Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:This list has been expanded from project initiation, check boxes were addressed directly in Year 2 (those marked with o will be approached in Year 3): x Dairy production, distribution, and processing industry x Dairy consumers (e.g., retailers, food service industry, other major end-users) x Algae producers, harvesters, processors, distributors x Animal feed, supplement producers and distributors x Aquaculture regulatory bodies (from municipal to federal) x General public x Policy makers (e.g., USDA-NOAA Working Group on Research for Farming of Kelp and Seagrass, Maine Climate Council) o Carbon market/offset certifiers and consultants x Lab testing facilities for feed and food quality x Aquaculture investors x Veterinarians and Dairy Nutritionists x Academics x Feed and dairy regulatory bodies (e.g., FDA, NOSB, MOFGA) x State-wide and federal carbon budgeting efforts x Wild-capture fisheries industries seeking diversification (e.g., the Maine lobster industry) x K-5 students x Undergraduate students x Undergraduate courses x Dairy and livestock focused Extension organizationx x Algae growing, processing, biorefinery, and packaging equipment manufacturers x Dairy and feed cooperatives, grain firms, supplement firms o Milk Stabilization Price Program administrators Changes/Problems:Our project had two major problems in the second year of our award, each of which caused unexpected delays, deviations from the research schedule, and significant impacts on the rate of expenditure. Despite these challenges, we still achieved important milestones and have set a new promising course for Coast-Cow-Consumer (C3) that has led to even deeper engagement with critical stakeholders. 1) Transition of a coPD: The first major change was that a co-PD, Sabrina Greenwood, left her position at the University of Vermont (UVM) to move to Australia and become a Principal Research Scientist with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia's National Science agency. This shift, while wonderful for Dr. Greenwood's career progress, meant that our C3 team had to navigate reallocating funds from UVM to the William H. Miner Institute to conduct the remaining macro- and micro-algae animal feeding trials for years two and three of the award (Miner is already slated to do trials in year 4). This reallocation was achieved by simply reducing the obligation of funds to UVM commensurate with the expenditures that were explicit to Greenwoods activities, and increasing the obligated amounts to Miner Institute. Concomitantly, we needed to reposition the two PhD students Greenwood had been advising and related equipment (e.g., the GreenFeed System) to ensure continuity in progress towards project goals. Gift Omoruyi will remain a Ph.D. graduating from UVM, but she is now directly supervised by Sarah Morrison at the Miner Institute, and will conduct her research on the Miner Institute premises. Wil Sims has transferred his degree process to the University of New Hampshire (UNH), where he is now supervised by Andre Brito. Each student will still have access to travel funds and materials and supplies as needed to execute their research activities and complete their degrees. These changes required investment of time and additional resources of the C3 administrative team to execute, and have set each student back in their respective graduation timeline. The entire C3 team - science and admin - is working hard to ensure these students feel supported as they navigate this hiccup. 2) FDA Policy Changes: The second major challenge revolves around anticipated changes in FDA policies and procedures. Historically, those researching seaweed as livestock feed additives have focused solely on commercially produced dried, milled seaweeds already listed by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). In these cases, AAFCO has approved dried kelp from the families Laminariaceae and Fucaceae, and other brown algal families, as well as a limited number of red and green seaweed species for use as ingredients in livestock feed. Presumably, seaweeds are added to livestock feed to provide minerals and trace elements that are nutritionally important. However, in order to conduct research on novel seaweed species (e.g., Asparagopsis taxiformis), or seaweeds prepared in a new fashion for more cost-effective shelf stability and added value (e.g., fermentation of sugar kelp), and for a new purpose that is not nutritional in nature (e.g., to suppress enteric methane emissions) in milk-producing animals, research teams must seek a Food Use Authorization (FUA) with FDA to ensure that the milk is safe to enter the food system, or seek self-determination as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). It was only through close partnerships with our advisory team members - and NutraSteward in particular - that we became fully cognizant of the intricacies of this process. Peer-reviewed literature does not report whether FUAs were obtained, and this is a terrible oversight for transparency in the scientific community. In April 2023, the C3 team submitted a FUA for an anticipated feed trial with fermented, "boosted" (with bioactive ingredient) sugar kelp at UNH scheduled to start in Fall 2023, to ensure sufficient time (~6 months) for review and discussions with FDA officials. Although we are using an AAFCO approved seaweed species, our novel feed additive is prepared using new protocols, and for a currently unapproved mode of action: targeted changes to the rumen microbiome, namely reducing methanogen populations and activity. During the course of reviewing our application, and others, FDA made the decision that feed additives that change livestock rumen function and/or the microbial community composition cannot be categorized as a nutritional feed ingredient, and must be categorized as a drug, despite not combating a specific disease. This categorization forced our FUA application down an arduous, lengthy (~10 years), and extremely cost-prohibitive (~$500K) review process. While we can seek exemptions for the fees, this lengthens the research timeline considerably and beyond the scope of the USDA funded C3 research program. Historically, other academic research institutions have navigated these hurdles by either resorting to disposing of milk produced during the trial, or seeking state-level exemptions to allow research to continue and the milk to enter the food system. These state level exemptions have, by-and-large, ceased because of a general recognition that bulk milk and/or milk components are routinely shipped across state geographic boundaries to processors nationwide. This means the only pathway currently available to conduct research on novel feed additives is to dispose of milk. Milk "dumping" is expensive to the research farm managers for several reasons: the price of the tossed milk needs to be recompensed, the labor involved in separating milk produced from the research animals from the bulk tank is considerable, the potential for reduced future quotas is debilitating, and the public perception of milk dumping is potentially damaging to the reputation of the research institute. There also could be environmental implications to milk dumping, and proper disposal of milk may be necessary to minimize impact to local water sources or soils. UVM is unwilling to entertain this option. Miner Institute was willing to conduct a limited trial (only 3 cows) for the time-being to strengthen evidence of safety of the feed additive for our pending FUA. While not statistically conclusive, the data gained from this preliminary trial were invaluable for designing our upcoming trials. Currently, we are navigating these options with UNH, and seeking additional funds from Lactalis American Group, Inc. to cover the additional costs of milk dumping in order to proceed with a full-size feeding trial anticipated in February/March 2024. In the interim, the IFEED Act has been introduced in the senate (S.1842) over the summer and describes a zootechnical categorization of feed additives that is more suitable for anti-methanogenic supplements, and would, in theory, follow the similar shorter and less cost-prohibitive pathway as nutritional feed ingredients. A sister bill was just introduced in the House in early December. It is possible that the new language will be available before our next in vivo trial at UNH, but we are, as stated above, moving forward with a milk dumping option unless and until we can seek a FUA via the zootechnical pathway. