Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Overton Environmental Enterprises Inc (OEE) is a company focused on applied ecology and developing sustainable landscape management practices and products. One of the main initiatives OEE strives for is to reduce the requirements on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase soil health. As a result of this initiative, OEE developed an environmentally friendly 100% organic compost tea, called Eco-Tea. Despite the numerous positive testimonials relating to this product to soil microbial community change and increases in yield, there is a lack of scientific proof of the benefits of Eco-Tea, in particular relating to the grape growing industry. Thus, Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) will partner with OEE to run field trials to investigate the impact Eco-Tea has on the vineyard soil microbial community composition, as well as grape growth, yield, and quality. It is anticipated that project results will provide proof of concept that the addition of Eco-Tea has positive benefits for enhancing soil microbial community and grape production. Project results will be shared with other regional vineyards, providing additional provincial benefits to the wider grape growing industry operating in the province. Furthermore, evaluation of the application of Eco-Tea offers potential longer term benefits nationally through its use to vineyards located across Canada. In addition, the economic and social benefit of Eco-Tea commercial activities will result in new capital investments, employment opportunities and revenue streams for OEE.