Fertilizer worth spreading | Jessica Davis | TEDxCSU

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Jessica Davis, professor of Soil and Crop Sciences has designed a new kind of nitrogen fertilizer which is created to be sustainable, economical and renewable. Learn more at www.thinairnitrogen.com.
A CSU professor in the Soil and Crop Sciences College since 1995. Her research team focuses on developing a biological nitrogen fertilizer to reduce fossil fuel usage in agriculture.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@lindakothera3255]

Way to go Jessica! The part about the cyanobacteria increasing the nutritional quality of the food is really interesting.

[@stevenrosenzweig5153]

Best TED talk name I've ever seen

[@FreeWaves9]

Wow this is such a great idea! I wonder how this is doing in 2024.

[@growingyourgreens]

My question is what are the inputs to grow the algae? What factor do these "input" fertilizers turn into after fed to the algae? Or is it another negative equation like fossil fuels? It would be easier to "cut out" the middleman.. the vegetables. Just eat the algae, which is a very nutritious food in its own right.

[@jessicadavis8093]

+Learn Organic Gardening at GrowingYourGreens We developed a nutrient solution including P, Fe, and Mo that is made up of all organic ingredients to provide the nutrient needs for the algae. If the cyanobacteria are irrigated onto crops, the nutrient solution goes with the cyanoabacteria to be land applied. If the cyanobacteria are harvested dry, the remaining nutrients and water are recycled to grow more cyanobacteria.

[@thunderpooch]

Isn't the problem in large part always from "dreamers who do."
The Haber-Bosch process was quite a magnificent dream if sustainability was never a concern.
I don't see any of these solutions curing anything unless restrictions and regulations are placed on the overproduction inherent with capitalism. If we can address the "Jevons paradox" only then will "green" solutions ever be sustainable.
I hope the dreamers of today can indeed undo the dreamers of yesterday.
Keep up the noble work.

[@y37chung]

I would imagine the cyanobacteria system to be less energy-intensive and more sustainable (because of less system leakage). It is all about offsetting or replacing the original chemical approach, everything has a cost associated with it, some are larger, some are smaller.

[@AwakenThyself]

Brilliant! We need this now more than ever!

[@mteverestforestbotanicalsa5376]

Wonderful presentation. How can we access the organisation that works for producing the local bateria based soil nutrients ? Thanks

[@catherineseanspoliansky9968]

Excellence in action.
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[@michaelvangundy226]

In my experience natural fertilizer runs 2 to 10 % NPK. We need 300 pounds per acre so a 1000 acre corn patch would need some 3 to 15,000,000 pounds of your solution. At 10 pounds to the gallon and a 2 week cycle, figure 5 cycles per crop= 300,000 gallons every 2 weeks. 150 gallons per week per acre diluted into an irrigation system.
This could work if you are getting the highest levels of NPK needed and the correct ratio.
OK, the down side. We have to inject or incorporate nitrogen to keep it from volitizing into the atmosphere. The only irrigation system that would work would be drip tape. This is cost prohibited for standard crops. Not to mention wasteful. The phosphorus needs to be incorporated to keep it from running off into waterways. Same for potassium as it migrates with the water.
So, if a farmer could make this solution in the winter then inject it all at once in the early spring and late fall it may be possible. Can it be concentrated so the volume transported can be reduced? Can the NPK ratio be customized for the farm? It has potential.