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The Problem
California dairy farms are facing stricter nutrient discharge regulations with real financial consequences. Current solutions — lagoons, digesters, compost barns — either don't fully meet water quality standards or cost $600,000+ with years before any return. Farmers are being asked to spend more to comply with rules that existing technology wasn't designed to solve.
Our Solution
A closed-loop, self-contained system that grows Azolla, a fast growing water fern directly on livestock farms. The manure wastewater provides the necessary nutrients for the Azolla, which then cleans the water while serving as a high-protein feed or natural fertilizer.
lower costs
meets environmental regulations
transforms waste into a valuable, sustainable resource
Our system treats liquid manure effluent and produces:
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clean water
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high-protein livestock feed
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natural fertilizer
Benefits:
What's Azolla?
Azolla is a water-fern, growing on top of shallow water. It cleans excess nitrogen and phosphorus from the water, doubles its mass in a few days, fixes nitrogen more efficiently than legumes, and has more protein than soy. We think of it as a super-plant.
Azolla grows in nutrient-rich, temperate, shallow water, and it serves as an incredible natural fertilizer and livestock feed with about 25-35% protein, on a dry weight basis (Kamalasanana et al., 2002).
Contact
Interest in . . .
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a pilot
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a research/internship opportunity
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more information
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advising