Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

Scotia Garden Seafood (SGS), including its subsidiary, Tidal Organics, is a family owned and operated seafood harvesting and processing company that produces dried seaweed (kelp and moss) and fish meal, which are sold as a food additive to increase nutritional uptake by livestock. While this has been the signature product application for SGS over the years, the company is now looking to expand their market beyond food additives, into other agricultural sectors. In particular, SGS is interested in seeing if their seaweed and fish meal could be used as an organic soil amendment for agricultural crop production. Many studies have highlighted the benefits of the addition of seaweed derived biostimulants (liquid extracts) to agricultural crop production, however, little is known if there are benefits when adding dried seaweed or fish meal to soil on nitrogen cycling and crop yields. In addition, during the drying and processing of the seaweed, a dust byproduct is created and is difficult to sell for food additive purposes due to its small particle size, thus SGS is also interested in investigating if the dust byproduct could be used as a soil amendment. As a result of these unknowns, SGS would like to collaborate with Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) to determine if there are agricultural benefits of adding their seaweed meal and dust, as well as fish meal to soil on crop yield and soil nitrogen cycling. Anticipated project results will provide information about if their products are suited for agricultural purposes, creating a new marketing avenue and enhancing revenue from an existing product. Furthermore, results are expected to lead to higher income for the company, by creating revenue generation from a dust byproduct that is not wanted by the food additive sector. Overall, this research will lead to the creation of an organic fertility option to farmers and general consumers looking for alternatives to manufactured/synthetic fertilizers.*