Research Grant Awarded to Ostara to Address Phosphorus Pollution in Lake Erie Watershed
Vancouver-based Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies begins work upon receiving grant from the Environment and Climate Change Canada
Vancouver, BC, CANADA (February 12, 2019)
Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc. (“Ostara”) announced today that the company has been awarded a grant from the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) for a research project that will address both non-point and point source phosphorus pollution in the Lake Erie watershed.
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient and a building block of life but, if mismanaged, it can cause nutrient overload in waterways contributing to toxic algae blooms that are harmful to aquatic life.
“Protecting precious natural resources drives to the core of our business and we are honored to receive continued support from the Canadian government to champion these efforts as part of the ECCC’s Great Lakes Protection Initiative. Delivering opportunities for conservation practices that increase yields to Canadian agriculture helps close the loop on phosphorus and set the tone for the future of sustainable crop nutrition,” said Dan Parmar, CEO, Ostara.
Conservation Practices to Improve Water Quality: Nutrient Recovery and Crop Nutrition Research
The research aims to demonstrate how municipalities and farms can both help battle nutrient pollution with one solution: nutrient recovery. Reclaiming nutrients from municipal, livestock and industrial wastewater Ostara’s Pearl® technology produces a land-applied, high-yielding granular fertilizer proven to reduce nutrient runoff (Crystal Green®).
The agronomic research, being conducted on Crystal Green in partnership with the University of Guelph, will include:
- phosphorus runoff data focused on the reduction of non-point source pollution comparing Crystal Green’s citrate-soluble release to a traditional fertilizer application;
- multi-year field trials focused on provincially viable crops – corn, beans and winter wheat;
- yield data comparing combinations of traditional fertilizers with Crystal Green.
The goal is to reduce up to 33 percent of traditional water-soluble fertilizer sources, which contribute to phosphorus run off, replacing it with Crystal Green.
“This partnership is uniquely valuable in that it advances innovative solutions for both point and non-point sources of phosphorus with broader implications for water, food security and beyond,” said Dr. David Hooker, University of Guelph. “Working alongside Ostara to learn more about the phosphorus recovery process will help provide us with the data necessary to revolutionize agriculture practices while protecting natural resources. We are excited about the possibilities.”
The phosphorus recovery research will explore pathways to implement nutrient recovery at eligible wastewater treatment plants in the Waterloo Region. This project will serve to:
- highlight the benefit of updating infrastructure to leverage technologies that can reduce point source pollution by returning cleaner water to area lakes and streams;
- reduce phosphorus content in biosolids produced by wastewater treatment plants (reducing water-soluble phosphorus land applied within the watershed);
- renewably recover phosphorus for responsible reuse as a phosphate fertilizer that reduces runoff.
“Resource recovery is one of the innovative strategies recently recommended in the Region of Waterloo Wastewater Treatment (WWT) Master Plan. We believe this project is an excellent opportunity for the Region of Waterloo to optimize the operation of the Elmira WWT plant to remove phosphorus biologically and then recover it in a sustainable and efficient way,” said José Bicudo, Senior Project Engineer, Wastewater Operations, Region of Waterloo.
Working with the Community
This project also presents an opportunity to increase public participation in citizen science, specifically:
- the public will be invited to an open house at the treatment plant;
- a student(s) from a local post-secondary institution will assist in managing day-to-day operations of the pilot;
- and University of Guelph students will participate in executing the agronomic trials.
Currently, Ostara has 22 commercial installations recovering nutrients that are then sold as Crystal Green through a global network of industry partners, including into the Canadian market through Taurus Agricultural Marketing Inc.
About Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc. & Crystal Green®:
Ostara helps growers and cities protect precious water and food resources by providing nutrient management solutions to communities around the world. The company’s Pearl® technology recovers phosphorus and nitrogen from industrial, agricultural, and municipal water streams, transforming them into Crystal Green®, a premium, sustainable fertilizer. Crystal Green is the first fertilizer to release nutrients in response to plant demand. It’s Root-Activated™ granule (5-28-0 with 10%Mg), sold globally to the turf and agriculture sectors, is proven to improve crop yields, enhance soil health and significantly reduce phosphorus tie-up, leaching, and runoff, improving food security while protecting local waterways from nutrient pollution. To learn more about how Ostara is closing the loop on phosphorus, visit www.ostara.com and www.crystalgreen.com.
Media Contact
Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc.
Patricia Benton
[email protected]
Images: Crystal Green Fertilizer

Crystal Green® Answers the Need for a High-Efficiency Granular Phosphate Fertilizer that Protects the Environment

Ostara and Murphy Partner to deliver part of Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Project for Irish Water

Ostara Raises US$20 Million to Acquire Strategic Assets to Scale Up Crystal Green® Fertilizer Production

Ostara and Oakley Sign Letter of Intent for Purchase of Oakley’s St. Louis Granulation Facility and Long-term Terminal Services

Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc. & City of Atlanta Announce Official Launch of Nutrient Recovery Facility

Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc. and ICL Specialty Fertilizers Expand Distribution of Recycled Nutrients into New Territories

Ostara Provides Corporate Update: Additional Growth Capital from Equity Funding and New Credit Facility; New Board Director, Monty Bayer

Reimagining the Future of Phosphates at Symphos 2019; Phosphorus Recovery, Sustainability and the Circular Economy.

Ostara Raises up to US$16.5 Million with Existing Investors to Support Production Scale-up and Accelerate Global Growth

Ostara Enters into Long-Term Granulation Tolling Agreement in Response to Increasing Crystal Green Sales Demand

Shafdan Wastewater Treatment Plant will be the first in the region to install an Ostara Nutrient Recovery Facility

City of St. Cloud to Install Ostara’s Nutrient Recovery Technology as Key Part of the City’s Nutrient Recovery and Reuse Project

Ostara to Deliver City of Atlanta Nutrient Recovery Facility Through Unique Alternative Finance Model

Ellen MacArthur Foundation | Case Study: Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies – Closing the Nutrient Loop

Treatment Plant Operator | Water Environment Federation Presents Awards for Operational and Design Excellence

The MWRD of Greater Chicago’s Nutrient Recovery Facility earns Top Honor from Water Environment Federation

Executive Voice Publishing | The Best of Canada Report: Honoring Canada’s 150 year Legacy of Commercial Success (as seen in Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal)

SDTC SUCCESS STORY | Partnering for real results. Meeting environmental goals. Moving cleantech to market.

Black & Veatch | World’s largest nutrient recovery facility produces valuable, environmentally friendly fertilizer

AQUA STRATEGY | A growth opportunity – how recovery of phosphorus from wastewater is bringing success for Ostara

ESEM | Wastewater converted to ecofriendly fertilizer with the help of dewatering, classifying screeners

VANCOUVER SUN | Vancouver’s Ostara aims to harvest from municipal waste rather than mining phosphorus

WATER BRIEFING | Dutch Waterboard opens Europe’s first nutrient recovery facility at Amersfoort WwTW

DUTCH WATER SECTOR | Next-step sludge treatment integrates three advanced technologies at wwtp Amersfoort, the Netherlands

SUSTAINABLE BRANDS | Chemical Plant, Nutrient Recovery Facility Bring Circular Economy One Step Closer

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and Ostara Open World’s Largest Nutrient Recovery Facility to Help Recover Phosphorus and Protect Mississippi River Basin

Dutch Waterboard Vallei en Veluwe and Ostara to produce high-value fertiliser, Crystal Green® at Amersfoort WWTP

Ostara is named in the 2015 Global Cleantech 100: Recognized as a Pioneer in Shaping the Future of Resource Recovery

ACWA Services partners with Ostara to offer Phosphorus Recovery Revenue Stream for UK Water Companies

Ostara is Named in the 2014 Global Cleantech 100 for 6th Straight year: Recognized as Market Leader in Waste to Wealth Technology

Ostara Sees Improved Dewaterability and Reduced Biosolids Production with Waste-activated Sludge Stripping Technology

Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District and Ostara Help Dane County Lead the Way in Reducing Nutrient Pollution

What operational benefits and political motivation persuade utilities to install nutrient recovery systems?

Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies wins Technology Green 15™ Award at the 2013 Deloitte Technology Fast 50™ Awards

Come, friendly bombs, don’t fall on Slough. It’s doing good for humans now: Berkshire town to launch £2m nutrient-recovery reactor

BBC World News Horizons explores why human waste is one of biggest public health issues facing world today

Ostara Named to 2013 Global Cleantech 100 List: Recognized as Market Leader in Technology with World-Changing Impact

Ostara Named to 2013 Global Cleantech 100 List: Recognized as Market Leader in Technology with World-Changing Impact

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Chicago’s Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Discuss Nutrient Recovery’s Crucial Role in Combatting Water Pollution

Black & Veatch and Ostara to Design-Build New Nutrient Recovery System for World’s Largest Water Reclamation Plant

Black & Veatch and Ostara to Design-Build New Nutrient Recovery System for World’s Largest Water Reclamation Plant

Clean Water Services and Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Open World’s Largest Municipal Nutrient Recovery Facility

Hampton Roads Sanitation District and Ostara Win National Council of Public-Private Partnerships Award

Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District and Ostara Partner to Install Commercial Nutrient Recovery Facility

Virginia Wastewater Treatment Plant First In Chesapeake Bay Watershed to Recover Nutrients and Transform Them into “Green” Commercial Fertilizer

Media Alert: Unveiling of New Nutrient Recovery Facility That Will Protect Chesapeake Bay, with Keynote Speaker Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

World’s Only Slow Release, Renewable Fertiliser Begins Commercial Production – Crystal Green® Proven Effective for Turf, Nursery, Specialty Markets

HRSD Treatment Plant to Build Full-Scale Nutrient Recycling Facility Nutrients will be Recycled into ‘Green’ Commercial Fertilizer

Severn Trent First in Europe to Recycle Nutrients into “Environmentally Friendly” Commercial Fertiliser

VantagePoint Venture Partner’s Portfolio Companies Take Top Rankings in Guardian’s Global CleanTech 100

Oregon Wastewater Treatment Plant First in the U.S. to Recycle Nutrients Into ‘Green’ Commercial Fertilizer

SFPUC and Ostara Demonstrate Innovative Technology That Recycles Harmful Sewage Byproduct to Environmentally-safe Fertilizer

SFPUC and Ostara Demonstrate Innovative Technology That Recycles Harmful Sewage Byproduct to Environmentally-Safe Fertilizer

Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Raises U.S. $10.5 Million to Accelerate Commercialization of CleanTech Water Treatment Process

Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc.: Oregon Wastewater Treatment Plant Is the First in U.S. to Recycle Nutrients Into “Green” Commercial Fertilizer

Edmonton Reveals World’s First Industrial Scale Sewage Treatment Facility to Recycle Nutrients Into Environmentally-Safe Commercial Fertilizer
