Sonat deliver Kelp Manager to Lerøy Ocean Harvest

Sonat digitize the value chain for seaweed and kelp

Sonat AS and Lerøy Ocean Harvest AS have joined forces in a 5 year contract to develop and deliver KelpManager — a comprehensive Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform designed to support and streamline the entire seaweed production value chain, from spore to harvested biomass for the global market. The Kelp Manager went into production on the 6th of march. The project started in September 2025 and was planned to be finished 1st of June. Due to the rapid development of AI Agent technology we were able to deliver almost 3 months earlier than the estimated delivery date.

The collaboration combines Lerøy’s leading expertise in sustainable aquaculture with Sonat’s strength in digital innovation. For Sonat, the partnership represents a strategic step in positioning the company as a key technology partner at the forefront of the blue bioeconomy, contributing to sustainable value creation through digitalization and data-driven solutions in aquaculture.

Seaweed and kelp, or macroalgae, represent a rapidly growing sector at the intersection of food production, climate solutions and aquaculture. Production requires precise control and documentation throughout the entire value chain: from stock plants and spore release to cultivation, deployment at sea and harvesting. To manage this complex biological and logistical process, Sonat has developed a tailor-made production support tool that integrates biology, technology and data analysis.

The system consists of two main applications: KelpManager – Land and KelpManager – Sea. The first handles the production phases on land – such as registration of stock plants, spore release and culture growth – while the marine application supports operations such as deployment, measurement, scoring and harvesting. Both applications are built on Microsoft technology and cloud infrastructure, which ensures high flexibility, rapid development and built-in support for mobile use, AI, data analytics and data integration.

The architecture is designed with API support for data sharing and Power BI reporting. The system includes advanced process and statistics modules that ensure traceability, quality and continuous improvement. The user interface is optimized for biologists and production teams, with tools for image capture, field data entry, geographical mapping and real-time status monitoring.

Through the solution, users gain access to a shared digital ecosystem where information flows seamlessly between laboratories, marine sites and administrative systems. This provides a stronger decision-making basis, reduces production risks and ensures complete documentation for each batch — down to the level of individual coils in the sea.

Sonat’s role has been to digitize the biological complexity. Through close collaboration with Lerøy Ocean Harvest AS, the company is developing a system that not only meets today’s production requirements but also enables industrial scaling and international growth. KelpManager demonstrates how technology can serve as a catalyst for a new green ocean industry. By this solution, Lerøy Ocean Harvest and Sonat are setting the standard for sustainable growth, professionalizing seaweed production, and paving the way for international expansion.