Funded Projects

Agriculture and Farming

The Future of Fertilizer

Principal Investigator: Lawrence Wackett, Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics

Co-investigators: Carl Rosen, Professor and Department Head in the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate.

Industry Partners: The Office of Technology Commercialization has filed a provisional patent application. Two companies, one a Minnesota company and the other a multi-national, are currently evaluating the technology.

Problem: Urea is the primary source of nitrogen in agricultural fertilizer. However, due to high application rates, high levels of nitrate runoff into nearby waterways and threaten human health and local ecosystems.

Solution: Different urea-based compounds are used or found in fertilizers. The investigators plan to design and test these urea-based molecules for their positive and negative effects on plants. The optimal ratios of the compounds can produce better fertilizers.

Impact: By 2035, the amount of urea used as fertilizer is projected to increase from 165 billion tons to over 450 billion tons. A successful demonstration of optimally blended urea-based fertilizers could provide lower costs to farmers and offer a scalable solution to nitrate runoff and water impairment issues.

Mycoalgae Biofilm for Aquaculture Bioremediation and Animal-Feed Production

Principal Investigators: Bo Hu, Aravindan Rajendran

Lichen, a natural ecosystem with phototrophic algae and heterotrophic fungi symbiotically growing on the solid surface of rock or roof, is not readily applied in engineering field due to their low growth rate. A concept of “simulated lichen system” is recently developed by our UMN research group (UMN invention disclosure case # 20140274) that we can select different desired microalgae and fungal combinations that will be growing on the surface of some specific polymers to form the biofilm. Microalgae are naturally growing on the surface of the nutrient-rich water; however, biological treatment of polluted waters using microalgae is limited by problems associated with the settling and separation of algae downstream of the treatment site. The proposed methodology using bioaugment filamentous fungi in lichen biofilms overcomes this limitation, by efficiently retaining algae and recovering the nutrients and recycling of useful nutrients. We are extending this technology to aquaculture waste water bioremediation, and recycle the nutrients as proteinaceous microbial biomass feed for the aquatic animals. This process modification could make the aquafarming more efficient as commercial feeds may account for more than 50% of the total production costs. “Mycoalgae biofilm” also works on photosynthetic aeration to replace the conventional and energy intensive mechanical aeration for biological processes, and also the strains complement each other by the required respiratory gases. The biofilm composition can also be tailored based on the influent stream components, feasibility of the strains to grow together and its nutrition value as animal feed.

Identifying Constructed Wetland Nitrogen Processing Nodes within Headwater Stream Networks

Principal Investigator: Tim Griffis

Each year, on the order of 5×106 tons of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer is applied in the US Corn belt to maximize crop yields. Unfortunately, there are several unintended environmental consequences associated with high N application rates. Agricultural lands leach nitrate (NO3) into water systems in the Mississippi and are the dominant contributor to hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. Furthermore, our recent research has revealed that headwater streams in agricultural watersheds are important, and poorly constrained sources of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas (GHG). Here, we propose to identify potential sites for N processing nodes within headwater stream networks to simultaneously manage N2O and NO3 using constructed wetlands. The scope of this proposed research will involve building upon our established research capacity that we have developed to identify potential N2O emissions hotspots. We will incorporate additional LiDAR, soils, land-use and stream data within a Geographic Information System (GIS) to identify optimal sites for establishing constructed wetlands in headwater stream networks that are characterized by high NO3 and N2O concentrations and suitable topography. We will use this product as a guide to select sampling locations where we will measure denitrification in native soils and sediments. Denitrification and ancillary water and soil quality data will be incorporated into a GIS data product. These data will support the local development of wetland design criteria, specifically focusing on NO3 and N2O load reductions.

A New Approach to Understanding Plastic-Eating Microbes

Primary Investigator: Jeffrey Strock
Co-Investigators: Satoshi Ishii, Hao Wang (Graduate Scholar)
Industry Partners: Minnesota Drainage Viewers Association, I&S Group, Inc. (ISG), Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Sand County Foundation, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Award Type: Seed Grant – Graduate Research Scholar

Problem: Drainage ditches on agricultural land improve field drainage efficiency by providing preferred flow paths for excess water. However, the increased flow rates do not allow dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus time to react, bind, or be absorbed by ditch sediment/soil or vegetation. These ditches transport high concentrations of nutrients and other contaminants into nearby streams and rivers, which degrades local and downstream ecosystems.

Solution: If drainage ditches behaved more like natural wetlands (chemically, biologically, and microbiologically), they could remove higher levels of nitrogen from field runoff, both through denitrification and plant uptake. Strock and his team will engineer and install low-grade weirs (aka – low dams) at a field site near Lamberton, with the goal to modestly raise upstream water levels, decrease flow velocity, and thus enhance nitrogen removal. The laboratory component of the project will analyze biological and microbial communities effective for nitrogen uptake within their low-grade weir design, with a focus on cold-climate denitrifiers.

Impact: Each year roughly 60 million pounds of nitrogen flows through drainage ditches leading to the Minnesota River. Improving the ability of drainage ditches to naturally remove more nitrate offers a low-cost solution to one of Minnesota’s most persistent environmental challenges. If successful, not only will this solution decrease the amount of dissolved nitrogen in Minnesota’s major waterways, but it would also decrease the amount of dissolved nitrogen leaving Minnesota via the Mississippi.

Repurposing Drainage Ditches to Remove Nitrogen

Exploring the Potential of Procyanidin Soil Amendments to Reduce Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agriculture

Primary Investigator: Timothy Griffis
Co-Investigators: Alexander Frie, Rodney Venterea
Industry Partners: Minnesota Farm Winery Association
Award Type: Seed Grant – Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Problem: Since the industrial revolution, the use of synthetic nitrogen (N) as fertilizer has driven increased agricultural yields. To meet growing demand, the use of N fertilizer has grown 40-times as large since 1940. Increased usage has led to a steep increase in emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas roughly 300 times more potent than CO2. N2O has been labeled as the most important anthropogenic oxygen depleting substance. Minnesota’s 72 agricultural counties need new treatment methods to continue a sustainable approach to fertilizer use.

Solution: The majority of agriculturally-based N2O emissions come from denitrification, a biological process through which nitrate is converted to ozone-depleting nitrogenous gases. MnDRIVE Researchers have identified procyanidins, a compound produced by grapes and berries, as an inhibitor of denitrification. This project will use procyanidins from multiple sources and measure their ability to reduce N2O emissions. Researchers will also identify optimal levels of procyanidins to apply for the desired decrease in denitrification.

Impact: Climate change and O-Zone depletion are two pressing issues defining environmental protection in the 21st century. The potential of procyanidins to decrease nitrous oxide emissions is yet to be fully released, but their utilization could be key in mitigating climate change and stratospheric O-zone depletion. Procyanidin is produced by grapes and could increase the demand for juice and wine production, providing economic stimulation for Minnesota industries.

Addition of Low-Cost, Phenolic-Rich Biomass to Reduce CO2 Emissions and Phosphorus Leakage from Restored Peatlands

Primary Investigator: Micahel Smanski
Co-Investigators: Dr. Dimitri Perusse (Postdoctoral Research Scholar)
Industry Partners: Novoclade
Award Type: Seed Grant – Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Problem: Microbial enzymes can degrade many harmful pollutants. Applying purified enzyme to contaminated soils or water can be cost prohibitive and ineffective, particularly when the pollutants are sequestered into complex organic matrices. In these cases, the enzymes cannot access the pollutants to break them down. Releasing live transgenic microorganisms expressing the enzymes faces difficult-to-overcome regulatory hurdles.

Solution: Transgenic animals offer several advantages for the on-site delivery of bioremediation enzymes. (1) They can functionally express microbial enzymes from diverse organisms, including bacteria and fungi. (2) They can break down organic matrices (e.g., plant matter) to free the pollutant and make it accessible to enzymatic degradation. (3) They can be easily sterilized via irradiation or genetic techniques to provide strict biocontainment and prevent against the release of transgenes into the environment.

Impact: If successful, this would be a new paradigm for bioremediation. The proof-of-concept could be extended to nearly any environment (aquatic, soil, marine, etc.) using different host animals.

Enhancing Water Treatment Using Nitrate-Metabolizing Microbes

Primary Investigator: Satoshi Ishii
Co-Investigators: Hao Wang, Nisha Vishwanathan (Graduate Scholar)
Industry Partners: Metropolitan Council
Award Type: Seed Grant – Graduate Research Scholar

Problem: Wastewater treatment plants across Minnesota can effectively remove organic carbon and phosphorus from wastewater, and convert toxic ammonia to less toxic nitrate. However, they still discharge large amounts of nitrate to public waterways, which may cause unwanted algae growth and local ecosystem damages.

