Flyers as well as the development of a case study will be prepared by the grantee with the assistance of GEF SGP. As there are possible patents involved with the processing method, one will have to be strategic.
It will be very difficult to replicate this project, because the final product formulation is the intellectual property of one of the partners in the project. Whereas the collection, transportation and drying can be duplicated, the manufacturing of the Algas Plant Tonic will not be possible except through a period of experimentation, at the end of which there is no gurantee that the same formulation will be discovered, unless costly bio-engineering techniques are used.
Linkages gef projects
None at this time.
Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
Not applicable.
Policy Impact
Not at this stage.
Planning gef grant
Not at this time.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
The grantee and the partners will be assisted in developing a communications strategy which will involve the effective use of the electronic and social media.
Capacity - Building Component
The grantee has identified capacity deficits in advocacy and public awareness and education. GEF SGP will work with the grantee to develop a public awareness and education plan and an advocacy plan for implementation.
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
The main assumption of this project is that the collection and processing of seaweed will produce organic compost and liquid fertilizer which are unique with a higher probability of better results than existing toxic varieties. IICA has assisted the group in preparing a Business Plan and GEF SGP will ask its financial expert on the NSC to review the plan. GEF SGP has also asked for a break-even analysis.
Project sustainability
The project's sustainability is based on its contribution to solving an intractable problem in Saint Lucia and the region for which there is no solution and the intellectual proprietary rights. The products has also been subjected to ISO certified laboratory test and proven to be a better plant tonic compared to other international brands.
Gender Focus
There is a traditional division of labour which will be maintained. Men we are informed will remove seaweed offshore while women will remove on shore. The grantee anticipates that the fishers will prefer to go to sea while the women undertake the responsibilities associated with record-keeping . The benefits anticipated will be for both men and women and communities.
Policy Influence
This project has become a flagship project for Saint Lucia and has been selected by the Government of Saint Lucia as part of a strategy to address the proliferation of sargassum seaweed along east coast beaches.
Notable Community Participation
This project is a partnership between a CSO, a family partnership, IICA and the GEF SGP UNDP. The main driver of the project is a young man who has initiative and a commitment to succeed - an innovator. He will continue with the CSO to be the main project implementer.
Planning non gef grant
To be determined.
Project Results
The results of this project are based on a partnership between three partners, id est, the Saint Lucia Fisher Folk Cooperative Society Ltd, Algas Organics and the GEF SGP UNDP. The results include the production of a plant tonic or bio-stimulant, which is very good for plants as confirmed by a scientific study and field use.
The following are the outputs results of this project:
Environment:
(i) The efficacy of a community developed scientific method for manufacturing a bio-stimulant
from an invasive species confirmed and in use;
(ii) Research protocols established and in use;
(iii) Studies by an ISO 2000 certified laboratory confirmed that the Algas Tonic had negligible
amounts of lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic;
(iv) Bio-simulant factory established;
(v) Removed 270,000 kg of wet sea moss from beaches in 2016 with a projection of 90,000 kg per
month when exportation begins; and
(vi) Community stakeholder meetings convened which determined the level of interest of persons in
participating in the project. 48 persons signed up of which 69% were women.
NB: This project won a Smithsonian Institute Award at the Earth Optimism Summit in Washington D.C. in 2017.
Economic:
(i) At July 2017, employment created for 6 persons (2 men and 4 women) who had earned a total
of US1111 (US$370 - men and US$ 741 ? women);
(ii) Production had reached a total of 420 bottles in March 2017 with a projection of 1680 bottles
by the end of 2017, which brought in revenue of US$6522 to date and projected to bring in
US$53,333 by the end of 2017.
Capacity Development:
(i) Six persons (2 men and 4 women) trained in collection, drying, bottling, labelling and quality
control.
Under the project, Smart Ready Consulting Ltd, an independent research and development company from Trinidad and Tobago was selected to undertake scientific validation of the Algas Plant Tonic. The product was compared to leading international brands and the following conclusions were made in the final report:
?Algas products compared favourably to the popular bio-fertilisers and stimulants used in this study, having similar and in some cases better enhancing effect on root mass fraction and other root traits (root system length, depth and development). In fact, Algas products can be recommended for application to seedlings as a soil drench during the first 4-6 weeks of growth, during this time, above-ground (leaf and stem) and colour of leaves will be similar to plants treated with Miracle Gro, BIO20 and other amendments used in this study?.
?Unlike the other amendments, pests (mealy bugs, aphids, and stink bugs) incidence and attack maybe lower in plants treated with Alga products.?
?Algas products had the greatest and most consistent effect on the growth and root traits of tomato seedlings.?
?The major strength of Algas products is the application could result in more dynamic root systems, which can enhance the nutrients foraging and water exploration efficiency of seedlings. This in turn, can reduce the amount and rate of synthetic fertilisers used in crop production systems and translate into tremendous savings for farmers and lower the adverse environmental impacts of synthetic fertilisers and practices. Moreover, seedlings with higher nutrients foraging and ware exploration efficiency have a greater probability of surviving the shocks of transplanting to the field and to adapt to stress conditions, particularly drought. In turn, these seedlings provide important components of building climate smart or resilient agricultural system.?
