Nano-biostimulant derived from fish byproduct to improve plant growth and productivity

Global fish and seafood consumption has increased, leading to large amounts of byproducts from fish markets and processing industries. Currently, the byproducts are used to produce fish meals or dumped into the ocean, causing suffocation and introducing diseases and noxious species. Other potential uses such as bioconversion into biostimulant for agricultural use. Fish are rich sources of proteins, lipids and minerals. Therefore, their byproducts formulated as biostimulants is expected to contain high mineral nutrients, lipids, proteins and amino acids essential for plant growth and health-promoting bioactive compounds in harvested food crops. The proposed research will use fermentation process and nanotechnology to develop a new fish byproduct biofertilizer, which will be tested on kale plants. The intern will study the effect of biostimulant on kale seed germination, seedling establishment and plant growth. It is anticipated that this project will 1) develop efficient and innovative biostimulant to increase plant growth and stress tolerance; 2) improve quality and health-promoting phytonutrients in harvested plants; and 3) help divert large volume of fish byproducts from landfills and water bodies for recycling into a high value bioproduct with a long-term social, health, economic and environmental benefits.

Faculty Supervisor:

Lord Abbey

Student:

Partner:

Meru University of Science and Technology

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture and Food; Nanotechnology; Life Sciences (not health)

University:

Dalhousie University

Program: