Luke Smith Founder & CEO of Seaweed Culture, a Climate Tech Business focused on making the livestock industry more sustainable. Using a seaweed supplement to reduce emissions in ruminant livestock by up to 95% with as little as 80g per day. Helping livestock farmers create climate-conscious products that benefit people and the planet.
Who are you and what is your story?
Recent Law Graduate from the University of Lincoln. During my first year at university, I was told I could dream bigger than my current aspirations and decided to find what was bigger. Decided to dedicate my efforts to supporting the transition to Net Zero Targets and Climate Change. This led me to start my business Seaweed Culture and support livestock farmers reduce methane emissions and becoming more sustainable.
What first inspired you to give a TEDx Talk?
Initially, I was approached after being named one of Lincolnshire’s 30 Under 30 in 2021 to look at doing my own TEDx Talk. Realising that doing a TEDx Talk would be a pivotal opportunity to demonstrate how seaweed can help tackle climate change I accepted the opportunity. This TEDx Talk was my first public speaking experience and I learnt so much which has helped in my own business journey.
Three words to sum up the TEDx experience? How did you describe your TEDx Talk experience?
Transformative, Pivotal and Inspirational
What is the most important lesson you learned from doing a TEDx Talk?
I think the most important lesson I learnt from doing my TEDx Talk was that in order for me to showcase how much potential and impactful seaweed can be in tackling climate change, I need to slow down my speech! It Is clear that I am passionate about what I say, but slowing down my speech will help translate that a lot easier.
How do you hope to inspire your audience?
I hope to educate people on the power of seaweed and how it can be the solution to some of the world’s greatest problems. My talk specifically focused on the livestock industry and how harmful methane emissions can be if not addressed with this seaweed solution.
How has your life changed since you did a TEDx Talk?
TEDx helped teach me some valuable skills on how to present myself in public speaking. Being able to apply the learnings to opportunities I have had moving forwards has been very useful.
What is something people may not know about doing a TEDx Talk?
TEDx is really supportive throughout the training and afterwards as well. It’s a community of like-minded people that want to educate and inspire people on some amazing things that are out there.
What tip would you give someone who is about to apply for TEDx Talk?
You should definitely apply. If you believe that people would be inspired or educated on what you have to say, share it! The whole point of TEDx is about ideas worth sharing so take the opportunity to showcase them!
If you have a chance to do a TEDx Talk again, what would be the topic and why?
I think my TEDx Talk would still cover the topic of seaweed in some form. Educating and inspiring people about the different applications of seaweed in different industries would definitely be a focus. Potentially in Bioplastics or Nutraceuticals.
What do you think your next big project will be?
My continued big project is expanding my business to bring this seaweed solution to methane across the UK and globally. As a business, we are dedicated to sustainability and tackling climate change.
Favourite TEDx Talk?
The Reality of Climate Change - David Puttnam - TEDxDublin
Favourite book?
The High Frontier by Gerard K. O’Neill
You can watch Luke's talk here
You can also find out more about what Luke's been up to since his talk here
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