The widespread use of industrial fertilizers in agriculture has created a global pollution challenge with much of the nitrogen and phosphorus escaping into waterways and the ocean, creating coastal ‘dead zones’, including in places like Morocco and Mexico.  With support from the OIC, Ficosterra demonstrated how sustainably harvested seaweed can be used to produce fertilizer that reduces nutrient pollution, improves crop yields, and saves farmers money. 

• Sustainable harvesting of locally grown kelp seaweed
  Ficosterra produces algae-based fertilizers and biostimulants from specific types of algae; products are organic certified, generate no environmental footprint, and do not incorporate external sources of nitrogen. Harvest of the kelp seaweed is always from the same area to ensure that its composition is constant.
• Pilot sites in Baja, Mexico, and Casablanca, Morocco
  Ficosterra demonstrated this project in two spots with different conditions: the western coast of Mexico (Baja California State), an area of intensive crops of berries and vegetables, and the North-West coast of Morocco (Larache) an area where also intensive agriculture is established. Having these pilot sites is hoped to raise awareness among the local communities about the benefits of substituting standard fertilization by algae-based products to ensure the selling of the fertilizers, and project sustainability.
• Improved crop yields and farmers net incomes
  It demonstrated that the use of the new organic certified seaweed-based fertilizers can significantly reduce the use of N-P-K conventional fertilization and improve crop yields. It showed that the said fertilizers can be produced locally using algae in coastal regions, with low capital investments, generating jobs at the end for the local farmers.
• Reduced pollution from run-off
  The application of mineral nitrogen in agricultural soil is reduced and replaced by algae-based fertilizers, resulting to decrease in ocean pollution caused by agricultural runoff, with a positive impact on aquifers.

IMPLEMENTATION STATUS: Completed. They've shared updates on their work and what they've achieved in 2023. Read here.

Read

• BBC's Soaring fertiliser prices force farmers to rethink
• How farmers and seaweed can help tackle ocean pollution
• We need kelp. And kelp needs our help
• Championing sustainable farming and SDG 14