Phyco Health’s founder Pia Winberg is a marine ecologist based in the Shoalhaven and created her business in the hope of the western world, and in particular Australia, finally catching up with the east when it comes to seaweed farming, which is already a 6 billion dollar industry.
The health benefits of seaweed in our diet and in varying applications are quite tremendous at its still relatively unknown when it comes to the general public. Pia is pushing a food range which includes muesli, pasta, corn chips, herbs and spices into the market in the hope that more Australian’s warm to the concept of including more seaweed in their diet.
This is a really great story of the science and business worlds coming together and Pia certainly has had her challenges as she has learned on her feet through her business journey.
Phyco Health/Phyco Food Co is currently based in the old paper mill in Bomaderry and is utilising local resources, in particular, local marine farming to help build the business, support the local industry and create more awareness of seaweed science.
It’s time we all talk Seaweed Science.
What did you get out of this episode? Here’s what I learnt;
1. Embracing Failures and Learning to Pivot – Failures are embraced and become lessons where you learn and grow quickly. Pia has certainly needed to do this as she has sought support from investors to help build/grow her business.
2. Not Understanding Can Be An Advantage – Going in without a complete understanding of what you are doing can become an advantage where being naive can push through situations that others with knowledge may hesitate to step into. You learn much quicker!
3. Travel/Living Abroad to Get Perspective – Finding appreciation for what you have and what you can bring back to your community. The internet is fantastic and is opening up the world, however travelling is a great way to find ideas to bring home and also identify what you want to preserve in your area. Don’t take your area for granted and don’t be afraid to seek out new ideas from unlikely places.
4. Everyone’s a Winner – Sometimes your passions can be at the direct detriment of others. Finding compromise and brainstorming ways to find common ground in conflicts can be powerful in not only reducing friction in your own journey but also creating opportunities for wider buy in and business success. Pia’s passion for marine conservation could be seen as an attack on the local fishing industry. Pia’s mission and hope is to find outcomes that can protect the marine environment and also the local industry by identifying more sustainable ways of farming our oceans.
If you want to listen to the full unedited episode with Pia, you will be able to hear it over at my other podcast, being The Andy Social Podcast in episode 122.
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Bomaderry – 340 Bolong Rd, Bomaderry NSW 2541
