François Beyers
on Regenerative Ocean Farming
Câr-Y-Môr
For sure this name will touch your heart deeply. A name that will make you stop and ask yourself “What could it mean?”
“For the Love of the Sea”. A love that not only was featured in one of Patagonia’s films, but one that united a beautiful family towards a purpose.
Becoming a father was the catalyst for François Beyers to become involved in tackling climate change and protecting the oceans. Originally from Cape Town, he spent his childhood on the beaches, surfing the waves, and diving in the kelp forests, fostering an enduring love for the ocean: “Our family holds a deep love for the sea. We were about to have our first baby and I wanted our family to grow up in the same environment I did, but without running along the beach and seeing plastic bottles everywhere.”
They came across IMTA (Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture), a process that provides the byproducts, including waste, from one aquatic species as inputs for another: “Simply put, one’s waste is another’s food. Biomimicry in essence. We found our path combined with something that would make an exciting project!” François and his family became dedicated advocates for marine conservation and regenerative ocean farming, an innovative process that sets out to produce food whilst also enhancing the marine environment and local communities.
Câr-Y-Môr is many things. A family business unlike many others and the first community-owned regenerative ocean farm in Wales. An education outreach organization, but most importantly, a Community Benefit Society, one that is working to benefit all members rather than just the workers. Their members come from all walks of life and this diversity in location, thought and experience has been their biggest driver.
This year at Blue Earth Summit, François spoke about the force that lies in supporting communities: “Empowering a community can enhance a business’s reputation, contribute to economic stability, and promote societal goals. Businesses can help by providing financial support, partnering with community organizations, encouraging volunteerism, and integrating community considerations into their decision-making processes.”
Seaweed aquaculture is a key puzzle piece in fighting the climate crisis creatively and inclusively: “It is an amazing resource that can do so many things: it can reduce our reliance on petroleum-based plastics, on land use, fertilizers and pesticides to grow food, it can clean up seawater from excessive nutrients, provide habitat for other sea animals…I think that is already a lot!”
Read François Beyers’s answers for Inspirators and discover a sweet family, united by love and driven by passion!
Thank you, François, for being a Lover of the Sea!
#INSPIRATORS QUESTIONNAIRE
Name: François Beyers
Company / Institution: Câr-y-Môr (For the Love of the Sea)
Title: Co-founder
Website: https://carymor.wales
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francois-beyers/
Country of origin: South Africa
Country you currently live in: Wales, UK
Your personal definition of Regeneration: By emulating the natural functions of seaweed and shellfish, we can (re)connect with the ocean and restore its vitality and abundance, by creating living habitats, cleansing the water, and capturing carbon.
Main business challenge you face: Securing financing and funding to scale up the operations and invest in infrastructure, equipment, and technology.
Main driver that keeps you going: My children.
The trait you are most proud of in yourself: Being a perpetual learner. Living in a state of “prototyping”, always curious and open-minded.
The trait you most value in others: Being able to listen without your own agenda.
Passions & little things that bring you joy: Walks on windy (preferably sunny, but we do live in Wales!) beaches, surfing and running on the coast path of Pembrokeshire. Getting lost in play with my kids.
The Inspirators who determined you to take the regenerative path:
Any young person who fights for our planet.
A hint or starting point for companies or professionals that are taking the first steps in the regeneration journey: Educate yourself and your team. Get involved, do not just do it for “credits”.
Most used and abused clichés in sustainability that bother you:
“We are committed” - show me the evidence and action you are taking!
“Green” - I’m starting to dislike this word. It only focuses on the environmental aspect of sustainability, and not the social and economic dimensions.
An honest piece of advice for young people who lose hope: Find your “Tribe”, because as a collective you can support each other, and be a voice for change.
Books that had a great impact on you:
The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life by Boyd Varty
Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard
Must-reads for any regenerative professional:
Reimagining the Nature of Work by Alice Katter
Movies or Documentaries you would watch all over again: Fishpeople
Blogs / Websites / Podcasts you visit frequently:
Wild Ideas Worth Living - Podcast
Huberman Lab - Podcast
Music that makes you (and your heart) sing: I’m the son of a music teacher, needless to say, I have an eclectic taste. Depending on the mood, it could be anything from Rock and Blues to Hip Hop!
Places you travelled to that left a mark on you: Skeleton Coast - Namibia
Global Regenerative Voices you recommend us to follow:
Hugo Tagholm
Janine Benyus
Trends in Regeneration we should keep an eye on: Regenerative Ocean Farming.
Best places for business networking (online or offline): At events that are centred around the topic
Events we should attend: The Do-Lectures, TED.
Associations, business clubs, tribes you belong to – and why:
Câr-y-Môr is a Community Benefit Society, which brings the most incredible people together with a common goal. We all want to do our part to protect our oceans for future generations.
Patagonia Action Works is a community of grassroots activists finding solutions to the environmental crisis.
Sustainable Development or Regeneration courses, trainings, or certifications that really teach us how to have an impact:
Living Systems for Thriving Groups: https://living-systems-thrivinggroups.
thinkific.com/courses/living-systems
Reasons to feel optimistic about our future in 2030: We can reduce CO2 emissions, clean our air and restore our nature, by adopting more sustainable lifestyles and technologies.
Reasons to feel pessimistic about our future in 2030: The ocean is becoming warmer, more acidic, and more polluted. I feel sad about how we, as guardians of this planet, are mistreating our ocean with such disregard.
Regenerative Leadership qualities much needed today: Not having capitalism be the driving factor in how we conduct business, but regenerating our planet for future generations.
The Inspirator you are endorsing for a future edition of the newsletter is:
Hugo Tagholm - CEO Oceana, UK
The quote that inspires you:
“To do good, you actually have to do something.” (Yvon Chouinard)
Your own quote that will inspire us:
