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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Nutrialgae – Novel sustainable algae-based fertilizers

FICOSTERRA (Innovator, private sector); OIC (United Nations/ Multilateral body); University of Hassan II (Public academic Inst., Morocco); CICESE (Public academic Inst., Mexico); GN productores Agricola (Private sector, MX) (
Private sector
)
#OceanAction46683
    Description
    Description
    Ficosterra is a Spanish marine biotechnology company that manufactures biostimulants and biofertilizers from seaweed extracts and microorganisms to promote the maximum development of crops and plants. These inputs are a 100% organic, sustainable and environmentally friendly solution that helps reduce the use of agrochemicals. They also help the soil to hold water, increasing drought tolerance of plants and soils. One of the consecuences of the overuse of mineral fertilizers is the acidification and contamination of seas and ocean, caused by residue of phosphorus and nitrogen in these agrochemicals that are carried by rivers to the sea. The amount of pollution caused by these compounds of mineral origin has tripled since pre-industrial times. According to UNDP data, about 13 million tons a year reach our seas and oceans, causing an exponential growth of contamination and large areas with a lack of oxygen. Ficosterra’s seaweed biostimulants, 100% BIO, are able to increase crop productivity without polluting aquifers, rivers, oceans or seas. In 2020, the research project "Nutrialgae, the novel sustainable algae based fertilizers manufactured by Ficosterra", was chosen by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Ocean Innovation Challenge (OIC) as one of the nine exceptional solutions that can help accelerate progress on Goal 14 – Life Below Water of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), in conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources. Support from Sida ( Sweden's government agency for development cooperation main objective of Nutrialgae research project, ) and Norad (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation), Ficosterra will demonstrate that the biostimulants ficosagro® (microbial complex with seaweed extracts) and cystium-k® (pure extract of the seaweed Macrocystis Pyrifera), when applied to the soil and plants respectively, are capable of increasing crop productivity by 6 to 15% (depending on the type of crop) while significantly reducing the use of mineral fertilizers. This leads to a reduction in the nitrogen and phosphorus load that leaches from the crops into our seas. Ficosterra adress this challenge with a multidisciplinary team of agronomists and biologists from Ficosterra and the research centers belonging to the Hassan II University of Morocco, the Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada, Baja California (CICESE) and GN Productores Navarro (both in Mexico). The test are carried out on broccoli and in two different scenarios: laboratory and field. The results of our first trials in Moroco and Mexico are very hopeful: we have reduced the chemical fertilization up to 30% by increasing, at the same time, the productivity of the brocoli crop to 20%. This information gives us the opportunity of think that "ANOTHER AGRICULTURE IS HAPPENING. LET´S ALL PROFIT FROM IT"
    Partners

    Ficosterra (Innovator, private sector); Ocean Innovation Challenge (United Nations/ Multilateral body); University of Hassan II (Public academic institution, Morocco); CICESE (Public academic institution, Mexico); GN productores Agricolas (Private sector, Mexico).

    Goal 2

    End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

    Goal 2

    2.1

    By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round

    2.1.1

    Prevalence of undernourishment

    2.1.2

    Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)

    2.2

    By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons

    2.2.1

    Prevalence of stunting (height for age <-2 standard deviation from the median of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age

    2.2.2

    Prevalence of malnutrition (weight for height >+2 or <-2 standard deviation from the median of the WHO Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age, by type (wasting and overweight)

    2.2.3

    Prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15 to 49 years, by pregnancy status (percentage)

    2.3

    By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment
    2.3.1

    Volume of production per labour unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size

    2.3.2

    Average income of small-scale food producers, by sex and indigenous status

    2.4

    By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality

    2.4.1

    Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture

    2.5

    By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and international levels, and promote access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as internationally agreed

    2.5.1

    Number of (a) plant and (b) animal genetic resources for food and agriculture secured in either medium- or long-term conservation facilities

