQuanta intends to establish synergies, with a positive impact on the local economy, joining 10 other companies in the areas of food security, digitalization, restoration of ecosystems and decarbonization of the oceans.

Impact Indicators

6

Hectares for biodiversity

7

jobs created

Contribution to the Sustainable
Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goals

Financial viability

Download Key Investment Information Sheet

Guarantees

Pledge of the production equipment of extracts and absolutes, and a personal guarantee from the shareholders.

The Promoter

About Mermaid Frangrance, Lda

The businessman was able to obtain financing from MAR2020, which allowed him to purchase equipment of greater capacity, such as stills and columns, and start to produce greater quantities, making production more profitable. With this step Mário Pedro, in 2020, founded the company Mermaid Frangrance Lda and motivated a group of specialists in areas ranging from chemistry, logistics, marketing, and project management to create the QuintaQuanta concept.

All processes follow the guidelines of biodynamics, and the entrepreneur is undergoing a process to obtain the Demeter certification. QuintaQuanta thus emerges as a pioneer in the production of halophytes and aromatic plants according to biodynamic guidelines. With the research it develops, it will soon also be a pioneer in the areas of transformation.

The team

Mário Pedro

Project manager

Pedro started to explore the activity of producing seaweed, halophyte, and aromatic extracts for various purposes, about a decade ago. It was discovered that the geological, oceanographic, and climatic conditions of the western region of mainland Portugal provide the occurrence of rich and abundant biodiversity with special chemical characteristics on a global scale. In 2017, he left his job as a fishing observer and established himself as an individual entrepreneur, to dedicate himself to his passion: the valorization of algae and native plants from the west coast.

Business Model

Updates

2021-04-26

Quinta Quanta in the News

Quinta Quanta in Público.