The Crop Project

The Crop Project, founded in 2019, operates as a next-generation ingredient supplier with a focus on commercializing regeneratively farmed crops. The company was co-founded by CEO Casey Emmett, President Jeremy Edelson, and is led operationally by COO Jessie McCabe. Emmett's background includes co-founding the snack brand Health Warrior, which was acquired by PepsiCo, providing him with experience in building brands around nutrient-dense ingredients. Edelson brings experience from a family office focused on regenerative solutions and has been involved in operating farms across the Midwest. McCabe's expertise lies in strategy and operations, with previous roles at Starbucks that involved scaling product lines and optimizing food networks.

Based in Brooklyn, New York, the company functions as an agricultural processing and wholesale business, creating the infrastructure to support small farms. It purchases regeneratively farmed crops directly from farmers, starting with Atlantic Sugar Kelp, and processes them into ingredients for various markets. The business model is designed to distribute profits more equitably across the supply chain, thereby empowering small farms to transition to regenerative practices. By drying and milling seaweed, The Crop Project produces ingredients for food products, organic fertilizers, and biomaterials. The company's mission is to draw down carbon, restore ecosystems, and support local economies.

The core of the business is transforming crops like kelp into functional ingredients for CPG, food service, and hospitality companies. These kelp-based ingredients are rich in vitamins and minerals such as iodine, iron, and zinc. Clients can use these ingredients to improve the nutritional profile of their products, create clean-label binders and thickeners, boost protein, and add umami flavor. The company also offers product development consulting services, assisting clients with recipe development, market analysis, and sourcing of seaweed and micro-algae. By focusing on kelp, a zero-input crop that grows rapidly, The Crop Project provides ingredients that support carbon capture, reduce ocean acidification, and promote marine biodiversity.

Keywords: regenerative agriculture, ingredient supplier, seaweed, kelp, sustainable farming, agricultural processing, supply chain, carbon capture, food ingredients, CPG, biomaterials, food technology, agtech, small farms, Atlantic Sugar Kelp, ecosystem restoration, wholesale, clean-label, functional foods, nutrient-dense