Solution: Some microbes remove nitrate from water through a process called denitrification, which turns nitrate into gas phase nitrogen. While this process usually occurs in the absence of oxygen, recent research shows that some microbes can denitrify in the presence of oxygen (called aerobic denitrification). Aerobic denitrification should be compatible with current wastewater treatment technologies. However, it has not been tested as a water treatment solution to remove high concentrations of nitrate. Ishii’s team will explore and assess the efficacy of specific microbes in reducing nitrate concentrations within contaminated water. The lab-based approach will mimic wastewater treatment system conditions to evaluate actual scenarios.

Impact: The optimization of wastewater treatment systems to reduce nitrate can only progress after microbial communities are better understood and characterized. Long-term use of these optimized systems should reduce nitrate impairment of local ecosystems and help Minnesota meet nutrient reduction goals.

Capturing and Repurposing Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Agricultural Runoff

Primary Investigator: Guy Sander
Co-Investigators: NA
Industry Partners: NA
Award Type: Seed Grant – Undergraduate Research Scholar

Problem: Even at low levels, pharmaceuticals that enter Minnesota waterways can harm the environment and wildlife. The pharmaceuticals enter the environment through wastewater treatment plant effluent that is discharged in local waters, or in the wastewater sludge that is applied in farm fields. Pharmaceuticals do not degrade easily in fields, demanding new strategies to remove the pollutants from wastewater.

Solution: The Sander Lab will investigate aerobic bioremediation as a more effective strategy for removing pharmaceutical micropollutants at wastewater treatment plants. Researchers will track the fate of pharmaceuticals through the facility and propose optimized solutions based on the biodegradation of the micropollutants and flow capacity of the plant.

Impact: Improving pharmaceutical removal at wastewater treatment sites will reduce the amount of micropollutants that enter the environment, thereby protecting Minnesota’s water resources. A solution at the wastewater site will also allow for the continued application of sludge in farm fields, which is agriculturally beneficial for its high nutrient content.

A Novel Way to Extract Resources from MN Food Waste while Removing PFAS

Primary Investigator: Christy Haynes
Co-Investigators: Riley Lewis (Postdoctoral Research Scholar)
Industry Partners: Ecolab, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Award Type: Seed Grant – Graduate Research Scholar (with NRRI Travel Grant)

Problem: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment and represent a health threat worldwide. There are more than 7500 PFAS, and all have strong C-F bonds that render them persistent in the environment. In Minnesota, PFAS are emerging contaminants found in landfills, fire training facilities, and groundwater, so the MN Department of Health has been sampling within and tracking PFAS-affected communities. Methods for PFAS clean-up are urgently needed.

Solution: This work will develop novel nanomaterials (NNMs) that facilitate sorption and mobility of low-concentration PFAS into hemp plants for phytoremediation. While there are several reasonable sorbents available for water applications, this work will develop high-affinity NNMs for soil and sediment remediation.

Impact: The proposed project will develop NNMs for use in phytoremediation of PFAS and provide information on the mechanism and efficacy of the new remediation method, allowing transfer of PFAS from the diffuse and difficult-to-manage soil compartment to mobile, readily handled plants.

Putting the ‘Morph’ Back in Morphology for Fungal Remediation

Phytoremediation of PFAS Using Nanomaterials

Reducing Nitrous Oxide from Agriculture

Primary Investigator: Timothy Griffis
Co-Investigators: Alexander Frie, Rodney Venterea
Industry Partners: Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Award Type: Seed Grant – Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Problem: Since the industrial revolution, the use of synthetic nitrogen (N) as fertilizer has driven increased agricultural yields. However, a 40-fold increase in the use of N fertilizers since 1940 has led to a steep increase in emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O). N2O has been labeled the most important anthropogenic oxygen depleting substance, and is roughly 300 times more potent (as a greenhouse gas) than CO2. As an agriculture-heavy state, Minnesota needs new treatment options to replace synthetic fertilizers.

Solution: The majority of agriculturally-based N2O emissions come from denitrification, a biological process through which nitrate is converted to ozone-depleting nitrogenous gases. MnDRIVE Researchers have identified procyanidins, a compound produced by grapes and berries, to be an inhibitor of the denitrification process. This project will use procyanidins from multiple sources and measure their ability to reduce N2O emissions. Researchers will also identify optimal levels of procyanidins to apply for the desired decrease in denitrification.

Impact: Climate change and Ozone depletion are two pressing issues defining environmental protection in the 21st century. The potential of procyanidins to decrease nitrous oxide emissions is yet to be fully recognized, but their utilization could be key in mitigating climate change and stratospheric Ozone depletion. Procyanidin is produced by grapes and could increase the demand for juice and wine production, providing economic stimulation for Minnesota industries.

Reducing the Environmental Cost of Glyphosate

Primary Investigator: James Cotner
Co-Investigators: Brianna Loeks-Johnson (Graduate Scholar); Ben Fry (Undergraduate Scholar)
Industry Partners: Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Award Type: Seed Grant – Graduate Research Scholar & Undergraduate Research Scholar

Problem: Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide on our planet. It’s extensive use in the Midwest, including Minnesota, has been extremely beneficial to agricultural production. However, this organophosphate continues to accumulate in soil and water, and is not easily degraded by microbes. Some recent publications have, however, suggested that bacteria like cyanobacteria or blue-green algae are more capable of using partially degraded glyphosate than other algae. This suggests that glyphosate may be contributing to the increased presence of blue-green algae in Minnesota water bodies and ecosystems, where glyphosate is used. The problem requires further investigation into how it might be influencing Minnesota lakes and rivers and the associated soils.

Solution: The Cotner Team will first examine the ability of harmful algal bloom (HAB) species of cyanobacteria to consume glyphosate. The cyanobacteria will also be analyzed for genes known to be involved in the consumption of glyphosate. MnDRIVE researchers will then screen a library of freshwater bacterial strains in the Cotner Lab for their ability to degrade glyphosate and other phosphonates under varying environmental conditions. Bacteria that are capable of degrading glyphosate and phosphonate will then be characterized for potential bioremediation use.

Impact: Identifying microbes capable of degrading glyphosate from areas of high glyphosate use will lead to a new understanding of bacterial species that may be contributing to harmful algal blooms (HABs) throughout Minnesota. Characterizing microbes from the Cotner bacterial library capable of glyphosate degradation will also demonstrate potential for future bioremediation technologies.

Repurposing Drainage Ditches to Remove Nitrogen

Primary Investigator: Jeffrey Strock
Co-investigators: Satoshi Ishii, Hao Wang

Partners: Minnesota Drainage Viewers Association, I&S Group, Inc. (ISG), Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Sand County Foundation, and Natural Resources Conservation Service of the USDA

Problem: Drainage ditches on agricultural land improve field drainage efficiency by removing excess water quickly. However, they also carry nitrogen and phosphorus, with little to no time to react, be bound, or absorbed by healthy soil or vegetation. These ditches often empty into nearby streams and rivers, to the detriment of local and downstream ecosystems.

Solution: If drainage ditches were designed to behave more like natural wetlands (chemically, biologically, and microbiologically), they could remove higher levels of nitrogen from field runoff, both through denitrification and plant uptake. Strock and his team will engineer and install low-grade weirs to decrease flow velocity and enhance nitrogen removal. Their lab-based project will also analyze biological and microbial communities to optimize the nitrogen uptake within their low-grade weir design.

Impact: Each year roughly 60 million pounds of nitrogen flows through drainage ditches leading to the Minnesota River. Improving the performance of drainage ditches to remove more nitrate offers a low-cost solution to one of Minnesota’s most persistent environmental challenges.

Using Nano-silica Materials to Remove Nitrate From Water

Primary Investigator: Lawrence Wackett
Co-Investigators: Romas Kazlauskas, Mikael Elias, Carl Rosen, Lambros Tassoulas (Graduate Scholar)
Industry Partners: Minnepura Technologies
Award Type: Seed Grant – Graduate Research Scholar

Problem: Urea-based fertilizers contain biuret, which is a contaminant toxic to plants. Currently, an extraction process is used to reduce the amount of biuret present in these fertilizers, but the technology is expensive and doesn’t fully remove the toxin. Some plants such as citrus and avocado actually require low-biuret fertilizers, but this product is 2-2.5 times more expensive than untreated urea. More effective biuret removal and less expensive low-biuret fertilizers are in demand from the agriculture industry..

Solution: Researchers in the Wackett Lab have identified over 1000 biuret hydrolase enzymes from different bacteria. These microbial enzymes are effective at converting biuret into urea, thus taking the toxic contaminant and turning it into the valuable main ingredient in fertilizer, urea. Further work is needed, however, to identify biuret hydrolase enzymes that are most stable, purify them, and then test them in urea solutions. Crops sensitive to biuret will be sprayed with enzyme-treated fertilizer to test the efficacy of the enzymes-based removal process. These tests will provide important proof-of-concept data for the commercialization of enzyme-based biuret removal.

Impact: Efficient biuret removal should lower the cost of fertilizers for farmers and increase agricultural productivity, especially for biuret-sensitive crops. The research has global potential as urea-based fertilizers are used extensively, but the solution may prove to be impactful across Minnesota as well.

Green Alternatives to Toxic Fertilizer Components

Bioaugmented Nitrogen Removal from Drainage System Water

Primary Investigator: Michael Sadowsky
Co-Investigators: Jeff Strock; Satoshi Ishii; Reda Abou-Shanab and Prince Mathai (Postdoctoral Scholars)
Industry Partners: Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Minnesota Corn Growers Association
Award Type: Seed Grant – Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Problem: Roughly 60 million pounds of nitrogen flow through drainage systems in the Minnesota River basin each year. The nitrogen accumulates from agricultural runoff and enters the Mississippi River, resulting in environmental damage to local ecosystems as well as those downstream of the Mississippi, such as hypoxic zones in the Gulf of Mexico. Most drainage systems are unequipped to remove nitrogen before runoff enters groundwater systems. Recently developed bioreactors only extract about 30% of nitrogen from water and are not optimized for early spring cold temperatures – when runoff volume peaks.

Solution: MnDRIVE researchers will begin by modifying existing, above-ground bioreactors in a field setting. The bioreactors will be inoculated with cold-adapted denitrifying bacteria (bioaugmentation) and observed at temperature settings between 5 and 15 degrees celsius. Ethanol will then be applied to microbial communities as a source of carbon, a process called biostimulation that will maximize the ability of microbes to remove nitrogen. Nitrogen removal capabilities will be recorded and genetic analysis will also be used to determine the abundance of microbes at the various settings used. Once the ideal conditions have been identified, current bioreactors at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center will be modified for in-field testing where similar measurements will be made to test the effectiveness of the above-ground biostimulation technology.

Impact: Agriculture is one of Minnesota’s largest industries, but also contributes large amounts of nitrogen to runoff water. Applying biostimulation strategies to existing bioreactors will help increase nitrogen removal. Removing nitrogen from water before it enters rivers and streams will improve conditions of local ecosystems and reduce contribution to hypoxic zones downstream.

Using Beneficial Microbes to Protect Minnesota’s Potato Crops from Disease

Primary Investigator: Linda Kinkel
Co-Investigators: Scott Bates (Postdoctoral Research Scholar)
Industry Partners: NA
Award Type: Seed Grant – Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Problem: Soilborne plant pathogens limit Minnesota potato production every year. To combat the pathogens, chemicals are applied to the soil in a process called fumigation. However, soil fumigation is expensive and kills a large proportion of beneficial microbes that counteract potato plant pathogens, resulting in an increase in the intensity of disease effects.

Solution: The Kinkel lab is researching how to apply certain groups of microbes, coupled with soil nutrient amendments, to support existing soil microbiomes in potato plants before or after soil fumigation. Researchers will apply microbes to 10 different potato growing sites across Minnesota to assess the disease rate and microbial composition of the soil after application.

Impact: A healthy potato plant-soil microbiome will reduce disease risks and result in higher crop yields. Additionally, the need for soil fumigation will be reduced, helping farms save money while keeping their potato plants healthy. The microbial inoculations will improve the ability of indigenous potato plant microbes to survive.

Fueled By Food Waste

Primary Investigator: Bo Hu
Co-Investigators: Tim LaPara
Industry Partners: Second Harvest Heartland
Award Type: Demonstration Grant

Problem: In the United States, roughly 40% of all food goes to waste, including food donated to non-profit food banks like Minnesota’s Second Harvest Heartland. Unusable or spoiled food is an unpredictable and fluctuating cost for foods banks who need to pay for the removal of the wasted food.

Solution: MnDRIVE Environment researchers designed an anaerobic bioreactor to digest food waste on site. Not only could this approach address the issue of excess food waste and disposal, but the bioreactor also produces methane, the principal component of natural gas. This offers a new energy source or revenue stream. In addition, a second bio-electrochemical system removes hydrogen sulfide, a toxic and odorous component, from the biogas so that the digester can be operated more safely in the neighborhood.

Impact: The demonstration project will help Second Harvest evaluate the feasibility of a commercial-scale anaerobic bioreactor installation that could one day heat their facility and/or create new revenue streams to stabilize the non-profit organization. This type of digestion technology is of significant interest from public solid waste disposal sites.

Fungi for Phosphate Removal

Primary Investigator: Chris Lenhart
Co-Investigators: Laura Bender (Graduate Scholar); Kirsten Haus (Northstar STEM Alliance Researcher), Alli Graper (undergraduate honors thesis)
Industry Partners: Legvold Farms; Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition
Award Type: Seed Grant – Graduate Research Scholar

Problem: Streambank vegetative buffers (also known as riparian strips) are required by Minnesota State Law to be maintained along all waterways, to filter out sediment and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. While riparian buffers effectively remove particulate phosphorus, they don’t do as well removing dissolved phosphorus. Soil fungi within buffer strips can also contribute to removal of dissolved phosphorus by enhancing plant uptake as most native grasses have symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi to uptake nutrients. Fungal communities are greatly impacted by decades of farm tillage so when buffers are installed the microbial community is not optimized for phosphorus uptake, nor for native plant establishment, which are both key to buffer function.. Therefore, removal of dissolved phosphorus from buffers and edge-of-field practices to prevent transport into water bodies remains a challenge.

Solution: The removal of soluble phosphorus in riparian buffers may be improved by enhancing the symbiotic relationship between plant roots and fungal communities. To test this, Lenhart and Bender have compared multiple riparian vegetative plots – one with and one without mycorrhizal fungi added and with different types of native grass species – within a riparian buffer along a stream in Minnesota. Phosphorus levels in the plants, soil, and water within each plot have been measured and analyzed over the 2019-2020 period to determine whether addition of mycorrhizal fungal to riparian buffers plots improves phosphorus uptake and removal from tile drainage flow routed through the buffer. Additionally, this in situ work is being compared to controlled environment studies being conducted using 100 gallon tanks on the St. Paul campus.

Impact: Improving the removal of dissolved phosphorus in vegetative buffers would help achieve Minnesota’s State Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals. These goals aim to preserve water ecosystem health by lowering excess nutrient levels that can cause eutrophication and algal blooms. Buffers in sandy, compacted or degraded soils are most likely to benefit from fungal amendments. Findings from the studies are being

Algal Biofertilizer to Improve Soil Health

Primary Investigator: Rob Gardner**
Co-Investigators: Adriana Alvarez De la Hoz (Graduate Scholar)
Industry Partners: Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company; USDA
Award Type: Seed Grant – Graduate Research Scholar

Problem: To meet the growing global food demands, agriculture needs to increase productivity. However, growth of traditional farming practices degrade overall soil fertility, which leads to over application of fertilizers and the subsequent leaching and runoff of excess nutrients into groundwater and surface water bodies. With the predominant use of synthetic fertilizers, researchers observe elevated levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and carbon dioxide (CO2) in agricultural runoff. This is a direct contributor to poor water quality, and often causes eutrophication of surface water bodies across Minnesota. Eutrophication removes oxygen from the water which promotes the growth of unwanted and often toxic algal growth. These algae are detrimental to the surrounding ecosystem and potentially harmful to humans.

Solution: Sustainable agricultural practices have emerged as a set of tools for farmers, to help them better manage aspects like soil fertility, erosion control, water quality, and nutrient cycling. The Gardner lab has early results indicating that the use of microalgae (single-cellular) as a component in natural bio-based fertilizer improves soil fertility, while also replacing the need for synthetic fertilizers. This lab-based study reports that traditional synthetic urea fertilizer harms soil microorganisms while algal biofertilizer enhances soil health in multiple ways. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, algae supply organic matter and favor soil microbial dynamics. Algae stabilize soil particles and structure, thereby reducing erosion rates, and they release organic nutrients at a slower rate than synthetic fertilizers. This results in longer nutrient availability for crops and less nutrient loss to runoff. And lastly, the remaining live algae capture atmospheric N2 and CO2 in the soil surface, offering a natural nitrogen input and carbon capture potential.

Impact: Many aspects of this proactive approach for improving soil health offer beneficial outcomes for arable MN soils compared to traditional farming techniques. The use of algal biofertilizer as a replacement of synthetic urea fertilizer can contribute to long-term soil fertility and lower carbon emissions from crop production by reducing synthetic fertilizer demand. Stabilizing soil particles is also critical for reducing erosion and nutrient runoff rates, which should result in lower nutrient levels in waterways that receive agricultural runoff.

** MnDRIVE regrets to report that Dr. Gardner passed away in October 2019.

Identifying the Best Genetic Sequences for Removing Nitrate

Primary Investigator: Jeffrey Gralnick
Co-Investigators: NA
Industry Partners: MPCA (additionally Barr Engineering, Geosyntech Consultants)
Award Type: Research Scholar – Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Problem: Fertilizer use in Minnesota’s agricultural industry has led to environmental nitrate contamination. High levels of nitrate cause methemoglobinemia (“blue baby syndrome”) and increase the risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Nitrates from Minnesota also contribute to the “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico. To combat this, certain bacteria are used to break down nitrates into nitrogen-containing gases; however, these bacteria prefer to breathe oxygen instead of nitrate when oxygen is present. If bacteria breathe oxygen, they won’t remove nitrates, restricting the practicality of using bacteria to solve the problem.

Solution: Researchers in the Gralnick Lab will test a new genomic technology that may allow them to deregulate nitrate respiration in bacteria. This would allow bacteria to break down nitrate even while oxygen is present. The lab will use a method called 2D-TnSeq to identify sets of genetic mutations that improve denitrification rates. They will test 2D-TnSeq on Escherichia coli first as a proof-of-concept before targeting Shewanella species, an efficient denitrifying group of bacteria.

Impact: Shewanella species can efficiently convert nitrate to innocuous nitrogen gas in anaerobic environments. Genetic modification using 2D-TnSeq could make the denitrification process viable in aerobic environments as well. This would provide more opportunities for nitrate bioremediation using Shewanella species in the environment.

Optimizing the Treatment and Use of Manure to Reduce Nitrogen Runoff

Primary Investigator: Kechun Zhang
Co-Investigators: NA
Industry Partners: Ascenix
Award Type: Seed Grant – Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Problem: There is no shortage of manure in Minnesota. In fact, the over 18,000 feedlots in Minnesota alone generate an amount of manure equivalent to 50 million people. Much of this manure is repurposed for use as a source of organic nitrogen fertilizer. However, most of the nitrogen in manure comes from protein which plants cannot use directly. After application, this proteinaceous nitrogen may runoff into local water systems, damaging human and ecosystem health.

Solution: MnDRIVE researchers will engineer bacteria to degrade the amino acids, a key component of proteins, from manure. Degraded amino acids will then act as a source of carbon for the bacteria to use in producing biofuels and other marketable chemicals. Nitrogen will also be separated during the amino acid degradation, and will serve as a source of fertilizer.

Impact: A novel approach to manure management would result in more useful fertilizer sources without the negative effects of nitrogen runoff. Optimizing the engineered bacteria could lead to a fully functional management system and create economic incentive to reduce the environmental impact of manure application.

On-site Fungal Treatment to Remove Phosphorus from Animal Manure

Primary Investigator: Bo Hu
Co-Investigators: NA
Industry Partners: Dennis Haubenschild Farms
Award Type: Demonstration Grant – Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Problem: Manure is often applied as a fertilizer to agricultural fields to supplement nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil. As the livestock industry trends towards more concentrated farming, higher levels of manure must be disposed of per acre of field. This leads to phosphorus accumulation in the soil because manure has a higher ratio of phosphorus to nitrogen than what is needed for plant growth. Excessive phosphorus causes eutrophication in lakes and rivers, which kills organisms living in the water.

Solution: Fungal treatment can recover phosphorus in manure, which would lower the phosphorus to nitrogen ratio to a more suitable level for field application. The Hu Lab will demonstrate this process at Haubenschild Farm to determine its cost-effectiveness at a commercial scale. MnDRIVE researchers will also investigate inexpensive methods to sterilize the manure, so the fungi can grow in place of pathogenic bacteria.

Impact: Fungal treatment of manure would mitigate the environmental impacts of agriculture by reducing phosphorus accumulation in fields. In addition, partially removing phosphorus from manure could produce a phosphorus-specific fertilizer byproduct and result in an additional form of revenue for agricultural facilities.

Lowering Copper Concentrations in Agricultural Pesticides

Primary Investigator: Christine Salomon
Co-Investigators: NA
Industry Partners: NA
Award Type: Seed Grant – Undergraduate Research Scholar

Problem: Copper is regularly used to treat fungal and bacterial diseases in the agriculture industry. In Minnesota, pesticides that contain copper can leach into local water systems. While low levels of copper do not impact humans, the metal can be toxic for microbial communities, plants, invertebrates, and fish. New pesticides with lower concentrations of copper are needed to reduce the environmental impact of treating fungal and bacterial diseases in the agricultural industry.

Solution: The Salomon Lab recently identified a Streptomyces bacterial isolate from the Soudan Iron Mine that produces antifungal metabolites. These metabolites inhibit the growth of pathogenic yeasts and show increased antifungal activity with the addition of low concentrations of copper. MnDRIVE researchers will determine which agricultural pathogens the isolates work against and optimal copper ratios that increase antifungal activity the most.

Impact: Using a naturally produced antifungal will reduce the need for toxic levels of copper in agricultural pesticides. The project will include application of the low-copper products on plants in a greenhouse setting to demonstrate proof-of-concept. A new, low-copper pesticide will help protect Minnesota’s environment from copper contamination.

Using Bacteria to Recycle Wasted Phosphorus

Primary Investigator: Mikael Elias
Co-Investigators: Bo Hu (Co-PI)
Industry Partners: MN Department of Agriculture and Metropolitan Council Environmental Services
Award Type: Seed Grant – Postdoctoral Research Scholar

Problem: Phosphorus (P) fertilizer is essential for large-scale agriculture. The element will reach peak production by 2040 and soon after will begin to decline, negatively impacting global food production. Meanwhile, agricultural runoff of P fertilizer in the Midwest is a major polluter of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River. Excess P in freshwater creates an overproduction of algae that reduces biodiversity and can be toxic to water ecosystems.

Solution: The Elias Lab is engineering a bacterial-based bioscavenger that will remove P from agricultural waste materials and recycle it as a fertilizer. The Lab’s novel approach uses laboratory molecular engineering to increase the phosphate uptake system in bacteria. The project will result in an efficient “phosphate-scavenging bug” to be applied in a biofilter system for agricultural sources.

Impact: A phosphorus recycling system could both reduce water pollution and relieve P shortages. The solution will be of high interest to environmental protection agencies, P-producing industries (livestock, chemical producers), and companies invested in sustainable food production. The system will address Minnesota’s phosphorus runoff concerns and a global challenge in food production.

A New Method for Treating Agricultural Wastewater

Primary Investigator: R. Roger Ruan
Co-Investigators: Paul Chen; Neil Anderson
Industry Partners: Forsman Farms; Minnesga Inc.; Holistic Health Farms
Award Type: Demonstration Grant

Problem: Minnesota is among the top producers of poultry, dairy, and swine in the United States. These animal production facilities create large volumes of animal waste, which necessitates proper management. Traditional management methods include applying manure as fertilizer and using open lagoons for storage and natural digestion. These methods, however, no longer meet environmental protection requirements and end up creating more environmental contamination issues, such as unwanted nitrogen runoff from fields and gas emissions from lagoons.

Solution: MnDRIVE researchers have developed a scalable technology system to treat agricultural wastewater, while also producing valuable byproducts. The treatment system relies on microbes that digest organic materials to produce nitrogen fertilizer and methane gas. In addition, the system uses microalgae that extract nutrients from manure which can then be used to produce animal feed and biofuels. Lastly, mineral solutions will be applied to wastewater to further extract pollutants before being released into the environment.

Impact: Sustainable and circular management solutions to deal with Minnesota’s animal waste that not only meet environmental regulations but also offer new revenue streams would be hugely valuable. This project will demonstrate the ability of new technology and a system to remove excess nutrients and other pollutants while offering value-added products. Successful demonstration would go a long way towards convincing the animal industry that sustainable management can benefit the environment and their bottom line.