    2.5.2

    Proportion of local breeds classified as being at risk of extinction

    2.a

    Increase investment, including through enhanced international cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development and plant and livestock gene banks in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity in developing countries, in particular least developed countries
    2.a.1

    The agriculture orientation index for government expenditures

    2.a.2

    Total official flows (official development assistance plus other official flows) to the agriculture sector

    2.b

    Correct and prevent trade restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets, including through the parallel elimination of all forms of agricultural export subsidies and all export measures with equivalent effect, in accordance with the mandate of the Doha Development Round

    2.b.1

    Agricultural export subsidies

    2.c

    Adopt measures to ensure the proper functioning of food commodity markets and their derivatives and facilitate timely access to market information, including on food reserves, in order to help limit extreme food price volatility

    2.c.1

    Indicator of food price anomalies

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Goal 15

    Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

    Goal 15

    15.1

    By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements

    15.1.1
    Forest area as a proportion of total land area
    15.1.2
    Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type

    15.2

    By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally

    15.2.1
    Progress towards sustainable forest management

    15.3

    By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world

    15.3.1
    Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area

    15.4

    By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development

    15.4.1
    Coverage by protected areas of important sites for mountain biodiversity
    15.4.2
    Mountain Green Cover Index

    15.5

    Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species

    15.5.1
    Red List Index

    15.6

    Promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate access to such resources, as internationally agreed

    15.6.1
    Number of countries that have adopted legislative, administrative and policy frameworks to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits

    15.7

    Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products

    15.7.1
    Proportion of traded wildlife that was poached or illicitly trafficked

    15.8

    By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species

    15.8.1
    Proportion of countries adopting relevant national legislation and adequately resourcing the prevention or control of invasive alien species

    15.9

    By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts

    15.9.1

    (a) Number of countries that have established national targets in accordance with or similar to Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 in their national biodiversity strategy and action plans and the progress reported towards these targets; and (b) integration of biodiversity into national accounting and reporting systems, defined as implementation of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting

    15.a

    Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems

    15.a.1

    (a) Official development assistance on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and (b) revenue generated and finance mobilized from biodiversity-relevant economic instruments

    15.b

    Mobilize significant resources from all sources and at all levels to finance sustainable forest management and provide adequate incentives to developing countries to advance such management, including for conservation and reforestation

    15.b.1

    (a) Official development assistance on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and (b) revenue generated and finance mobilized from biodiversity-relevant economic instruments

    15.c

    Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities

    15.c.1
    Proportion of traded wildlife that was poached or illicitly trafficked
    Name Description
    14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
    14.a Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
    REDUCTION OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZATION FROM 10 TO 30% AND USE OF ALGAE-BASED FICOSTERRA BIOSTIMULANTS IN BROCCOLI CROPS (LABORATORY AND FIELD EXPERIMENTS IN MEXICO AND MOROCCO, PHASE 1).
    REDUCTION OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZATION FROM 10 TO 30% AND USE OF ALGAE BASED FICOSTERRA BIOSTIMULANTS IN BROCCOLI CROPS (LABORATORY AND FIELD EXPERIMENTS IN MEXICO AND MOROCCO, THE LAST PHASE ).
    Financing (in USD)
    USD 247,364 contract with UNDP (Donors: SIDA and NORAD)
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Timeline
    21 March 2021 (start date)
    30 November 2022 (date of completion)
    Entity
    FICOSTERRA (Innovator, private sector); OIC (United Nations/ Multilateral body); University of Hassan II (Public academic Inst., Morocco); CICESE (Public academic Inst., Mexico); GN productores Agricola (Private sector, MX)
    SDGs
    Other beneficiaries
    Algas Marinas S.A de C.V (private sector, Mexico)
    Ocean Basins
    North Pacific, North Atlantic
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Ocean acidification, Marine pollution
    Countries
    Mexico
    Mexico
    Morocco
    Morocco
    Spain
    Spain
    Headquarters
    Burgos, Spain
    Contact Information