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? First Friday Research Forum: What: An hour time-slot in which project members convene to discuss related research topics from any branch of the transdisciplinary program. Typical format could be a 40-minute seminar style presentation, followed by moderated Q&A, or a series of shorter 15-minute presentations, or a recent journal article discussion. Why: To learn more about our collective research capacity, particularly in the early phases of the research program. To help us each peek outside of our silos. Later content may shift to suit our project needs, and include invited guest speakers as we move along. Who: The entire C3 project membership is invited to attend. Presenters will be identified by the First Friday Forum Coordinator who will also introduce speakers and mediate Q&A, unless a guest speaker has been invited by an alternative host; Zoom recordings posted to our YouTuber channel by project coordinator. Where: Recorded and live Zoom (link is provided in calendar invite) When: First Friday afternoon of every month, 1pm EST, recording made available the following week. List of topics and speakers in Year 2 of the award (*guest speakers): 10/07/2022 Michael Donihue - Applied economics of the C3 project 11/04/2022 Kara Kugelmeyer - Live demonstration of Mendeley as a C3 resource 12/02/2022 Susan Powers, Shane Rogers, Avery Paradis - Life Cycle Assessment for the C3 project 01/06/2023 Struan Coleman* - Quantifying baseline costs and cataloging potential optimization strategies for kelp aquaculture carbon dioxide removal 02/03/2023 Kristen Davis* - The MacroAlgae Cultivation MODeling System (MACMODS): A numerical tool to support the future of seaweed farming - farm design, siting, and environmental feedbacks 03/04/2023 Richard Kersbergen - Dairy farm feeding systems...every farm is a little unique 04/07/2023 David Conner, Rick Welsh, Jennifer Meredith - Social Science and C3: methods and tools for engagement and analysis 05/05/2023 Julia George, Joey Barrett, Jue Wang, Luis Baez, Kendall Schenck - Spring 2023 Undergraduate Intern Presentations 06/02/2023 Hannah Blossom - The wonders of microalgae and their vast potential 08/04/2023 Julie Decker* - The Alaska Mariculture Initiative Field Trips for team members: Tour of North American Kelp manufacturing facility (Samantha deGroff, Marketing & Project Coordinator and Darren Hayes, Research Director, Waldoboro, ME) for ~40 Colby undergraduate students (Econ and Env. Sciences) to see liquid extraction and drying processes, April 6, 2023 Tour of the Wolfe's Neck Farm (Freeport, ME). Tour of dairy operations with a focus on C3 involvement for 15 Colby College undergraduate students enrolled in an ES270 Applied Ecology course, March 30, 2023 Tour of Flood Brothers Farm, LLC (Jenni Tilton Flood, Clinton, ME). Tour of robotic milking parlor, dairy barn, and manure lagoons. Select participants from Colby College and Bigelow Laboratory attended, including a postdoc and 3 undergraduate students, June 13, 2023 Tours during Year 2 In person Annual Retreat (July 18-21, 2023; 32 C3 participants): Tour of Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County (hosted by Stefan Grimberg, Co-PD and Malorie Jordan, Dairy Educator, Canton, NY), July 19, 2023 Tour of Poulin Grain feed mill (hosted by Dave Barton, Mill Manager, Canton, NY), July 19, 2023 Tour of Stauffer Farm anaerobic digester (hosted by Jon Curry, LF BioEnergy Director of Operations, North Lawrence, NY), July 20, 2023 Tour of W.H. Miner Institute (hosted by Sarah Morrison, Co-PD, Chazy, NY), July 20, 2023 Expert-led discussions Breakout session discussions during second annual in-person retreat (July, 2023) on project focal points including a) elemental analyses, b) data flow across disciplines, c) approaches to query socioeconomic data, d) frequently asked questions about the project, e) extension and education initiatives Topical Poster Session consisting of 12 presentations from undergraduate, graduate and PhD students during in-person retreat Graduate Student Trainings Coast-Cow-Consumer Leadership Council Training and Service (Diana Reyes Gomez, Gift Omoruyi) Graduate student training with GaBi LCA software rep. GreenFeed online training - February 14,2023 (UVM GreenFeed online training with C-Lock Inc with Chris Dieball) GreenFeed System Training for cows in Miner Institute herd, December 2022 and July 2023 (Gift Omoruyi, Hannah Jones, Jered Green) Autumn Moen (MS candidate, UVM) gained experience interviewing and coding qualitative data, 2022-2023 Michelle Tynan completed her MS degree Alex Burt, May-July 2023, Elemental Composition of Microalgae for Use as a Food Supplement for Dairy Cows, undergraduate internship training Avery Paradis (MS student), Rebekah Shaummann (BS student), and Seyed Mohammadali Molayzahedi (PhD Student) received one-on-one mentoring with Prof. Susan Powers and Prof. Shane Rogers Philip Hekeler (MS Student) received one-on-one mentoring with Prof. Stefan Grimberg Professional Development UC Davis 2023 State of the Science Summit: Feed Strategies to Reduce Enteric Emissions - May 2-3, 2023 (Nichole Price, PD; Steve Archer, co-pD; Susan Powers, co-PD; Shane Rogers, co-PD; Avery Paradis, graduate student; Seyed Mohammadali Molayzahedi graduate student) Multi-day workshop on development of carbon credits for Bigelow Laboratory staff members, hosted by TREES Consulting - November 7-10, 2022 Training in Algal Culturing Techniques and Microalgae Mass Culturing Techniques courses (https://ncma.bigelow.org/training-courses) at Bigelow Laboratory National Center for Marine Microbiota and Algae for a postdoc, a master's student, and an undergraduate intern. - April 16-21, 2023 and April 23-25, 2023, respectively How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Workshops, Public Speaking, Farmer Days, Stakeholder Engagement Hakai Magazine kelp farming dialogue and subsequent session with early career ocean professionals (ECOPs) on 04/11/2023; 1,039 registered ahead of the event; 463 participants joined the Zoom; 31 watched live on YouTube; 81 participants also joined the ECOP session University of New England Marine Science Alumni Panel on 11/02/2022 - Elena Shippey on C3 project and research goals; 20 undergraduate marine science student attendees Maine Fishermen's Forum in Rockport, ME - 03/03/2023 representation from Michael Donihue, PhD, via Maine Seaweed Council at Trade Show tabling event; distributed trifold resource on project (see other products) National Seaweed Symposium in Portland, ME - 04/26/2023 project representation at Seaweed Showcase tabling event; distributed printed C3 trifolds and handouts of the newly developed macroalgal primer, and presented poster "Coast to Cow to Consumer: Marine algae use to enhance milk production, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and recover nutrients" Approximately 100 5th/6th graders from the Canton middle school have visited the CCE Learning farm to learn about anaerobic digestion of farm and food waste and the growth of microalgae. In addition to the middle school students 75 students (K-12) have participated in tours directly at the CCE farm Bigelow Laboratory Café Sci in East Boothbay, ME - 08/15/2023 public forum presentation from Nichole Price, PhD, titled "Coast-Cow-Consumer: Using Algae to Reduce the Dairy Carbon Hoofprint and Promote Rural Prosperity", 150 attendees in person, 193 views on YouTube Meredith, April 2023, 8 student presentations at Colby Liberal Arts Symposium, discussed independent student research related to the project, open to public Huo, G., Lane, J., Mitchell, C., & Gallo, T. April 27, 2023. Colby Liberal Arts Symposium, Seaweed Harvest Supply Chain Comparison (presentation) Wims, H., Wong, E., & Kronenwetter, S. April 27, 2023. Colby Liberal Arts Symposium, Dairy Consumers' WTP for Methane Suppression (presentation) Kane, J., Mayer, E. Merkle, C., & Bassett, S. April 27, 2023. Colby Liberal Arts Symposium, Social License to Operate for Seaweed Aquaculture (presentation) English, N., Frykman, O., Nelson, L., & Barrett, J. April 27, 2023. Colby Liberal Arts Symposium, Coastal Community Wellbeing and Working Waterfronts (presentation) Rapperport, B., Shelton, S., Wennrich, J., & Gramaglia, S. April 27, 2023. Colby Liberal Arts Symposium, Coastal Community Wellbeing and Working Waterfronts (presentation) Lobon, L., Niemiec, B., & Hazzard, S. April 27, 2023. Colby Liberal Arts Symposium, Coastal Community Wellbeing and Working Waterfronts (presentation) Rubin, G., Swann, S., & Goodman-Leong, J. April 27, 2023. Colby Liberal Arts Symposium, Dairy Consumers' WTP for Methane Suppression (presentation) Hunter, B., Premtaj, C., Thors, R., Hapward, C. April 27, 2023. Colby Liberal Arts Symposium, Seaweed Harvest Supply Chain Comparison (presentation) Various tours or webinars hosted by Wolfe's Neck Center that brought guests by C3 related kiosks and posters for interactive Q&A Pasture walk for 10 participants of the New England Grazing Network, May 8, 2023 Pasture walk for 10 participants at UMaine Extension, July 7, 2023 Farm tour for 30 participants from the RISD School of design, July 20, 2023 Farm tour for 10 interns of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, August 2, 2023 OpenTEAM in-depth learning series/webinar when linkages to C3 program discussed on June 15, 2023, 52 participants Wolfe's Neck Center electronic communications through newsletters distributed to over 65 OpenTEAM organizations and more than 250 professionals, describing C3 activities. Tynan, M.K*. December 2, 2022. Northeast Dairy Magazine "Will the Dairy and Seaweed Industries in the Northeast Work Together to Reach Net-Zero?" (publication)(NIFA Acknowledged) George, J., Hekeler, P.*, & Grimberg, S. February 6-8, 2023. Annual Meeting of the New York Water Environment Association Does Kelp in the Cow's Food Ration Impact the Cow's Manure Biodegradability? (presentation)(NIFA acknowledged) Earned MEDIA NPR MPBN Maine Calling radio panel with Nichole Price on 9/7/2022 titled "Maine's role in the future of the global seaweed industry" https://www.mainepublic.org/show/maine-calling/2022-09-07/maines-role-in-the-future-of-the-global-seaweed-industry Country Folks web article released on 9/23/2022 titled "Looking to the seas for feed" https://countryfolks.com/looking-to-the-seas-for-feed/ News Center Maine web article release on 9/26/2022 titled "Kelp could play a crucial role in trapping carbon emissions from our atmosphere" https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/special-reports/maines-changing-climate/kelp-farm-carbon-emissions/97-15831fc6-6c6a-447f-bb8e-479c74a065ad WAGM television feature on 10/25/2022 titled "Maine sustainable dairy product one of 15 awarded funds by USDA" https://www.wagmtv.com/2021/10/25/maine-sustainable-dairy-project-one-15-awarded-funds-by-usda/ The Science Writer web article released on 12/15/2022 titled "The Seaweed Solution: A climate change treatment for coastal Maine?" https://www.thesciencewriter.org/resilience-stories/seaweed-solution-for-coastal-maine Investable Oceans web coverage on 12/23/2023 amplifying Syracuse University News press release titled "Can Kelp Help? Research Examines Dairy Farmer, Dairy Nutritionist Attitudes on Adding Feed Additive to Cut Methane Emissions" https://www.investableoceans.com/blogs/insights/can-kelp-help-research-examines-dairy-farmer-dairy-nutritionist-attitudes-on-adding-feed-additive-to-cut-methane-emissions Aquaculture Research Institute web article release on 03/07/2023 titled "Sustainable Aquaculture in Maine: Research, Innovation, and Workforce Development" https://umaine.edu/aquaculture/2023/03/07/6169/ Maine Science Podcast with Kevin Posman on 04/06/2023 titled "A conversation with Kevin Posman, Senior Research Associate at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences" https://maine-science-podcast.simplecast.com/episodes/kevin-posman-biogeochemistry What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In line with our initial timeline and schedule of milestones submitted with the original proposal, year 3 of the Coast-Cow-Consumer research program will shift focus to exploration of microalgae feed additive options. This effort is bifurcated into two efforts that will eventually conjoin as a singular feed additive: microalgae strains identified for nutritional value, and strains identified for their antimethanogenic properties. Limited testing at the bench scale in year 2 has pointed our research efforts in a clear direction of inquiry to tackle in Year 3. Any promising, new strains identified from our in vitro 'bottle herd' can also be examined more deeply for production capacity in our prototype photobioreactors and with key stakeholder partners (e.g., Global Algae). Alongside the C3 team research endeavors, we are continuing to recruit additional advisory panel members, particularly from the small pool of companies in the US that are generating microalgae food and feed products, to help guide our efforts. Another major series of activities planned for year 3 are continued animal feeding trials. Please see the Challenges/Problems section to understand the current policy and regulatory limitations C3 is experiencing as we attempt to work with truly novel algal feed additives. Our current approach will be to conduct trials in which we dispose of milk, and we are actively seeking companion funding to support the unanticipated expenses associated with this process. These animal trials will be conducted at both the University of New Hampshire and the Miner Institute, NY. Each trial will be executed with an eye to reporting upon any and all toxicity or residue issues with the milk produced (we don't anticipate any), to further support our pending Food Use Authorization applications pending at FDA. By the end of year 2, our C3 team that is focused on life cycle assessment development had achieved the major milestone of finalizing a draft base model for dairy farms across the US and within specific regions using comprehensive quantitative analyses of peer-reviewed LCAs. In year 3, our next endeavor is to add more complexity to this base model via direct inclusion of the outputs of an updated Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM), which will include nutrient flows and impacts to rumen performance. Our version of the IFSM model will also be used to do sensitivity analysis to determine which variables are most critical for GHG and other emissions estimates. Specifically, we will imbed yet another layer of nuance by incorporating details from our in vitro assays to treatment-driven changes in the rumen microbiome, and use outputs from a rumen-specific community model as inputs for the modified IFSM. Influence on production of volatile fatty acids and methane, resultant shifts in feed efficiencies, the exact mode of action of the bioactive on methanogens, and any delays in impacts to methanogens or the possibility of adaptation of these bacteria to bioactive compounds, etc., continues to be an active area of research for our C3 group, and for others working in this research space. Our newly developed quantitative PCR primer probes for methanogens will shed light on the rumen model development, as well. Finally, we have scheduled an intensive series of targeted interactions with key decision makers in year 3 of the award. We will be presenting preliminary results at a series of in-person or hybrid workshops and convenings where the intended audience is livestock feed company representatives, animal nutritionists, veterinarians, and the like. These already scheduled and advertised convenings will serve three specific purposes: 1) to inform the audience of the latest developments in our research program, 2) to recruit additional advisory panel members or stakeholder partners to C3 and broaden the spectrum of our network beyond the northeast region, and 3) to provide an opportunity for the social scientists and economists affiliated with C3 to conduct surveys, focus groups, and follow-on interviews with willing attendees.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Obj 1 Activities Tested seaweed processing influence on iodine (e.g., fermentation), other trace metals, and enzyme composition Tested bioactive generation using organic oxidants and seaweed substrates to create anti-methane bioactive with organic acids Tested shelf-stability tests of novel additives Soil incubation exps with manure collected during seaweed feeding trial 3-4 Biomethane Potential (BMP) exps with manure from two animal trials Operated two prototype photobioreactors connected to prototype anaerobic digestion system; exps on effluent quantity to fertilize microalgae growth Developed a novel qPCR assay for methanogens Designed and executed two palatability assays for seaweed feeds and dairy cattle Executed a small, three animal feeding trial (with milk disposal) to evaluate if residues appear in milk and/or manure Data Analyses of I, Br, Se, and other micronutrient content of macro- and microalgae following rinsing, blanching, and processing, in as-fed additive products, in TMR, GreenFeed pellet, and in milk and manure As, Pb, and Cd in sugar kelp and rockweed "kelp meal" measured as part of NIST Data Quality Assurance Program Halogenated compound concentrations (e.g., bromoform, dibromoethane, etc.) in TMR, additive, milk, and manure CH4 emissions and VFAs from in vitro trials From in vivo trials: Dry matter intake; Milk yield and milk composition (fat, protein, lactose); Feed efficiency & preference; Body weight and body condition score; Enteric gas emissions (CH4, H2) as production, intensity, and yield Analyzed soil greenhouse gas fluxes (CO2, CH4, N20) and nutrient cycling Gene copy # of methanogens in exp rumen populations Growth rates of microalgae in prototype bioreactors Results Our method of "boosting" fermented seaweeds to enhance bioactive compounds reduced enteric CH4 emissions in vitro and in vivo No residues of halogenated compounds were detected in milk Manure from seaweed-fed cows reduced soil emissions of CO2 but had no effect on CH4 and N2O generation Initial BMP tests indicate no difference in BMP of manure from cows with inclusion of Chondrus, but potentially from boosted kelp Microalgae growth rates and population size doubling times is enhanced by anaerobic digester (AD) effluent Key outcomes Microalgae photobioreactors successful using power and nutrients supplied by a pilot scale AD Seaweed supplements did not have downstream agroecosystem consequences via alteration of manure quality Processing of seaweeds can help reduce I and enhance bioactive compounds. Titration of CBrH3/CBr2H2 concentrations can reduce enteric CH4 emissions without risking residues in milk/manure, but shelf stability is challenging Mode of action and any lag times in effects can be more deeply explored with methanogen qPCR primer sets Obj 2 Activities Interviews of feed suppliers and Maine Milk Pricing regulatory experts to understand the current market for algae-based dairy supplements Surveys of livestock nutritionists to understand hesitations or concerns in recommending seaweed supplements Quantitative review of 25 relevant macroalgae LCAs to compare CO2 generated per kg dry weight seaweed harvested Preliminary 30 in person consumer surveys at Waterville, ME Farmer's Market to finalize and conduct 450 surveys online on general consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for "CH4-free" milk Spatial analysis of permitted seaweed aquaculture lease sites in Alaska and Maine, and Maine coastal community socioeconomic indicators (from U.S. Census Bureau data) Data Summary of seaweed feed additive firm claims from vendor websites; compiled time series on mention of algae as feed supplement in popular press Data censusing interviews with each PI to understand processes, formats, data unit, collection, cleaning etc., to build the C3 data repository Example farm operations data from the Miner Institute was provided for IFSM tool modeling WTP metrics from extensive surveys compiled GPS coordinates of permitted seaweed aquaculture sites, state of proximal working waterfront infrastructure, and socioeconomic indices of local town population Comparative CO2 footprint estimates of scaled Asparagopsis taxiformis photobioreactor land-based cultivation to support LCA scenarios to compare with ocean-grown kelp Results Preliminary LCA indicates that GHG benefits of dietary seaweed supplements (1% dry matter inclusion rate, 80% reduction in GHG) on dairy farms far exceed GHG emissions associated with coastal sugar kelp aquaculture, regardless of how seaweed is processed (dried & milled or fermented) or grown (ocean or land-based) Maine farmers rarely capture a premium on milk pricing, so return on investment into new feed additives will unlikely be realized through milk quality or yield Seaweed aquaculture only significantly shifts income diversity in coastal Maine if prices of bulk biomass seaweed rises 50% and production expands 100% Willingness to pay for CH4-free milk is driven by parents/environmentally conscious consumers. Key outcomes Produced an improved coastal and land-based seaweed aquaculture LCA Conventional farmers will apply a new additive if it is recommended by a trusted advisor (nutritionist) and it generates ROI in the form of reduced veterinary costs, access to carbon markets, and/or increased milk yield or quality Detailed ReadMe and consistent keyword terminology for cross-referencing experiments and data types will be critical to make C3 Team database user-friendly Obj 3 Activities Developed undergraduate curriculum in the Environmental Sciences Dept. at Colby College (9 students, lecture and lab) focused on how cutting edge research informs policy and decision making (ES270 Applied Ecology) Bigelow Laboratory Café Code summer series of coding tutorials for undergraduates summer interns given by Bigelow staff 30 Colby students participated in experiential learning/independent research in EC231 Environmental Economics, students ranged from sophomores to seniors 3 posters were presented at the Colby Undergraduate Student Research Retreat Jan Plan short course (13 students) JP297Dj Ocean Forecasting: AI, Ecology, and Data Justice on the Seas on predicting marine resources (e.g., aquaculture) response to changing climate and influence on social issues like food security and environmental justice 20 undergraduates participated in C3 experiential learning internships across all partnering institutions Distributed two new project goals trifold at engagement events Dozens of speaking engagements, experiential tours, and earned media (see section Vc) Student generated "Story Maps" on milk pricing, coastal community vulnerability, aquaculture leasing Social Network Analyses Data Number of participants in student and outreach activities Surveys on undergraduate student intern experiences Surveys on early career scientist career development needs Number of graduate students filing theses/dissertations and placements in related professional positions Nodes of connection between project participants and across external stakeholders Results ~75 undergraduates affiliated with C3 in year 2; Undergraduate students working on the C3 project have reported gains in research knowledge and skills during their internship. 88% of surveyed students report that they are now more likely to pursue additional opportunities to advance their education/career Thousands of general public reached through earned media, interactive learning features at Wolfe's Neck Center and Cornell Cooperative Extension, and targeted public speaking events Overall, C3 has identified 187 total collaborative relationships, the majority of which were "new" and established due to working on the C3 project (n=113, 60.4%) Key outcomes We are building our stakeholder group that will be engaged in outreach activities coinciding with initiation of the feeding trials Students are really energized by this solutions-based research project!
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Reyes, D.C.*, Meredith, J., Puro, L., Berry, K., Kersbergen, R., Soder, K.J., Quigley, C., Donihue, M., Cox, D., Price, N.N., et al. (2023). Maine organic dairy producers receptiveness to seaweed supplementation and effect of Chondrus crispus on enteric methane emissions in lactating cows. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10:1153097. doi:10.3389/fvets.2023.1153097
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Wu, J.�, Rogers, S.W, Schaummann, R., & Price, N.(2023) Comparison of multiple macroalgae cultivation systems and end-use strategies of Saccharina latissima and Gracilaria tikvahiae based upon techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment. Sustainability 15 (15), 12072
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Arndt, K.A.�, Reyes, D.C.*, Quigley, C., Brito, A.F., Price, N., & Contosta, A.R. Seaweed supplementation to organic dairy cows may reduce climate impact of manure in pasture soils during a laboratory incubation. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment, 2023, published online https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12082
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Schutt, E.*, Francolini, R.*, Price, N., Olson, Z., & Byron, C. (2023). Supporting ecosystem services of habitat and biodiversity in temperate seaweed (Saccharina spp.) farms. Marine Environmental Research 191(106162) doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106162
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Fujita, R., Augyte, S., Bender, J., Brittingham, P., Buschmann, A.H., Chalfin, M., Collins, J., Davis, K.A., Gallagher, J.B., Gentry, R., et al. (2023). Seaweed blue carbon: Ready? Or Not? Marine Policy 155: 105747 doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105747
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Carlos M. Duarte, Antonio Delgado-Huertas, Elisa Marti, Beat Gasser, Isidro San Martin, Alexandra Cousteau, Fritz Neumeyer, Megan Reilly-Cayten, Joshua Boyce, Tomohiro Kuwae, Masakazu Hori,Toshihiro Miyajim, Nichole N. Price, Suzanne Arnold, Aurora M. Ricart, Simon Davis, Noumie Surugau, Al-Jeria Abdul, Jiaping Wu, Xi Xiao, Ik Kyo Chung, Chang Geun Choi, Calvyn F.A. Sondak, Hatim Albasri, Dorte Krause-Jensen, Annette Bruhn, Teis Boderskov, Kasper Hancke, Jon Funderud, Ana R. Borrero-Santiago, Fred Pascal, Paul Joanne, Lanto Ranivoarivelo, William T. Collins, Jennifer Clark, Juan Fermin Gutierrez, Ricardo Riquelme, Marcela Avila, Peter I. Macreadie, and Pere Masque. Carbon Burial in Sediments below Seaweed Farms Nature Climate Change
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Almeida, K. V., E. Jordan, P. S. Erickson, and A. F. Brito. "Evaluating taste preference of different sources of Ascophyllum nodosum meal in dairy heifers." Journal of Dairy Science Communications (2023).
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Tynan, M.K., 2023. Why Feed Seaweed? Tacit and Codified Knowledge Networks in the Dairy Industry (Masters Thesis, Syracuse University, Rick Welsh advisor)
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Driemel, A. W. (2023). The Effects Of Processed Seaweed Supplements On Rumen Fermentation And Methane Production In Vitro. (Masters Thesis, University of Vermont, Sabrina Greenwood advisor)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Price, N.N. February 21, 2023. International Seaweed Symposium Developing tools and processes to measure, report, and verify carbon uptake, deposition, and sequestration rates on seaweed farms
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Wu, J.�, Rogers, S.W., Schaummann, R., & Price, N. February 21, 2023. International Seaweed Symposium Seaweed cultivation for nutrient management to supplement to nutrient removal processes in wastewater treatment
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Meredith, J. February 26, 2023. Aquaculture America The capacity of seaweed aquaculture to diversify rural livelihoods on the coast of Maine
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Paradis, A*. March 21, 2023. CNY Air & Waste Management Association 25th Annual Technical Conference Toxicity of Heavy Metals in Supplemented Mixed Dairy Cattle Feed (TOP PRIZE BEST RESEARCH PRES)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Welsh, R., Tynan, M.*, Fitzgerald, R.*, Greenwood, S., Conner, D., Price, N., Quigley, C., & Moen, A*. March 23-27, 2023. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Geographers Dairy Nutritionists Knowledge of Algae-Based Feed Supplements to Improve Herd Health and Reduce Methanogenesis
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Paradis, A.* & Molayzahedi, S.M*. April 15, 2023. Clarkson University Research and Project Showcase Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Milk Production
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Driemel, A*. April 20, 2023. Masters Thesis Defense in Animal Science, UVM (Greenwood advisor). The effects of processed seaweed supplements on rumen fermentation and methane production in vitro
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Posman, K. April 27, 2023. National Seaweed Symposium Coast to Cow to Consumer: feeding seaweeds to dairy cows to enhance milk production and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Omoruyi, G*. May 5, 2023. Graduate Seminar Presentation to the University of Vermont, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences An Overview Of Macroalgae Inclusion In Dairy Diets
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Schaummann, R. April 14, 2023. Undergraduate Honors Thesis, Clarkson University (Rogers advisor). Land-based Cultivation of Asparagopsis taxiformis for Antimethanogenic Diet Supplement in US Cattle
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Molayzahedi, S.M*. July 27, 2023. Clarkson University Research and Project Showcase Mitigating climate change impacts of the milk production industry
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
D. C. Reyes, K. R. Johnston, K. V. Almeida, A. Konopka, M. A. Rahman, E. A. Cruz, N. Price, P. E. Erickson, and A. F. Brito June, 2023. American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting. Animal Health 2 2231 Feeding different iodine sources to transition dairy cows: Effects on production performance and thyroid hormones (won graduate sustainability prize)
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Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:This list has been expanded from project initiation, boldedwere addressed directly in Year 1: Dairy production, distribution, and processing industry Dairy consumers (e.g., retailers, food service industry, other major end-users) Algae producers, harvesters, processors, distributors Animal feed, supplement producers and distributors Aquaculture regulatory bodies (from municipal to federal) General public Policy makers (e.g., USDA-NOAA Working Group on Research for Farming of Kelp and Seagrass, Maine Climate Council) Carbon market/offset certifiers and consultants Lab testing facilities for feed and food quality Aquaculture investors Veterinarians and Dairy Nutritionists Academics Feed and dairy regulatory bodies (e.g., FDA, NOSB, MOFGA) State-wide and federal carbon budgeting efforts Wild-capture fisheries industries seeking diversification (e.g., the Maine lobster industry) Algae growing, processing, biorefinery, and packaging equipment manufacturers Dairy and feed cooperatives, grain firms, supplement firms Milk Stabilization Price Program administrators Changes/Problems:TURNOVER As is the case with any project involving a large team of scientists in various career development stages, turnover is to be expected. We have had two key postdocs successfully move on to the next stage in their career: one was involved with the life cycle assessment efforts, the other was leading some of the nutrient recycling work. Replacing these positions has been particularly challenging during this national postdoc shortage (Langin, K., 2022. US labs face severe postdoc shortage. Science, 376(6600), pp.1369-1370). We are considering recruiting graduate students and contracting some work to prevent any significant deviations from the research schedule or project goals. We have also recruited internationally for postdocs and have hired two successfully, but VISA applications have slowed their start dates. We are navigating through replacing postdocs fairly comprehensively thus far, but have also just been notified that a co-project director will be leaving the current position at an American academic institution and moving abroad, making continued collaboration with this project less effective. Processes are underway to ensure that the graduate students remaining in the US and who are affiliated with Coast-Cow-Consumer project remain financially and academically supported. We are considering several scenarios for engaging another investigator that may result in reallocation of funds during year 2. UNEXPECTED OUTCOMES Also as is the case with large research efforts, unexpected outcomes can shift focus on particular objectives. We have long since shied away from the concept of finding a single, "silver bullet" alga that can greatly suppress enteric methane emissions AND be cost-effective and produced at scale; however, we originally were hoping to find several candidates. Our latest research has indicated that the processing and preparation of the algae may actually be the most critical piece - and irrespective of particular species or strains - to 'boost' generation of bioactive compounds, 'rinse' algae of those elements that are naturally accumulated in concentrations approaching toxicity for cows, and shrink the carbon footprint of the algae-base additive production; the proposed processing techniques may also be able to be organic certified. We have refocused efforts on rinsing/blanching and then ensiling/fermenting/pickling the algae with select inoculants to generate a product that meets several needs, and is shelf stable. While we are very excited about this prospect, it has meant that we have had to develop new protocols and invest in new large-scale equipment to start our animal trials a few months later than we'd hoped. TRIPLE PANDEMIC COVID and now the flu, hand-foot-and-mouth, and RSV epidemics in the Northeastern US continue to disrupt the workforce - and particularly those with young children in daycare and school settings; many facilities have intermittently closed due to lack of care providers, teachers, or overall student body. Frankly, I think every team member has been directly impacted at some point during our first year and has undergone extensive absences from work as a result of personal health or family care needs. We continuously try to evaluate overall resource needs and accommodate remote working options as is feasible. Most team members are comfortable with travel and in-person interactions, but we take every precaution (masking, outside meetings when feasible) when engaging in person as is possible and acceptable to the membership. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?1. First Friday Research Forum: What: An hour time-slot in which project members convene to discuss related research topics from any branch of the transdisciplinary program. Typical format could be a 40-minute seminar style presentation, followed by moderated Q&A, or a series of shorter 15-minute presentations, or a recent journal article discussion. Why: To learn more about our collective research capacity, particularly in the early phases of the research program. To help us each peek outside of our silos. Later content may shift to suit our project needs, and include invited guest speakers as we move along. Who: The entire C3 project membership is invited to attend. Presenters will be identified by the First Friday Forum Coordinator who will also introduce speakers and mediate Q&A, unless a guest speaker has been invited by an alternative host; Zoom recordings posted to our YouTuber channel by project coordinator. Where: Recorded and live Zoom (link is provided in calendar invite) When: First Friday afternoon of every month, 1pm EST, recording made available the following week. List of topics thus far (*guest speakers): 03/04/2022 Jingjing Wu - Life Cycle Assessment contributions 04/01/2022 Mike Lomas - Considerations in the production of microalgae in bioreactors 05/06/2022 Steve Archer, Carmen Cartisano, Gabrielle Iacono, Kevin Posman, Dave Emerson, Nichole Price - Algal bioactives: some case studies, how we analyse their composition and content and test for anti-methane properties 06/03/2022 Joe McFadden*, Sarah Morrison - measuring methane and other gases commercially 07/01/2022 Nick Record - Reproducible Research and Data Management 08/5/2022 Susan Powers, Steve Archer - How to estimate the global warming potential of methane 2. Field Trips for team members Tours of Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences (PD Price, East Boothbay, ME), The Wolfe's Neck Center Dairy production facility (Executive Director, David Herring, Brunswick, ME), SOURCE, Inc. seaweed processing facility (Bonnie Tobey - operations manager and President, Maine Seaweed Council, Brunswick, ME) Feed mill Goldstar Feeds (Michele Bennett, Dairy Specialist and Andy Dugan, Vice President) Augusta, ME Jason and Joy Ray of Ray Family Farms, West Gardiner, ME https://rayfamilyfarmsia.com/about-us Misty Meadows Farm Clinton, ME, tour by Rick Kersbergen, owned and operated by John and Belinda Stoughton and Thomas and Kimberly Wright. ?3. ?Expert-led discussions Breakout session discussions during first annual in-person retreat (July, 2022) on: microalgae cultivation on a farm; stakeholder engagement; scaling up - from microscale benchtop to local, regional, and global levels; algae supplements - snake oil or verified feeding strategy access to Dairy and Seaweed extension officers 4. Topical Poster session consisting of 16 presentations from undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D students 5. Training in macroalgae cultivation Postdoc Jingjing stay at Bigelow - lab training and macroalgae cultivation - relevance to LCA scoping Student developed seaweed primer developed for dairy farmers 6. Graduate Student trainings Leadership (Diana Carolina Reyes Gomez) Use of GreenFeed System - grad students at UNH, UVM, and Miner all received professional training from C-Lock Systems Use of continuous fermenters - several master's students and PhDs trained at UVM Postdoc, graduates, and undergraduate students trained on LCA software systems How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?WORKSHOPS, PUBLIC SPEAKING, FARMER DAYS, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT USDA Agricultural Research Services Interagency Working Group for Farming Seaweeds and Seagrasses stakeholder engagement listening sessions (four, scheduled throughout March 2022) received input from over 178 attendees to collect input on topics to be included in a report to US Congress on the state of seaweed research. https://www.ars.usda.gov/animal-production-and-protection/aquaculture/docs/iwg-farming-seaweeds-and-seagrasses/ Lactalis and Stonyfield - 05/24/2022, presentation from Nichole Price, PhD, on Ensiling Seaweed for Organic Dairy at the Wolfe's Neck Center Orleans Conservation Trust - 08/30/2022 presentation from Charlotte Quigley, PhD, titled "From Coast to Cow: A New Way to Reduce Methane" Northeast Dairy Producers Alliance, 21st Annual Field Day - 10/01/2021 presentations from Andre Brito, PhD., Charlotte Quigley, PhD (https://nodpa.com/p/117/21st-Annual-NODPA-Field-Days-at-the-Mallet-Barn-Wolfes-Neck-Center-Freeport-Maine-September-30--October-1-2021) A. Brito presented animal trial results in the Feeds and Forage with a powerpoint presentation (attached). C. Quigley presented our project as part of the Research Product Spotlights which was an oral presentation, stakeholder Q&A engagement session, and pasture tour. Note: Governor Janet Mills attended briefly MEDIA Colby Magazine Volume 109, Issue 1 released Spring 2022 titled "COLBY, COWS, AND CLIMATE CHANGE" featuring Bigelow Research Technician Gabby Iacono. Colby News article released March 31, 2022 titled "Colby Scientists Seek Solutions to Climate Change in the Belly of a Cow" featuring Bigelow Senior Research Scientist and Colby ES Professor Dr. Nichole Price. Mainebiz story released on 10/08/2021 titled "Maine lab gets $10M to find ways to decrease, um, gas output from cows" CNBC story released on 10/12/2021 titled "Methane from cow is a big contributor to climate change - feeding them seaweed may help" WAGM story released on 10/25/2022 titled "Maine sustainable dairy product one of 15 awarded funds by USDA" Civil Eats story released on 03/16/2022 titled "Can Small Seaweed Farms Help Kelp Scale Up?" Culture story released on 03/16/2022 titled "Cows and Carbon: How a Pinch of Seaweed a Day could Keep the Methane Away" Boston NPR WBUR story released on 04/22/2022 titled "Cow burps drive global warming. Scientists think feeding them seaweed could help" EPA article released on 05/02/2022 titled "AFBF: America's farmers are reducing greenhouse gas emissions" USA Today article released on 08/22/2022 titled "Nugget the cow: Seaweed-munching bovine chews on solution to methane problem" Northeast Aquaculture Conference & Exposition (NACE) on April 27-29, 2022: Center for Seafood Solutions' Nichole Price hosted a field trip of ~20 members of aquaculture industry and the general public to highlight aquaculture research projects and analytical services available at Bigelow Prototype guide posts/kiosks for carbon footpath installed and 'tested' at Wolfe Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment "Using the Ocean and Land to Fight Climate Change": an overview of the Coast Cow Consumer (C3) Project at Wolfe's Neck Center, farm-raised cows on the coast of Maine on the Front lines fighting Climate Change "From the Lab to the Pasture": the step-by-step research that tests seaweed supplements for dairy cows "What's on the Menu?": a review of cow diet make-up and the components of the cow digestive tract, including the methane-producing rumen. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?First, and foremost, we are working our way towards animal trials in year 2. Results from our first year have clearly indicated that drying seaweeds is not a sustainable way forward, and may strip the algae of valuable nutritional components and bioactive compounds. We are having to create - from scratch - fermentation/ensiling techniques and protocols for brown and red seaweeds at production scale to initiate animal trials. This is only feasible through important partnerships established at the time of proposal submission with companies like Atlantic Sea Farms, Ocean's Rainforest, and developing relationships with the Culture Abalone, Vitamin Sea, and the Crop Project. Another unforeseen opportunity is managing the level of stakeholder interest in this research - and discovering how many new companies have emerged purporting to sell algae feed additives. Managing the volume of communications and information gleaned within one-on-one meetings necessitated the development of customized contact reference management software, but we also see it as an opportunity to address our LOGIC MODEL, and evaluate the impact our research has on a developing sector. This team is also capitalizing on newly invigorated discussions of the feed additive claims process and convening of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. Currently, changes to the rumen microbiome that result in a reduction of enteric methane emissions is viewed as a 'drug' by the FDA, despite the fact that algae feed additives do not treat a disease; categorization as a nutritive feed supplement is possible, as long as no claims are made about reducing enteric methane, which is counterproductive to dairy sustainability goals. Further, the current policies disfavor US markets on a global scale: Canada, the EU, and several South American countries offer a third, zootechnical claims option for which products like Bovaer (3NOP) have been certified. In year 2, this project team will engage with this policy review process. In addition to FDA policy-makers, other targeted stakeholders for engagement in year 2: Dairy production, distribution, and processing industry Dairy consumers (e.g., retailers, food service industry, other major end-users) Algae producers, harvesters, processors, distributors Animal feed producers and distributors Animal supplement producers and distributors Aquaculture regulatory bodies (from municipal to federal) General public Policy makers (e.g., USDA-NOAA Working Group on Research for Farming of Kelp and Seagrass, Maine Climate Council, FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine) Voluntary Carbon Market brokers Lab testing facilities for feed and food quality Aquaculture investors Veterinarians and Dairy Nutritionists Academics Feed and dairy regulatory bodies (e.g., FDA, NOSB, MOFGA) State-wide and federal carbon budgeting efforts Wild-capture fisheries industries seeking diversification (e.g., the Maine lobster industry) Algae growing, processing, biorefinery, and packaging equipment manufacturers Dairy and feed cooperatives, grain firms, supplement firms Milk Stabilization Price Program administrators Specific actions: With additional funds supplied to us by Organic Valley and Stonyfield, we plan to purchase chopping, rinsing, and blanching equipment and use their new temperature controlled ensiling room at the ASF 27,000 sqft new processing facility in Biddeford, ME to generate treatments for in vivo feeding trials starting spring 2023 ~20 55G drums for each of 4 feeding trials (2 pilots [6 head each], two full scale [40 head each]) with S. latissima and G. tikvahiae Target pH 4, ~7 days, thus far shelf stable for ~6 months Manure collected from each feeding trial described above to continue optimized biogas generation experiments and soil metals inputs estimates Online surveys [target ~200 participants] of working waterfront in Maine for economic impact assessments Dairy supply chain - Surveying dairy nutritionists and feed suppliers at a workshop designed in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund Sustainable Feed Innovations team to be held just before the next annual Cornell Dairy Nutrition Conference Emergent algae-based feed sector analyses using our new customer relationship management software New focus on microalgae (new hires, new goals) to inform prototype bioreactor development, including culture optimization and in vitro batch trials for methane suppression in simulated rumen systems. Our goal is to have the prototype photobioreactor connected to the demonstration anaerobic digestion system at Cornell Cooperative Extension by the time the team meets for its second annual in-person retreat in New York, summer 2023 May need to do 'settling' experiments for anaerobic lagoons to understand how much arsenic settles out of manure & liquid phase before the supernatant is applied as fertilizer Denise Bruesewitz at Colby College is designing an additional Environmental Studies capstone course focusing on Coast-Cow-Consumer topics, and leaning on the First Fridays seminar series.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Obj 1 (Algae characteristics, Milk Quality/Yield) Major activities completed / experiments conducted; 31 interviews with established and new seaweed producers and processors to determine production capacity ~15 U.S. seaweed species and their residues analyzed for bioactives (halogenated compounds, phlorotannins, other), nutritional profile, and mineral content Participated in NIST Quality Assurance program for sugar kelp for nutritional and toxic elements; total phenolic content; and proximates, fiber, and starch. The Coast-Cow-Consumer also supported two New England forage laboratories to participate Coordination with animal health experts to generate a matrix of bovine dietary needs crossed by nutritional constituent availability in seaweeds to identify species that may be hazardous or most promising Simulated rumen batch culture in vitro dosing experiments: 24 with algae for species screening, 36 with various halocarbons to discern mechanism and residence period, 2 with residuals from seaweed processing Simulated rumen continuous culture fermenter in vitro experiments: ~4 independent Latin square trials comparing S. latissima (rinsed, blanched, fresh), C. crispus (dose response), A. nodosum (fresh and extract), and various halocarbons In vivo feeding trials: mid-lactation (C. crispus, dose response, Latin square) and transition period (A. nodosum vs other iodine sources, continuous) at UNH and mid-lactation (C. crispus, continuous) WNC Data collected; gas concentration (CH4, H2, CO2) over at various time points, volatile fatty acids, rumen microbial consortium, bioactive compound concentration in algal supplement, various additional algal analytes, milk yield and quality, urine and feces production, hormone concentrations in blood, body indices, dry matter intake rates, orts Summary statistics and discussion of results; S. latissima > C. crispus > A. nodosum at reducing enteric methane emissions in in vitro rumen batch assays, but none as effective as Asparagopsis species thus far Iodine and selenium concentrations and DCAD imbalance issues need to be carefully managed - iodine concentrations in milk reached, in some cases, 1500 ppm, which exceeds the 500 ppm guideline for human consumption Key outcomes or other accomplishments realized. Bead beating of tissues prior to GCMS and/or very strong base extractions prior to ICPMS required to fully evaluate some nutritional constituents in seaweeds Mechanism of suppression may be specific tannins or complex halogenated compounds not detectable via GCMS, or simply an overall impact to rumen function that also inhibits efficiency. Mode of actions is important to discern likelihood of desired impact Phlorotannin standard curve generated for true concentration