In February 2014, Tulane University announced a prize of $1 million to the entrepreneur, researcher or inventor that produced the best solution to combat annual “dead zones” in lakes and oceans around the globe.
Tulane is now in the next phase of the international competition, seeking a plan to reduce the amount of crop fertilizer entering the world’s lakes and oceans through storm water runoff.
The “Tulane University Nitrogen Reduction Challenge” is funded in full by Phyllis Taylor, president of the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation and a board member at the university.
“I am excited to see the investment that is being made in the development of innovative technologies that could possibly address nutrient challenges in the basin. We are in the ‘golden age of agriculture’ and we must have our best and brightest minds at the table to move us into the future,” said Mike Strain, Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture & Forestry.
Those with nitrogen-reducing ideas should register for the Challenge by September 15, 2015 along with a one page proposal.
The Challenge has selected 18 scientists, environmentalists, entrepreneurs, farmers and other experts who will select five finalists, who will then test their proposals on farms during the 2016 growing season.
“Two finalist will be chosen from this group and one of these will be our ultimate winner,” says Rick Aubry, assistant provost for Social Entrepreneurship and Community Engagement and professor of practice at Tulane.