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Seaweed Commons

Value Chain Visualizer

See how prices and margins flow across the entire seaweed value chain. Adjust any stage and watch the impact ripple downstream.

The default figures in this calculator are illustrative starting points for demonstration, not verified sector benchmarks. Replace them with your own operation’s numbers before relying on any result.

Every figure below traces to an explicit input, formula, and unit. Per-stage margins use the price each stage pays for its input; the system total counts each stage's own value-added cost only, so transferred costs are never double counted.

?Downstream input costs track upstream selling prices, starting from the seed price.

Stage 1

Hatchery

Produces seeded line

Selling price

$1.20 / m

Output

2,000.00 m seeded line

Estimated gross margin?

41.67%

Cost per m: input $0.00 + own $0.70 = $0.70

Break-even price: $0.70 / m

Model detailed costs → Hatchery Economics Calculator

Stage 2

Cultivator

Grows & harvests biomass

Selling price

$1.80 / kg wet

Output

2,550.00 kg wet (saleable)

Estimated gross margin?

-362.29%

Operating at a loss: cost per kg wet exceeds the selling price.

Cost per kg wet: input $0.94 + own $7.38 = $8.32

Break-even price: $8.32 / kg wet

Own cost is a flat illustrative $/kg and does not respond to volume. Use the Farm Economics Calculator for a volume-sensitive cost model.

Model detailed costs → Farm Economics Calculator

Stage 3

Processor

Converts to dried ingredient

Selling price

$25.00 / kg dry

Output

242.25 kg dry

Estimated gross margin?

0.21%

Cost per kg dry: input $18.95 + own $6.00 = $24.95

Break-even price: $24.95 / kg dry

Model detailed costs → Processor Economics Calculator

Stage 4

Product Developer

Takes product to market

Selling price

$18.00 / unit

Output

4,845 units

Estimated gross margin?

51.39%

Cost per unit: input $1.25 + own $7.50 = $8.75

Break-even price: $8.75 / unit

Model detailed costs → Product Developer Calculator

Physical flow (mass balance)

Gross harvest?

3,000.00 kg wet

Loss before sale?

450.00 kg wet

Saleable wet?

2,550.00 kg wet

Dry output?

242.25 kg dry

Units produced?

4,845 units

Raw material cost?

$18.95/kg dry

Processor cost per kg dry?

$24.95

Processing loss?

12.75 kg dry-matter

Integrated system profit and loss?

System revenue

$87,210.00

Final product sales only

System cost (own value-added)

$58,010.00

No transferred costs (no double count)

System profit or loss

$29,200.00

System margin

33.48%

How to read this

Green: margin above 20% Amber: margin 0–20% Red: losing money Grey: not defined (no positive selling price)

Margin estimates are approximations based on illustrative cost structures. Use the individual calculators for precise analysis.