# Land-Based Gim Cultivation Facilities CJ Foods Gears to Break Ground on Its Facility in August By Kalin Ned | Published 2026-06-16 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gim-cultivation-facility References: [chosun](https://www.chosun.com/english/industry-en/2026/06/15/3GTJUXJLVJGINJMRLKVZLS6PVU/)  CJ Foods, the South Korean food conglomerate behind the [bibigo](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bitesized-seaweed-snacks) brand, has announced plans to break ground in August on a commercial land-based gim cultivation facility in Cheonan. This marks a significant step toward industrial-scale production of Korean seaweed and it addresses the limitations of traditional ocean farming, which faces challenges from rising sea temperatures and seasonal harvesting constraints. [CJ Foods'](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oright-tempeh-chips) has been developing the technology in question since 2018. It has achieved major milestones in the project — for example, it successfully cultivated gim in laboratory tanks in 2021 and secured a proprietary gim variety optimized for land-based conditions. It registered a patent for this technology in the first half of 2026. The commercial land-based gim cultivation facility is expected to be completed in the first half of 2027. Image Credit: CJ Foods ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.2/10 - Popularity: 55% | Activity: 53% | Freshness: 77% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [New Ventures](https://www.trendhunter.com/newventures) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Land-based Aquaculture:** Controlled cultivation facilities are shifting seafood production away from climate-exposed waters and enabling more predictable, industrial-scale harvest models. - **Climate-resilient Seaweed:** Rising ocean temperatures are increasing demand for adaptable seaweed systems that can stabilize supply chains for food, snacks, and functional ingredients. - **Proprietary Marine Crops:** Patented varieties optimized for indoor environments are creating defensible product platforms around higher-yield, traceable, and regionally scalable seaweed. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Aquaculture:** Tank-based gim production introduces a less seasonal operating model for marine farming that can reduce exposure to ocean volatility and site limitations. - **Food Technology:** Biological optimization, controlled environments, and cultivation patents are expanding the role of food tech in producing traditional ingredients through industrial systems. - **Packaged Foods:** Reliable seaweed supply can support branded snack, meal, and ingredient innovation as manufacturers seek consistency, sustainability, and differentiated sourcing stories. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cultivated Meat Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-biotissues-and-seawith.md) - [Korean Food Retail Booths](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/korean-food.md) - [Scientifically Backed Postbiotic Ingredients](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/postbiotic-ingredient.md) - [Korean-Focused Multi-Sensory Brand Activations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-of-cj.md) - [Kimchi-Focused Branding Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kimchi-cookoff.md) - [Flavor-Rich Seaweed Meal Toppers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gimme-seaweed-kcrisps.md) - [Fermented Seafood Sticks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kkini-kkini.md) - [Home-Cooked Dim Sum](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cj-cheiljedang.md) - [Proprietary Germination Technologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ubiquity-sprouting-corporation.md)