JANUARY - FEBRUARY 20259 ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS REVIEWaquatic system while yielding an algae slurry rich in nutrients. This nutrient-rich slurry, comprised of valuable elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon, serves as an organic fertilizer and soil amendment.AECOM's algae harvesting system underwent rigorous testing at the May Nursery in Havana, FL, in a field trial funded by the US EPA's Gulf of Mexico Division (GMD) Farmer to Farmer Program. The objective was to curtail the release of nutrients into surface waters flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, thereby mitigating the formation of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). The project succeeded in treating approximately two million gallons of nursery runoff water, extracting 4,040 gallons of wet algae biomass slurry, thus offering tangible evidence of progress. Detailed assessments of water samples collected from inlet and outlet ports of the harvester provided valuable insights into the efficacy of the algae harvesting process, indicating a significant reduction--ranging from 60-74% for total nitrogen and 63-68% for total phosphorus--during various harvesting seasons. These results underscore the groundbreaking effectiveness of this technology in abating nutrient pollution from agricultural industries.Additionally, growth studies conducted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) using algae recovered from the May Nursery storm water pond demonstrated that the retrieved algae biomass can replace more than 50% of synthetic fertilizers. The assessment, based on the growth of Brassica carinata (Ethiopian mustard) plants--a cultivated oilseed crop--showed promising results in terms of plant height and seed yield. These findings herald a significant pathway for the agricultural sector to embrace sustainability by utilizing algae as a supplement or even a substitute for synthetic fertilizers, thereby fostering a circular nutrient economy in food and nursery plant production.In essence, AECOM's Algae Practice provides the platform for 21st-century sustainable farming by addressing the intertwined challenges of environmental degradation, climate change, and food security while concurrently fostering societal and economic well-being. By advocating a holistic approach to agriculture--one that harmonizes present needs without jeopardizing the prospects of future generations--AECOM cultivates partnerships with farmers, imparting expertise to enable sustainable operations and the production of agricultural goods while safeguarding the environment. Empowering farmers to enhance efficiency while protecting their yields stands to benefit society as a whole. The urgency for sustainable agricultural practices amplifies today, given the widespread degradation and diminished productivity of agricultural soils coupled with the dwindling reserves of traditional fertilizers
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