INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The County plans to partner with the non-profit corporation Grow for Change to apply for a Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant. If the 2017 Research and Education grant is awarded, the county would work with the other application partner, Van Ert-Nemoto and Associates, to provide up to 50 wet tons of algae from Egret Marsh Stormwater Park for a lump sum payment of $50,000.
Van Ert-Nemoto is currently working with the County’s Egret Marsh facility to produce and market compost made from the algae grown there.The objective of the SARE program is to enable the full spectrum of farmers and ranchers to move profitably toward production systems compatible with the concept of sustainable agriculture; to strengthen agriculture competitiveness; satisfy human food and fiber needs; maintain and enhance quality and productivity of the soil; conserve oil, water, energy, natural resources, fish and wildlife habitat; protect endangered species; and maintain and improve the quality of surface and groundwater.
Grow for Change sees the “rogue nutrients” nitrogen and phosphorous, which, as fertilizer run-off, pollute waterways through nourishing destructive algae blooms, as a lost resource that can be recovered and recycled. The resulting nutrient rich biomass can then be used for compost and other agricultural purposes.
The County Commission approved the request from its Public Works Stormwater Division through its June 14 Consent Agenda. The county’s primary role, if the grant is awarded, will be to supply Grow for Change with the algae. No funding is required from the county.