estimation - not readily available in literature and may be developed into a methods paper For necessary dosage/inclusion rate to achieve desired minimum methane suppression (~30%), iodine concentration in seaweeds generally exceeds bovine toxicity limits. Seaweeds generally need to be rinsed and blanched to lower iodine content by 50%, or grown in controlled media Residues from seaweed hydrocolloid extraction efforts are devoid of bioactive compounds that inhibit enteric methane emissions, but may still have limited nutritional value Obj 2 (LCA and Supply Chain analyses) Major activities completed / experiments conducted; ~12 possible scenarios identified for LCA Several assays completed to test algae-manure impacts on soil GHG emissions experiments and biogas generation One round of surveys, and several workshops/interviews conducted Data collected; Inventories started for ocean-based and land-based algae cultivation and processing via: drying and milling, freezing, oil immersion, and ensiling Scoping includes: S. latissima & G. tikvahea oceanic farmed seaweed (various scenarios to optimize yield), processed drying, and various end-uses A. taxiformis fed batch culture seaweed, processed lyophilized vs. oil immersion Token fed batch culture marine/brackish microalgae, ensiled Token fed batch culture freshwater microalgae, paste Various waste management: anaerobic digestions vs lagoons Various animal basal diets/animal-to-animal stochasticity as a distribution/sensitivity analyses via Monte Carlo Inventory being built and populated with literature values and directly from research underway Supply chain analyses include cursory willingness to pay assessment among organic dairy farmers Summary statistics and discussion of results; Organic dairy farmers are already feeding seaweed supplements, but their reasons are varied and often not evidence-based, willing to pay ~$0.65 for algal supplements Some conventional farmers are aware of using seaweed to reduce enteric methane emissions, but remain skeptical/uninterested unless other measurable herd health impacts or positive inputs to revenue/bottom line can be identified Conventional farmers also voiced that agriculture not the largest source of GHG emissions that needs to be addressed 4) Key outcomes or other accomplishments realized. While drying and milling can make seaweed shelf stable, it is energetically quite costly. Alternatives are to ensile (ferment) seaweed or develop heat recycling systems for seaweed processing plants. Not only might seaweeds need to be processed to reduce biotoxicity to animals (and humans via milk), but careful consideration of ecotoxicological impacts of bioaccumulation of metals in soils via manure management may need to be monitored A key stakeholder group to engage includes the nutritional consultants, who are the trusted decision makers consulted during diet reformulations Obj 3 (Outreach, Education) Major activities completed / experiments conducted; ~215 undergraduates participated in experiential learning coursework 2 focus groups (NY - 4 conventional dairy farmers, ME - 6 conventional dairy farmers) dozens of seaweed infographic primers distributed to dairy farmers 65 surveys conducted on willingness to pay 6 webinars developed and available on our new YouTube channel 45 surveys of our own team members and interns to determine implementation success 4H programming at Cornell Cooperative Extensive underway Canton Public School Foodwaste Program visited demonstration anaerobic digestion facility Three "Carbon Footpath" kiosks and web interactive (via QR code) in development at Wolfe's Neck Center, with dozens of visitors thus far in testing phase Two additional undergraduate courses in development at Colby College in the Environmental Sciences and Economics departments. Data collected; No. participants, education stage, sector-based interest or experience, baseline knowledge level of algae production and feed products, desire for more information, etc. Summary statistics and discussion of results and Carbon footpath content planning & development and partner expansion via online/multimedia/digital engagement focus Large undergraduate and high school student interest in sustainability and food production General overall satisfaction with research program to date, but desire for more within-team and external communications tools: Coast-Cow-Consumer YouTube Channel, Dashboard, and additional annual in-person retreats in development. 4) Key outcomes or other accomplishments realized. Dairy farmers rely heavily on trusted advisors, such as nutritionists, feed consultants, and veterinarians to reformulate diets. It is these groups to which the new data on the promise (or lack thereof) of algae-based feeds in dairy production must be presented to ensure widespread adoption Student enthusiasm for topic area is palpable and the project offers opportunities for training in the life sciences, economics, policy, and sociology OPEN-Team awarded Climate Smart Commodities funds, and we are thrilled to expand this portal to include decision-making tools about algal supplements to reduce carbon 'hoofprint' of dairy production
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
D.C. Reyes*, J. Meredith, L. Puro, R. Kersbergen, C. Quigley, N. Price, and A.F. Brito (2022) Case Study: Effect of the red seaweed Chondrus crispus on enteric methane emissions and milk yield in dairy cows. Invited and accepted abstract to Research Topic "Natural Phytochemicals to Enhance Animal Productivity and Health Status with Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions" for the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Michelle K. Tynan*, Marie Claire Bryant, and Rick Welsh. (2022) Preliminary Findings of Northeast Organic and Conventional Dairy Farmers perception of benefits and challenges in feeding algae. In review Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Wu, J.�, Rogers, S.W., Schaummann, R., Higgins, C. and Price, N., (2022). Bioextractive aquaculture as an alternative nutrient management strategy for water resource recovery facilities. Water Research, 212, p.118092.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Brito, A.F. (2022) Effects of Seaweeds on Dairy Production. 2022 Cornell Nutrition Conference Proceedings.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Driemel, A.W., Baker, L.M., Snider, M.A., Posman, K., Quigley, C., Price, N.N. and Greenwood, S.L., (2022). PSVII-8 Effects of processed Saccharina latissima and Ascophyllum nodosum on ruminal fermentation and methane production in continuous culture. Journal of Animal Science, 100(Supplement_3), pp.383-383.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Jin-Ho Yun�, Stephen D. Archer, Nichole Price. (2022) Valorization of waste materials from seaweed industry: An industry survey based biorefinery approach. Accepted, Reviews in Aquaculture
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Ricart, A.M., Krause-Jensen, D., Hancke, K., Price, N.N., Masqu�, P. and Duarte, C.M., (2022). Sinking seaweed in the deep ocean for carbon neutrality is ahead of science and beyond the ethics. Environmental Research Letters, 17(8), p.081003.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Price, N.N. & Brito, A. F. April 14, 2022 Maine Climate and Agriculture Webinar Series The use of seaweed feedstock to reduce methane emissions from cows
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Price, N.N. April 18-21, 2022 USDA Annual SAS-CAP Spring Program Director Meeting Coast-Cow-Consumer Introduction
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Omoruyi, G.* & Sims, W.* June 16, 2022 Maine Seaweed Council Quarterly Meeting Dairy cattle dietary needs and seaweed nutritional profiles
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Driemel, A.*, L. M. Baker, M. A. Snider, K. Posman, C. Quigley, N. N. Price, S. L. Greenwood June 26-30, 2022 American Society of Animal Science Canadian Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting & Trade Show Effects of processed Saccharina latissima and Ascophyllum nodosum on ruminal fermentation and methane production in continuous culture
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Kayla Johnston July 29, 2022. MastersThesis Defense in Agricultural Sciences, UNH (Brito advisor). Feed iodine source and its effects on cow colostrum production and the growth and metabolism of their calves
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Price, N.N., Archer, S., Rogers, S., Wu J., Honisch, B., Iacono, G., et al. September 7, 2022 Seagriculture USA 2022 Meeting Cost-effective methods for verifying nutrient abatement by farmed seaweeds
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