NL Marine Organics announces successful completion of the Environmental Registration process for a fish hydrolysate plant at Windy Heights Farm. Registration documents and a Release Letter from the Minister of Environment, are available here. 

NLMO is the first company in Newfoundland to develop a fish hydrolysis system for fertilizers and is collaborating with Memorial University’s New Frontier’s In Research Marine Biomass Transformation Project, and the NL Federation of Agriculture stakeholders to launch the commercial farming products. The scale of operation can be impactful in addressing fertilizer shortages and soil remediation challenges across Canada.

Why is the Environmental Registration Important?

The Newfoundland Environmental Registration process provides an impartial technical review of the project design by 23 provincial and federal departments and authorities. Environmental registration provides a technical review of the production and management systems in place. Furthermore, the process determines the regulatory environment and codes for the operation. As we prepare for the spring growing season, we plan to move the project forward with stakeholders at the municipal and provincial levels.

Co-founder Diane Hollett commented on the successful completion saying “the registered project demonstrated that the process is compatible with environmental protection and community values. We designed a bio-tech process to stabilize a notoriously difficult ingredient, fish, and optimize it into a stable, pumpable liquid readily used by farmers. 

 Fish uses soil biology to create crop return, and it’s a safe, affordable alternative.  The liquid quickly absorbs into foliar and soil, any lingering fish smell dissipates within hours, not days. The system preserves ambient air quality and the smell is not detectable outside the plant.”

A smooth pour

The new plant means our product will be screened to 150 mesh. Making for an ultra-smooth pour. This allows our liquid fish to be sprayed onto crops using industrial spraying equipment. Hydrolysis is a clean technology, that uses enzymes instead of heat to convert fish solids into soluble non-toxic liquids. This new processing capacity in Newfoundland opens up a pipeline of effective soil inoculants and fertilizer from marine biomass. As a company, we are collaborating with stakeholders in agriculture to innovate and problem solve. The scale of operation can be impactful in addressing fertilizer shortages and soil remediation challenges.

Co-founder Gerry Walsh, a regenerative farmer at Windy Heights worked with the product on his farm, developing forage trials to determine the best application rates for his fields.

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