We are pleased to welcome you to an evening of film screenings and conversation about regenerative seaweed farming. Big-wave surfer and ocean advocate João Macedo from the Hope Zones Foundation will be there along with our friends from Holdfast and Stipe as well as the Surfrider Foundation.
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Rebuilding biodiversity, replenishing fish stock and supporting coastal communities with sustainable economies, all of this can be done through a restoring the kelp ecosystems. Our love for surfing makes this a topic of great concern, and we're happy to have experts joining us to discuss some innovative ways to restore the oceans we love.
João Macedo will share how the Hope Zones Foundation is using kelp restoration and scalable regenerative seaweed farming models to actively restore ocean health. We’ll also be screening a short film from the Hope Zones Foundation to get a closer look at their work in action.
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We will then hold a panel discussion with João Macedo, joined by representatives from Holdfast and Stipe and the Surfrider Foundation, two local environmental groups.
Join us to discover the fascinating impact of seaweed farming and discuss how to restore our oceans!
João Macedo is a Portuguese big-wave surfer, ocean advocate, and President of the Hope Zones Foundation. Born on Portugal’s Atlantic coast, João has played a key role in ocean conservation. He co-founded the World Surfing Reserves movement and contributed to protecting iconic surf ecosystems like Ericeira.
With a background in economics, he combines environmental activism with scalable solutions, now leading Hope Zones to restore marine ecosystems through regenerative seaweed farming and community-driven coastal protection.
Nikki’s journey into seaweed began with a big question: How can seaweed help build a more sustainable world? Inspired by its potential as a renewable raw material and a natural biofilter, she founded and developed one of the Netherlands’ first small-scale seaweed farms in IJmuiden.
What started as a pioneering cultivation project grew into a mission to unlock the full potential of seaweed. Today, as Co-Founder at Holdfast and Stipe, she leads the development and commercialization of seaweed-based biostimulants, helping growers improve crop performance while reducing reliance on conventional agricultural inputs.
A longtime surfer and kitesurfer, Pim is currently president of the Surfrider Foundation Netherlands, where he works to protect the oceans, waves, and coastline for current and future generations.
As an independent entrepreneur in the venture capital sector, he also supports startups in the sustainable food and impact economy sectors as they grow. He is driven by a deep conviction that healthy ecosystems are essential to vibrant communities and businesses that make a positive contribution to society.
Hope Zones Foundation is a non-profit working to create a sustainable and regenerative future for our oceans. Its mission is to develop scalable regenerative seaweed farm models while contributing to the global goal of protecting 30% of oceans and land by 2030.
By restoring kelp ecosystems, Hope Zones helps rebuild biodiversity, replenish fish stocks, and support coastal communities with sustainable economic opportunities. Their seaweed farms act as carbon sinks, improve marine habitats, and offer alternatives to overfishing.
The foundation combines science, community collaboration, and storytelling—documenting its model to create a replicable blueprint that can be applied globally. Through education, events, and ocean advocacy, Hope Zones aims to protect marine ecosystems while making the ocean more accessible and meaningful to people.
Born out of an seaweed cultivation project on the Dutch coast, Holdfast & Stipe has now become a biotechnology company committed to the transition toward more sustainable agriculture. Its mission is to support farmers with natural, high-performance solutions that can be implemented today, in order to contribute to healthier soils, more resilient crops, and an agricultural system firmly focused on the future.
After several years of research and development, the company has developed a unique technology that transforms seaweed into natural solutions that strengthen soils, improve crop resilience, and reduce dependence on conventional fertilizers.
The mission of Surfrider Foundation Europe is to protect and advocate for the world’s oceans, waves, coastlines, lakes, and rivers. Operating as a collective of positive activists, we aim to give the ocean a strong, clear voice through citizen mobilization, scientific expertise, and direct engagement with policymakers and industries.
Through a presence in 12 European countries, the foundation focuses its effort in particular on combating marine debris and plastic pollution, preserving water quality and public health, and protecting coastal areas from erosion and the effects of climate change. Through its campaigns, educational programs, and on-the-ground initiatives, the organization takes concrete action to advocate for healthier and more resilient marine and aquatic environments.
Beach and river clean-ups, raising awareness among younger generations, collecting environmental data, and advocating with institutions all contribute daily to advancing the protection of aquatic environments on a European scale.
Our Amsterdam Store is wheelchair accessible.
We strive to offer everyone equal access to our events. If you require an alternative format or other adjustments, please contact us at store.amsterdam@patagonia.com with your request by the end of the day on 15.05.26 so we can make arrangements, wherever possible.
