The typical public-private partnership (PPP) functions based on private funding to assist in executing public projects, programs or infrastructure. An Ohio State professor of ecological engineering, however, had another plan in mind.
Jay Martin, also a faculty co-lead for Healthy Land and Water Systems in Ohio State’s Sustainability Institute, has adapted the traditional PPP model in his recently published paper in Frontiers in Sustainable Food on mitigating algal blooms in Lake Erie. Martin, along with post-doctoral scholar Mike Brooker and project engineer Nate Stoltzfus, recognized the need to identify agricultural “elevated phosphorous (P) fields” in the Maumee watershed in order to reduce their P discharge.
Elevated P fields have disproportionately high nutrient content, which can come from the land’s soil type, its geography and its historic use. Many of the farmers that work these areas with abnormally high P levels did not cause the problem, but nonetheless must manage the consequences. Martin and his team, which also includes graduate students Rachelle Crow and Samantha Francis, wanted to form a PPP to gain a better scientific understanding of how publicly funded best management practices (BMPs) can be used to reduce nutrient runoff more efficiently.
To achieve this objective, the research team reached out to nutrient service providers (NSPs), agricultural retailers and independent crop consultants who conduct soil testing for farmers to guide appropriate fertilizer application. Their cooperation made a critical difference within this research, since the data they hold is not public knowledge. This lack of knowledge had been a barrier to targeting BMPs to where they may have the greatest effect on reducing P.
“We know through multiple studies that agricultural fields are the largest source of the nutrients leading to the harmful algal blooms that have been occurring in northwest Ohio over the last couple decades. The NSPs hold a unique position because the farmers are familiar with and trust them, making them an incredibly effective partner,” Martin said.
Martin reached out to the Ohio AgriBusiness Association (OABA) in hopes of connecting with their NSP contacts. With OABA’s assistance, Martin secured a successful partnership with four separate groups and individuals. In addition, OABA facilitated the Nutrient Stewardship Council, which governs the 4R Certification Program, becoming an advisory group for the project. Jessica D’Ambrosio with The Nature Conservancy also played a key role in developing this unique partnership.
“This project is a perfect fit with our industry’s 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification Program. After learning about the project, I recognized that a few of our 4R Certified Nutrient Service Providers would be perfect to help with the ‘elevated P fields’ project,” said Christopher Henney, President and CEO of OABA. “It is through innovative partnerships like this one that we will be able to make substantial progress towards our water quality goals.”
The four NSPs contacted their clients to assess interest and provided the field information of the dozen landowners who expressed willingness to participate. Anonymity played a key role in encouraging participation due to the sensitive nature of the topic. Farmers frequently reported concern about possible identification as owners of these lands, even if they weren’t responsible for its current state. To ease this worry, the researchers reported their public information in aggregates only and maintained promises of farmer confidentiality. To further incentivize engagement in the project, Martin removed all participant cost outlays, with all expenses of the management practice coming from the research funding.
The funding came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (USDA AFRI) in the form of a $5 million grant written by Martin. In addition to funding the direct research and project participant outlay costs, the grant also funds university outreach and education to farmers in the region. This includes lessons on how to identify elevated P fields and what to do if such a field is on your property. Further, Martin is examining the feasibility of expanding this project to reach a greater number of fields and farmers.
As described in the published research paper, Martin and his team are developing new solutions to maximize the reduction of P losses with the smallest amount of public investment. The farmers involved have shown signs of heavy engagement and frequently ask about results, indicating a hope for concrete proof of success, but also desire for sustainable progress. This pattern paints an optimistic picture of the future, one with potential to work through the contentious nature of the topic.
Going forward, Martin and his lab hope to extrapolate their work and apply it beyond the twelve sample fields they currently focus on. Working with elevated P fields across the watershed, potentially even as a government program, could make a huge impact on reducing phosphorous loads causing algal blooms. Adoption of similar agricultural practices has been voluntary, with government programs open to whoever would like to join. However, if a more targeted program like Martin’s could be implemented at scale with appropriate participation incentives, it could have an unparalleled positive effect on our world’s water.
By: Aurora Ellis, student communications assistant