The parent company of Schwan’s is looking at new technology to grow ingredients for Korean cuisine.

Last week, CJ Foods announced it is investing in technology that would allow seaweed to be farmed on land, in indoor tanks.

A news release said seaweed grown using land-based farming could reach U.S. consumers in the next few years, through products from the bibigo brand, and Schwan’s Company.

“At CJ Foods, we are researching land-based farming technology as a means of developing sustainable seaweed for a full range of foods distributed across the globe,” Rajesh Potineni, a global research and development executive of CJ Foods, said in a news release. “Land-based farming not only provides a safe, reliable source of seaweed, but it also strengthens our competitiveness in the global market.”

“CJ Foods has identified seaweed food products as a strategic engine for global growth. CJ Foods is developing nutritious seaweed products that will offer a wide range of options for our consumers,” said Gregory Yep, CTO of CJ Foods.

Globally, CJ Foods offers a variety of foods with seaweed as an ingredient. In the U.S., CJ Schwan’s and bibigo offer products like seaweed snacks, and seaweed wraps that can be used for making foods like sushi.

CJ Foods has been working on land-based seaweed aquaculture since 2018, a news release said. In 2022, the company successfully grew seaweed in a 3-ton tank, and developed plans to expand to 10 tons in 2025.

CJ Foods spokespeople said farming seaweed on land could help meet high global demand. In addition, land-based farming would make it easier to control conditions like temperature, that affect seaweed growth and quality. Farming seaweed on land would also mean less risk from disease or pollution.

CJ spokespeople said Korea would be the first place the company commercially grows seaweed on land. As the technology develops, the company will be able to consider exporting farming tanks to other countries.

CJ Foods, a unit of CJ CheilJedang, is a global food company based in South Korea. CJ Foods’ bibigo brand sells Korean style food products like dumplings sauces, and frozen entrees and appetizers.