Jeddah, 21 December 2023
The Coral Reef Research and Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP), a G20 initiative aimed at restoring the world’s coral reefs, has signed a partnership with Partanna, a technology company specializing in carbon-negative concrete.
The partnership recognizes Partanna’s material as an effective substrate for growing coral. CORDAP will promote the material as a vital solution to coral reef degradation to member organisations. This follows recent tests with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), which showcased encouraging findings. Marine life thrived on Partanna’s concrete skeleton structures, swiftly developing a layer of crustose coralline algae on its surface.
This natural coating serves as an optimal foundation for coral attachment, mirroring the conditions of a natural reef substrate. The corals adhered to the material without any observed negative impacts and promoted the young corals growth.
Coral reef ecosystems are threatened rising ocean temperatures and shifting oceanic chemistry. These risks result from heightened atmospheric temperatures and escalating carbon dioxide levels within seawater. Global coral cover has already declined by 14% since 2009, and the rate of decline is accelerating.
Partanna presents a climate and ocean-positive solution. It gained acclaim for its pioneering approach to carbon removal, creating the first building material that not only prevents emissions but actively absorbs CO₂ from the atmosphere. Partanna‘s composition utilises brine, a by-product of the desalination process. Consequently, the material maintains its integrity in saltwater environments, positioning it an optimal substrate for juvenile coral, which also avoids the emission of waste to the atmosphere and oceans.
Prof. Carlos Duarte, Executive Director at CORDAP said:
“To save our coral reefs, the lungs of the ocean, we need solutions that think outside of the sector. Partanna doesn’t just support coral growth. It tackles the reasons behind degregation – rising temperatures and ocean pollution. We’re proud to back this innovative material.”
Rick Fox, CEO and co-founder of Partanna, commented:
“Partnering with CORDAP marks a pivotal step in our commitment to nature positive solutions. We’re always striving to find new ways our material can give back to the planet, so we’re thrilled to be working with a coalition of leading scientists and organisations which is restoring our oceans.”
Concrete structures are commonly used in coral regeneration projects, acting as a host for juvenile corals to be planted on.
About Partanna:
Partanna is a climate technology company that supports industries to decarbonize, enhance profitability and generate carbon credits. The business has pioneered the world’s first zero-emission material, which naturally removes carbon from the atmosphere. Through its application across various industries, Partanna’s technology generates top-performing carbon credits in a fast-growing global market.
The partnership builds upon an existing relationship between Partanna and CORDAP’s Executive Director, Prof. Carlos M. Duarte. Prof. Duarte advises Partanna on the applications and benefits of their technology and is a co-founder of Ocean Revive (ocean-revive.com), a start-up dedicated to coral reef restoration that is based at CORDAP’s base, the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
About Partanna’s technology:
Partanna’s technology harnesses the power of chemistry to both prevent and remove CO₂ emissions.
Instead of using Portland cement, the company uses a special blend of natural and recycled ingredients. The technology uses brine to activate a pozzolonic binder. This process creates chemical compounds that react with carbon dioxide in the air. Partanna cures this mixture at normal room temperature, and avoids the energy-intensive clinkering process associated with traditional cement production.
As the CO₂ dissolves the mix, it helps create a novel type of binding agent that serves the same purpose as traditional cement. These reactive compounds then continue to absorb CO₂ throughout our building materials’ lifecycle.