Louis E. Deveau

Mr. Louis E. Deveau, O.C.

Doctor of Commerce

Louis E. Deveau is the Chairman and Founder of Acadian Seaplants Limited, a seaweed manufacturing, cultivating and processing company specializing in agri-chemical, animal feed, food ingredients and cultivated edible marine plant products.

Mr. Deveau was born in Salmon River, Nova Scotia. He obtained a B.A. at Ste. Anne?s University in Church Point, Nova Scotia in 1953 and his B. Engineering at the Technical University of Nova Scotia (now Dalhousie University) in 1957.

His involvement in the economic development of marine resources in the Maritime Provinces dates back to 1961. At that time he worked for the Federal Department of Fisheries for six years and was responsible for the development of the snow-crab and shrimp industries in the Maritime Provinces.

Mr. Deveau ventured into the seaweed industry to which he has dedicated his life over 35 years ago, when he was recruited by Marine Colloids of Rockland, Maine, USA. From 1967-1989 he held positions as President of Marine Colloids Canada Ltd.; President of Philippine Marine Inc., Manila; President of Gel Mex, Mexico and Vice-President of Marine Colloids Inc. His responsibility for the worldwide procurement of seaweeds for processing into carrageenan led him to circle the world numerous times. During this period, he also spearheaded the development of an entirely new industry ? seaweed farming in the Philippines and Malaysia, which today is a major industry in these countries.

In 1980, Mr. Deveau acquired Marine Colloids, Canada from its U.S. parent and in 1981 Acadian Seaplants Limited was born. Since then, Mr. Deveau has invested continuously in the development of product manufacturing technology, quality assurance and marketing. His strategy has transformed Acadian Seaplants into a diversified, fully integrated company, processing wild seaweeds into value-added agricultural products, animal feeds, fertilizers, food ingredients and cultivated seaweeds for global food markets.

Today, Mr. Deveau?s company operates five major manufacturing facilities in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island from a corporate office in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Acadian Seaplants seaweed products are marketed and sold in over 70 countries around the world. He is also responsible for the development of a sustainable resource management model and innovative harvesting technologies. Other countries around the world have adopted aspects of his model for the sustainable management of their marine resources.

Louis Deveau and Acadian Seaplants have received significant government and industry recognition in several operational areas:

Louis Deveau:

  • 2005 - Chancellor of Ste. Anne?s University, Nova Scotia
  • 2005 - Honourary Lifetime Achievement Award from the Aquaculture Association of Canada
  • 2004 - Appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada
  • 2004 - Honourary Member of the Nova Scotia Institute of Agrologists
  • 2002 - Honorary Doctor of Laws from Dalhousie University / Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Nova Scotia
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