Renthia Kaimbi
Kelp Blue Namibia’s managing director, Fabian Shaanika, will leave the company at the end of this month.
His departure comes as the company continues its legal battle to register its seaweed-based fertiliser for sale in Namibia, a process that has been delayed since 2021.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform (MAFWLR) refused to register the product, citing missing documents such as a certificate of analysis from an accredited lab and a safety data sheet.
Kelp Blue has challenged this decision in court, arguing that the ministry’s refusal is “unlawful, irrational and a breach of the constitution.”
In court papers, Shaanika said all required trials were completed, with data from the University of Namibia (Unam).
He said the ministry shifted its requirements over three years and introduced new demands not found in the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act 36 of 1947.
This law does not ban the local production of fertilisers, but it prevents their sale in Namibia. Officials and international partners have acknowledged that the act is outdated.
The regulatory deadlock has had direct consequences for Kelp Blue.
The company said the ongoing uncertainty has contributed to “a series of retrenchments over the past two years”, leading to the current restructuring that includes Shaanika’s exit.
During his tenure since January 2024, Kelp Blue has cultivated 30 hectares of giant kelp and produced more than 20 kilolitres of fertiliser each month.
Kelp Blue positioned itself for full commercial operations and achieved ISO 9001 certification from the Namibian Standards Institute. At the time, Shaanika expressed hope that product registration was close.
At the Namibia Public-Private Forum, founder Daniel Hooft said the company’s workforce dropped from 104 employees in 2024 to 48.
Hooft said Kelp Blue invested about N$300 million in Namibia but warned that non-financial restrictions will limit future investment.
“Otherwise, we would have already put N$1 or 2 billion back into this country and created over 400 jobs.”
In 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) worked with the ministry to review the 1947 Act.
The FAO stated that the law no longer reflects current industry conditions or aligns with international standards.
By late 2023, stakeholders had validated new draft bills for fertiliser and pesticides aimed at bringing Namibia’s regulatory framework in line with global practices and improving trade.
Shaanika told the Windhoek Observer that Kelp Blue’s fertiliser plays an important role in the country’s development goals.
“As the country advances its National Development Plan 6 (NDP6), agriculture remains one of the key strategic pillars for job creation, economic resilience, food security and rural development,” he said.
He added that sustainably produced fertiliser improves soil health, reduces reliance on imports, and supports climate-smart farming.
Shaanika said he is considering his next steps and emphasised the need for Namibia to finalise long-awaited updates to agricultural legislation.
