Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

The management of manure is one of the most difficult, expensive and potentially limiting problems facing theagricultural industry today. This problem is particularly prevalent among that portion of the agriculturalindustry which pertains to confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), such as those used for dairy andswine. Typically the manure is stored in earthen ponds or lagoons and then used for irrigation (land spreading).Enclosed storage and treatment facilities for odor control, such as those used at municipal treatment plants, aretoo expensive to be practical for an agricultural operation.Environment Depot for Waste Water to Energy Ltd', (ED) identified a nation-wide need for an economical andenvironmental process for handling waste from CAFO's and responded with the development of a bioactivecompound called AZAcomp for the rapid breakdown of organic bio matter in manure entrained waters. Thiswaste treatment system eliminates the reliance on manure storage lagoons which in turn reduces offensiveodors, as well as the discharge of harmful contaminants, pathogens and greenhouse gases. The AZAcomptreatment process produces cleaner water enhancing the recycling time of waste water to meet the water needsof the farm operation thus reducing the burden on local water resources for freshwater.With the support of NSERC the agriculture specialists from Olds College will perform sample analysis andthird party review of the developed AZAcomp bioactive product. Their report will delineate the advantages ofusing a bioactive compound in enhancing the natural degradation of organic matter in manure entrainedwastewaters. It will also highlight improvements necessary and/or identify any weaknesses in the system.Environment Depot will then be able to provide this technology to the livestock industry and assist farmers increating an environmentally sustainable marketplace.