The Macro Cost of Micro and Nanoplastics

Microplastics on a lantana
plant at a botanical garden
photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

Micro-level-plastic contamination yields tremendous hidden costs to communities, the environment, and food-chain systems. Though often not seen by the human eye, fragmented microplastic pieces are poisons in our soils | water microbial communities as well as to fish, mammals, birds and most all life forms. 

Over time, microplastics, defined as less than or equal to 5 mm, disintegrate into nanoplastics; additionally nanoplastics may be directly released into the air, waterways, and soils. As micro and nanoplastics are prevalent across the globe, even in the most remote lands and the exceptional depths of the oceans, concerns about the health implications to human and all life on earth is escalating. 

Health Implications
Per the Mayo Clinic March 2024 article, What’s lurking in your body? Mayo probes health risks of tiny plastic particles, a landmark study just published in the New England Journal of Medicine links microplastics and nanoplastics found in plaques of human-blood vessels to a potential increased risk of heart attack, stroke or death. Chemical additives to plastics that enhance flexibility and durability are of particular concern. As it provides digestion and blood-detoxification functions for the body, the liver is at high health risk from micro and nanoplastic infiltration.

The February 2024 Environmental Health News post Microplastics and contaminants found in breast milk: a cause for concern? summarizes a recent Washington Post article by Jillian Pretzel as follows:

• Research has identified microplastics, pesticides, and flame-retardant chemicals in human-breast milk.
• Experts stress breast milk's health benefits for both the mother and child, despite potential risks from contaminants.
• Measures like opting for organic foods and avoiding plastic can help minimize exposure to these pollutants.

Key quote:

"It's definitely concerning when we find chemicals in breast milk that are known to affect child development."  Erika Schreder, science director for Toxic-Free Future.

Microplastics in wild-caught fish
Photo courtesy of the 5 Gyres

According to the ScienceDaily 2022 story, Nano-sized plastics may enter and permeate cell membranes:

Researchers have used molecular modelling methods to investigate the movement of nano-sized plastics in membrane structures. The results indicate that for some microplastics, passive transport through the cell membrane may be a significant gateway into the cell.

As nanoplastics may segue through cell walls, it is probable that plant-based food will soon, if not already, contain plastic pollution.

With the prolific micro and nanoplastic pollution contaminating the Earth, health implications for all life on earth is a major concern.

Plastics in the Soils
Below is an excerpt from the RiA article, What We Matters:

With the common use of time-released fertilizers and pesticides in conventional farming came an unintended consequence: the flooding of micro and nanoplastics into the soils from the time-release capsules. ... and what goes into the soils eventually ends up in the aquifers and waterways.

In May 2022, the Center for International Environmental Law published a report on the plastics in the soils, Sowing a Plastic Planet: How Microplastics in Agrochemicals Are Affecting Our Soils, Our Food, and Our Future. From the astonishing report:

Plastics are everywhere in agriculture, from greenhouse films and landscaping fabrics to crop coverings and product packaging. Many of these uses provide pathways for plastic contamination. But the application of plastic-coated agrochemicals to soils and crops directly introduces microplastic into the environment and potentially into the food supply. It also compounds the health and environmental hazards posed by agrochemicals themselves.

One of the least known and most concerning sources of microplastic pollution is their deliberate addition to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides used in industrial agriculture.

Microplastics disintegrate into nanoplastics that are capable of segueing through cell walls. Thus, plants may join the animal-protein food contaminated with plastics.

As they use compost and other natural substances for crop nutrition and generally abstain from agrochemicals, organic and regenerative farms do not contribute to the tremendous plastics in the soils from plastic-coated capsules.

Industry Pioneer
Beginning in 2015, Earth Impact (then Elemental Impact) (Ei) delved into the plastic-pollution crisis with an emphasis on micro and nanoplastics.

Plastics GYRE Symposium
Ei provided behind-the-scenes support for the ground-breaking 2015 Plastic GYRE Symposium: Artists, Scientists and Activists Respond hosted in Atlanta by the Center for Disease Control and Georgia State University. 

Scott Seydel at the podium
photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

The two-day Symposium included a stellar program that ran the gamut of educating on the horrific facts of the plastic-pollution scenario to providing a good news blitz of positive action-in-place to explaining the social justice (or injustice) surrounding the gyre & other plastic-pollution impacts. Prominent industry experts traveled from across the nation to share their experience, research, and call-to-action.

Founding Ei Chair Scott Seydel presented on the Beyond Greenwash: Extended Producer Responsibility panel with a powerful topic that emphasized plastic's value in the global economy. Scott focused on the current recycling rates, end uses for the various plastics, and how states with bottle bills enjoy significantly higher recycling rates.

Though first discovered in 2004 by University of Plymouth (United Kingdom) Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, awareness of microplastic pollution was not yet commonplace in 2015; thus, the Symposium addressed only the macro-plastic pollution crisis.

The RiA article, Plastic GYRE Symposium: Artists, Scientists and Activists Respond, chronicles the impressive symposium.

National Zero Waste Business Conference (NZWBC)
At the 2016 NZWBC hosted in Austin, Texas, Ei hosted an impressive, popular break-out session, The Macro Cost of Micro Contamination. Ei Partner Rick Lombardo, Natur-Tec Director Business Development, North America, was accompanied by 5 Gyres Director of Global Partnerships & Community Engagement Lia Colabella. Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore moderated the panel.

Rick & Lia, the dynamic duo
photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

While Lia presented on the documented plastic pollution crisis in our oceans, Rick educated on a similar dilemma building within our soils in his Compostable Plastics vs. Traditional Plastics presentation.

To help understand the origins of microplastic contamination, Rick educated on fragmentation, biodegradability and compostability as follows:

• Fragmentation – first step in the biodegradation process, in which organic matter is broken down into microscopic fragments.
• Biodegradability – complete microbial assimilation of the fragmented product as a food source by the soil microorganisms.
• Compostability – complete assimilation within 180 days in an industrial-compost environment. 

Note the difference between biodegradability and compostibility is TIME. By definition, organic material decomposes within 180 days while bio-degradation may take as long as millions of years.

Due to the fragmentation process, ocean plastic pollution is now referred to as plastic smog. Clean-up is challenging to impossible due to the microscopic size of the plastic. Aquatic life consumes the fragmented plastic; larger pieces remain within the digestive tract and smaller ones integrate within the flesh. Thus, plastic enters the human-food system!

The RiA Magazine article, The Macro Cost of Micro Contamination, educates on the alarming environmental and health challenges associated microplastic pollution and provides a summary of the impressive session.

Plastics: a double-edged sword
In late 2019, Ei explored the plastic-pollution scenario via the RiA article, Plastics: a double-edged sword. From the article:

The seemingly magical gift of plastic came with a double-edged sword filled with the potential to destroy life as it is currently known on Earth.

In less than seventy years, humans managed to infiltrate the Earth with micro and nanoplastics from discarded single-use and durable products in literally every nook and cranny, ranging from the arctic snow caps to the depths of the oceans and everywhere in between. 

It is time to shift perspectives from human-focused to life-focused and let the Earth show us how to heal the damage inflicted. Answers will come to those who live and take action from the heart.

Book cover
photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

Before addressing the environmental and health challenges associated with plastic pollution, the in-depth article provides a history of plastics and explains how plastics literally evolved nearly every realm of human existence.

As a pandemic project, Holly published the inaugural Ei book designed for print, From Macro to Micro to Nanoplastics, as an excerpt of the Plastics: a double-edged sword. Holly Elmore Images contributed images for the educational book.

Additionally, the book includes the following new sections:

• Plastics at the beach - showcases how readily available durable and single-use plastic items are common place during beach enjoyment.
• Beyond litter, cigarette butts are plastic pollution - explains how cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, a plastic.
• Ei Exploration of Fungi, Soil Health & World Hunger - gives an overview of the empowering October 2018 exploration.
• COVID-19 plastic pollution - explains how the recent pandemic resulted in a new surge in plastic pollution.

Era of Impact
As Ei segues into the Era of Impact, a focus on micro and nanoplastics will interweave within the recently launched Ei Educates platform.

___________________________________________

DONATE HERE

About Earth Impact:

Earth Impact (formerly Elemental Impact) (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the Zero Waste Zones, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the Era of Recycling Refinement was Mission Accomplished and entered the Era of Regeneration (June 2017 though June 2024). Focus areas include Nature Prevails, Soil Health | Regenerative Agriculture, and Water Use | Toxicity.

The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity and SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area. What We Eat Matters is an emerging platform that intertwines within the three focus areas.

As Ei enters the Era of Impact (June 2024 – present,) gears shift to a new business model, Ei Educates. Though education was always integral to Ei’s important work, the  primary focus was on projects, pilots, and initiatives supported by Ei Partners. The Regeneration Era platforms carry over into the Era of Impact.

The Holly Elmore Images Rewilding Urban Landscapes-album folder documents two active pilots: the Native-Plant Landscape Pilot and the Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot. The Ei Pilots serve as an educational program.

MISSION:

To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.

Ei’s tagline – Regeneration in ACTION – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.

The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:

Ei is a creator, an incubator.

Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.

Ei brings the possible out of impossible.

Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.

For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | holly@earth-impact.org. 

Ei Educates

Though education was always integral to Elemental Impact's (Ei) important work over the years, Ei's primary focus was on projects, pilots, and initiatives supported by Ei Partners. As Ei prepares to enter the Era of Impact, gears shift to a new business model and platform, Ei Educates.

Era of Recycling Refinement (2010 inception through June 2017)
In 2010 Ei, a 501(c)3 non-profit, was founded as the home to the Zero Waste Zones (ZWZ), the nation's forerunner in the commercial collection of food waste for compost. When the ZWZ were sold to the National Restaurant Association in 2012, Ei's focus shifted to the Sustainable Food Court Initiative (SFCI) via the SFCI - Atlanta Airport Pilot, SFCI - Concord Mills Pilot, and the SFCI - Georgia Dome Pilot.

Within the SFCI Pilots, whose stated mission was to address Post-Consumer Food Waste, Ei spearheaded a series of materials resource-recovery projects intertwined with Recycling Integrity, the Source-Separated Materials-Recycling Template, Total-Materials-Management Approach, Zero Waste-Food Journeys, and Plastic Film Recycling.

Holly educates at the WorldChefs Congress
photo courtesy of World Chefs Association

Working closely with the SMAT - Sustainable Materials Action Team - Ei responded to industry partners' requests to develop the Compostable Food & Beverage Packaging-Education Session and the World Chefs Waste | Recycling Course Curriculum. Later, Holly provided the working documents for the World Chefs Food Waste Challenge launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the 2018 WorldChefs Congress; in the Congress' final plenary session, Holly presented on The Profitability of Waste: the business case for food waste reduction.

Within the spirit of recycling refinement, Ei launched the Airborne Kitchen Grease Initiative working closely with Ei Partner Grease Lock/Ellis Fibre and the SFCI Pilots.

Era of Regeneration (June 2017 through June 2024,)
In June 2017, Ei announced the Era of Recycling Refinement was Mission Accomplished and entered the Era of Regeneration. Focus areas included Nature Prevails, Soil Health | Regenerative Agriculture, and Water Use | Toxicity.

Healthy school lunch at City
of Greenville Public Schools
photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

Until the COVID pandemic in 2020. the Ei Partner-business model remained viable; partner-funded programs included the Ei Conscious Cleaning Initiative and the Three-Step Straw Initiative (TSSI.) While traveling for the TSSI, Holly intertwined work related to the Healthy-Food School Programs.

During the pandemic, Holly returned to her hometown Sarasota, Florida and launched the Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots (Rewilding Pilots) in her spacious yard. Once settled in Sarasota, Holly embarked on building a Lambda Alpha International (LAI) FL Suncoast Chapter while establishing herself within the local environmental community.

LAI is the honorary global network for thought leaders in all fields related to the preservation and sustainable development of land.

Thus, the Ei Educates platform emerged as the Ei business model evolved away from projects, pilots, and initiatives.

Ei Educates
Within the Ei Educates platform, Ei utilizes its extensive professional network as well as Holly's experience to educate on pertinent environmental and social equity topics. With their in-depth industry expertise and connections, Ei Advisors are essential to the success of Ei Educates.

Ei Advisor Kathy Kellogg Johnson
presenting at the 2018 USCC panel
photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

The inaugural Ei Educates session debuted at the 2018 U.S. Composting Council hosted in Atlanta, Georgia via the Ei-hosted panel Compost’s Empowering Role in Sustainable Soils; Holly moderated the session and panelists included Ei Advisors and Strategic Allies. It was the most popular break-out session at the conference with every seat filled in the large room. The RiA Magazine article, GAME WON: 2018 compost conference a record-breaking success, showcases the Ei-hosted panel.

Post-COVID pandemic in 2023, Ei Educates webinars and speaking engagements segued into common ground. 

As a member of the LAI Global Water-Land Series Group (Group), Holly orchestrated the Coastal-Water Quality: Challenges, Solutions, and Economic Impact global webinar; panelists were members of the LAI FL Suncoast Chapter underdevelopment. The RiA article, Coastal-Water Quality: Challenges, Solutions, and Economic Impact, gives an in-depth synopsis of the empowering presentations; the 90-minute recorded webinar may be viewed at this LINK.

After an informal similar presentation for the Unitarian Universalist Church Green Team in late 2022, Holly spoke at the February 2023 ECO Democrats Manatee monthly meeting to an enthusiastic audience, in person and online. The RiA Magazine article, Soil & Water The Foundation of Life, recaps the presentation outline with more in-depth information. 

The Temple of Understanding invited Ei to host the May 2023 monthly Eco Justice for ALL Dialogue. With the topic, Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective, Holly orchestrated a panel of Ei Advisors as the dialogue speakers. The RiA Magazine article, Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective, highlights the impressive dialogue; the entire dialogue is available for viewing on YouTube.

For the virtual October 2023 Humanity Day celebration, Holly was interviewed regarding Ei’s decades-long impact and her personal philosophies. The 12-minute-interview video is available on Vimeo for viewing. The RiA Magazine article, I AM Humanity, gives an overview of Holly's interview.

In October 2023, the Ei Food Forest, integral to the Rewilding Pilots, was included in a sold-out Transition Sarasota Eat Local Week food forest tour. The RiA Magazine article, Food forests transform lawns into lovely, beneficial landscapes, recaps the important role food forests play within a myriad of areas and showcases the educational tour.

Holly welcomes tour guests
photo courtesy of Ei

On January 7, 2024 the FB Group 941 Natural Gardeners hosted a Rewilding Pilots tour focused on the backyard food forest and the vegetable, herb and edible-flower garden. Nearly 30 intrigued local residents attended the Sunday-morning tour. The RiA Magazine article, Local Food Security: building a movement through yard gardens and food forests, introduces the  modern-day gardening movement and showcases the well-attended tour.

In February 2024, Holly accepted the Lambda Alpha International (LAI) invitation to serve as the Group Co-Chair. 

On June 13, 2024, the Group hosted the Introduction to Water and Land Economics Global Webinar; introductory in nature, the webinar was designed as a foundation for a plethora of future webinars on more specific topics. As the Co-Chair, Holly orchestrated the superb webinar and invited two Ei Advisors to serve as webinar panelists. The RiA Magazine article, Introduction to Water and Land Economics, gives an in-depth summary of the impressive webinar. To view the recorded Introduction to Water and Land Economics webinar, click HERE.

The Group's fall global webinar topic is Agriculture’s Impact on Water Quality & Quantity and Land Economics. A primary focus will be on nitrate contamination, the most widespread contaminant in the world. Additionally, the webinar will address other toxins associated with chemical-based agriculture.

At three-years old, the Rewilding Pilots are ready to serve as an Ei educational platform via tours, workshops, and events. Once the weather cools in the fall, a Building Healthy Soils 101 workshop is slated for local residents. When funding is raised, a large deck with ample seating under the front-yard oak trees will host events.

Articles
In addition to speaking engagements, webinars, tours and other events, RiA articles are integral to Ei Educates. In the prior Eras, the RiA articles were generally documentary in nature and chronicled Ei's important work. With the advent of Ei Educates, many articles are introductory in nature for emerging concepts or showcase synergies of seemingly disparate issues, events, and/or activities.

Group photo at the 2014
Sustainable F&B Packaging Meeting
photo courtesy of Ei

The November 2023 RiA article, Collective Consciousness: a movement, a solution, introduces collective consciousness with a brief history and substantiates how it is integral to Ei's important work via three examples: 1>Zero Waste is a Team Sport, 2> the Sustainable Food & Beverage Packaging Value Chain Meetings (2011 -2014,) and 3> the Nature Prevails platform.

Additionally, Crew Consciousness is showcased within Ei Advisor and Ringling School of Art & Design Professor of Environmental Studies Tim Rumage's This Spaceship Earth. 

The article ends with a feature on the 2023 Humanity Day event hosted by I AM Humanity; Ei was intertwined within the virtual global event and the in-person event hosted in Sarasota. While Tim and Holly were interviewed for the virtual event, Ei Advisor Charles Reith served on the impressive panel at the in-person event.

In the January 2024 RiA Magazine article, What We Eat Matters (WWEM,) encapsulates Ei's important work over the past seven years is organized into three main WWEM categories:

• Personal Health - Nutrition, Physical, Mental & Emotional Health, and Tasty Food.
• World Water Pollution & Depletion - Chemical Farming, Time-Released Fertilizers and Pesticides, and Water-Intensive Food 
• Diversity Reduction - Insect Apocalypse & the Holocene Extinction

The WWEM article outlines a roadmap for future articles and Ei Educates activities.

Era of Impact
A future article will formerly announce the Era of Impact, explain the evolution of Ei's business model.  and showcase how Ei Educates is integral to the new Era.

___________________________________________

DONATE HERE

About Elemental Impact:

Elemental Impact (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the Zero Waste Zones, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the Era of Recycling Refinement was Mission Accomplished and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include Nature Prevails, Soil Health | Regenerative Agriculture, and Water Use | Toxicity.

The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity and SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area. What We Eat Matters is an emerging platform that intertwines within the three focus areas.

The Holly Elmore Images Rewilding Urban Landscapes-album folder documents two active pilots: the Native-Plant Landscape Pilot and the Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot.

MISSION:

To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.

Ei’s tagline – Regeneration in ACTION – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.

The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:

Ei is a creator, an incubator.

Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.

Ei brings the possible out of impossible.

Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.

Ei Magazine Milestones

On June 6, 2024 the RiA Magazine topped 650,000 views

On June 3, 2024 the IMPACT Magazine topped 240,000 views 

The 650,000-views and 240,000-views milestones for niche magazines are monumental achievements, substantiating the published article collection as a prominent industry resource and respected journalism. Though at different velocities, the magazines are surpassing milestones in tandem.

The August 2023 article, The RiA Magazine tops 550,000 views, celebrates the monumental achievement and gives the history of the Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) and The IMPACT Magazines launched respectively in 2009 and 2010.

A Metamorphosis
In 2021, Elemental Impact (Ei) Founder & CEO Holly Elmore returned to her hometown, Sarasota, Florida after residing in Atlanta, Georgia for four decades; the Ei national and global headquarters relocated to Sarasota with Holly.

During her move and subsequent transition to life in Sarasota, Holly ceased writing regular magazine articles and publishing Ei Newsletters; a significant portion of Holly's time was devoted to caregiving for her elderly Mother and establishing the Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots. Holly viewed the timeframe as a chrysalis stage preparing for a major life metamorphosis.

As a token of validation, the RiA Magazine surpassed the coveted 500,000-views milestone on September 19, 2021 during the COVID pandemic and Holly's chrysalis stage. Due to strong search-engine status, the RiA Magazine maintained an impressive readership, even with the lack of recently published articles.

By spring 2023, Holly emerged from her chrysalis and embarked on publishing articles and newsletters.

Escalated Readership

With the reignited publishing, the Ei readership escalated to unprecedented levels! Prior to the metamorphosis, the Ei newsletters consistently experienced a respectable 23 - 25%-open rate. The Spring 2023 Ei Newsletter set a new precedent with a 45%-open rate; subsequent newsletters receive a consistent 45 - 50%-open rate, double the pre-metamorphosis rate.

Additionally, the RiA readership experienced an explosion in readership. Through the years, monthly views generally averaged 100 per day or 3,000 per month, with blips from newsletters and when partners promoted articles. Post-metamorphosis, monthly views range from 5,000 to 10,000. With 100,000 views from June 2023 to June 2024, the average monthly views were 8,300. 

Most readership is organic with minimal social media promotion. In general, an article is announced on Holly's personal FB page and later posted on LinkedIn and the Ei FB page. X, formally known as Twitter, is no longer used as an article-promotion vehicle. Each article is featured in a newsletter. 

When sharing or promoting an article, Holly uses a Bitly link and tracks the readership from Ei promotion.

As it reaches milestones in tandem with the RiA Magazine, The IMPACT Magazine experienced a similar surge in readership to scale with its fewer articles published. With Holly's new Lambda Alpha International (LAI) leadership roles - Co-Chair, LAI Global Land-Water Economics Group and President of the LAI FL Suncoast Chapter underdevelopment - there is an increase in the number of IMPACT articles published.

LAI is the honorary global network for thought leaders in all fields related to the preservation and sustainable development of land. Holly was inducted into the LAI Atlanta Chapter in December 2013.

Ei Magazine Stats
Below is a quick overview of the current magazine stats:

The IMPACT Magazine:

• 242,200 pageviews
• 151 published articles
• Average 1,600 pageviews per article
• Most popular article: Ei New Mission Statement (12/12) 4,000 direct views

The RiA Magazine:

• 658,100 pageviews
  
• 426 published articles
• Average 1,545 pageviews per article
• Most popular article: Reduce First, Donate Second, Compost Third (02/11) 20.800 direct views

Overall the RiA Magazine boasts 12 articles with more 2,000 direct views; the second most popular article, Waxed Cardboard Boxes = Landfill Destiny = $$ Lost, received over 17,800 direct views since publishing in May 2012 and 850 direct views in the past six months.

Welcome Era of Impact

With the metamorphosis complete, Ei will complete the Era of Regeneration and welcome the Era of  Impact with a forthcoming article. Respected environmental journalism and photojournalism 

are integral to success and impact as Ei shifts gears into new and exciting initiatives.

___________________________________________

DONATE HERE

About Elemental Impact:

Elemental Impact (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the Zero Waste Zones, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the Era of Recycling Refinement was Mission Accomplished and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include Nature Prevails, Soil Health | Regenerative Agriculture, and Water Use | Toxicity.

The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity and SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area. What We Eat Matters is an emerging platform that intertwines within the three focus areas.

The Holly Elmore Images Rewilding Urban Landscapes-album folder documents two active pilots: the Native-Plant Landscape Pilot and the Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot.

MISSION:

To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.

Ei’s tagline – Regeneration in ACTION – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.

The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:

Ei is a creator, an incubator.

Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.

Ei brings the possible out of impossible.

Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.

For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | holly@elementalimpact.org. 

Introduction to Water and Land Economics

On June 13, the Lambda Alpha International (LAI) Global Water-Land Series Group (Group) hosted the Introduction to Water and Land Economics Global Webinar; introductory in nature, the webinar was designed as a foundation for a plethora of future webinars on more specific topics.

Baja California Sur Pacific Ocean Coast
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

Group Co-Chairs, Economic & Planning Systems Managing Principal Jim Musbach, LAI Golden Gate Chapter member, and Elemental Impact (Ei) Founder & CEO Holly Elmore, LAI FL Suncoast member, introduced and moderated the webinar.

The esteemed panelists included Jay Lund, Ph.D, Vice Director, Center for Watershed Sciences & UC Davis Distinguished Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Steve Suau, P.E., Consultant at Carbon Life, and Brad Bass, Ph.D, Senior Policy Analysist, Employment & Social Development Canada & University of Toronto Status Professor. Steve and Brad are Ei Advisors and members of the Ei Regenerative Working Group.

Below is a synopsis of the webinar agenda:

Jay Lund - Overview & History 

• Overview of the current water supply and quality scenario and its implications on land economics; give history and name institutions involved in water management.
• Western N America specific challenges, solutions, and success stories.

 Steve Suau - Integrated Watershed Management

•  Four elements of integrated watershed management.
•  Florida specific challenges, solutions, and success stories.

Brad Bass - Algal Blooms, a Economic Perspective

• Overview of the algae blooms that segue into challenges with non-native/invasive species.
• Solutions available at a regional level as well as examples of successful local programs in the Canadian Great Lakes region.

Welcome & Introductions
LAI VP Craig Binning, LAI Simcoe (Toronto) Chapter member, welcomed webinar attendees and gave an overview of the nearly 95-years-old land economics honorary. As he introduced Jim, Craig highlighted Jim's 30 years of LAI membership.

In his introductory remarks, Jim explained that the Group is a subcommittee of the LAI Global Initiatives Committee; the Group's purpose is to create global programming tied to many facets of water and how it relates to land economics.

The Hernando de Soto Bridge 
in Memphis, TN
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

A vast array of water and land economics topics include policy allocations of scarce resources, infrastructure investment, conservation, environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation, sea-level rise, public health, and population growth. According to Jim, "water and land use is a topic that is deep and wide, literally speaking."

The Group intends to educate on the many dimensions of water-land economics, focus on the array of challenges facing diverse geographic regions, and highlight regional success stories.

Following Jim, Holly explained that this webinar was designed as introductory in nature and to serve as a platform from which to address the specific topics outlined by Jim. Holly gave personalized introductions of each of the panelists and then began the webinar with Jay's presentation. 

Within her introductory remarks, Holly showcased the diversity of expertise within the panelists: Jay shares his engineering acumen from an academia perspective, Steve is "boots-on-ground" with implementation of watershed-management projects, and Brad represents a federal government viewpoint as well as his background in science and economics. 

Overview & History - Jay Lund

Jay opened his presentation with the interaction between land and water and how the availability and quality of water has a direct impact on land values. Beyond the recreational and aesthetic value, proximity to water is necessary for agriculture and urban development. Jay emphasized the important role water access plays in the ability to fight fires. Additionally, water may serve as transportation outlets that support an area's economic vitality.

Proximity to water may also negatively impact land value due to excessive, regular flooding and hurricane/storm damage.

Arial view of the Inner Baltimore Harbor
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

Throughout history, civilizations often developed around waterways, whether the sea, inland lakes, or rivers. Once irrigation was developed via access to ground water, farming on semi-arid land provided economic benefit and increased land value.

According to Jay, current water issues include:

• Management for droughts
• Groundwater over-draft
• Contamination of aquifers – nitrate, salts
• Contamination of rivers – pesticides, nitrate, nutrients
• Water allocations among users
• Managing with greater variability

Jay emphasized that surface water contaminates quickly and can also be cleaned-up in a reasonable amount of time with concerted effort. However, the nitrate and salt contamination in the aquifers is nearly impossible to resolve and is considered permanent.

The decentralized water management comes with advantages and disadvantages, especially with the multiple layers of government involved.

In the early 1900's, the U.S. Government invested in huge water projects in the North Western lands to foster economic growth and populate the area. At the time, the economy was driven by agriculture. Yet, in the modern-day economy, agriculture only comprises about 5% of the North Western U.S. economy. Thus, there are tensions from regional water systems designed to serve an economy that no longer exists.

Jay detailed the following challenges of the western arid climate:

• Long seasonal droughts every year
• Multi-year droughts
• Salination
• Water and land competition (users and ecosystems)
• Floods too!

Results of mega drought in CA
Photo source: nvelichko/Shutterstock via NewScientist

Even with infrastructure development to store and move surface water and groundwater, solutions are inherent with water-demand management. Local water-management projects, versus the large regional projects, are the most successful in the western U.S. and around the globe.

Infrastructure cannot solve the overall water-deficit challenges. Every infrastructure-based solution brings new problems, particularly for the environment and sustainability.

In conclusion, Jay emphasized that water and land values always interact and water availability usually enhances land value; water regulation and management affects land economics. Interactions with water have supported and ended civilizations for millennia.

Jay's PPT presentation is available for download at this LINK.

* a significant portion of the Overview and History section was derived from Jay's PPT presentation and transcript of the recorded webinar. 

Integrated Watershed Management - Steve Suau*

Though he has exceptional local-government experience, Steve mentioned that the majority of his 40-year career was spent in the private sector with two partners. One was a water-policy expert and the other a hydrogeologist who focused on ground water and aquifers; Steve's experience was in hydrology and engineering. With the diverse backgrounds, their company covered the bases for extensive water-related projects throughout Florida.

According to Steve, the four principles of integrated watershed management are:

1. Natural systems
2. Water quality
3. Flood protection
4. Water supply

Integrating the four principles into strategic plans, decision making, and project implementation is key to successful watershed management.

An overall effective strategy for water-demand management, is Right Water for Right Use:

• Non-potable water for outdoor irrigation
• Use of water-efficient fixtures for indoor potable water
• Tiered water-rate structures

The Right Water for Right Use strategy resulted in a decreased per person average daily water usage from 105 to 85 gallon from 2003 to 2017 in Southwest Florida. During the same timeframe, the population increased 40% yet the water consumption only increased 20%.

Big Cypress National Preserve Swamp
in the Florida Everglades
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

In the mid-1800's, Florida drained the abundant wetlands and lakes to create agricultural land; the term used at the time was land reclamation. Subsequently, the aquifers were over pumped to irrigate the farm land. Thus, farming depleted the once abundant waters and contaminated the remaining water via runoff of toxic agriculture chemicals.

A significant project during this time frame was the straightening of the 103-mile meandering Kissimmee River and its floodplain into a 52-mile straight canal from Orlando to Lake Okeechobee. As  it flowed, the canal carried agriculture contaminants into Lake Okeechobee.

To the south of Lake Okeechobee, excess fresh water from Florida's summer-rainy season flowed into the Everglades creating Florida Bay, a thriving estuary. Incentivized to compete with Cuba's flourishing sugar production, the federal government redirected the south flow to east and west flows towards Florida's coasts. The flow diversion created the Everglades agricultural area, about 500 to 600,000 acres.

The east/west canals carry tremendous amounts of agricultural and industrial nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, to both coasts; the nutrients are food for algae blooms that are economically and environmentally disastrous for the coastal communities. 

Unintended, yet predicable, consequences include:

• Dire need for fresh water in Florida Bay
• Blue-green algae in the Indian River Lagoon
• Red tide in the Gulf of Mexico

The Florida Water Resources Act of 1972 (Chapter 373, F.S.), established that all water in Florida, on the surface or in the ground, is a public resource managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation through designation of five Water Management Districts (WMDs). The districts were largely delineated around the major watersheds in Florida, not around political boundaries, and have a committed revenue stream based on a percentage of real estate taxes.

Water district responsibilities include:

• Regulation and permitting of water use as well as land development
• Monitoring of science - an enormous amount of data is collected that is critical for decision making
• Land acquisition and restoration for improved water quality
• Infrastructure improvements

Dead fish from the 2018
red tide outbreak
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

Steve gave an example of how four Southwest Florida counties banded together and formed a regional water-supply authority that receives funding from the Southwest Florida Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD.) The regional authority plays an integral role when hurricanes wreak havoc with the area-water supply. Improvements in utility infrastructure must gain approval from the authority to ensure coordination within the regional water supply.

In Steve's words: 

FARMS - Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems - is a private/public partnership developed by the SWFWMD and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as a cost-share reimbursement program for agricultural projects that reduce groundwater withdrawals from the Upper Floridan aquifer through conservation and other alternative water-supply best management practices (BMPs). Water-quality and natural-systems-improvement BMPS may also be cost-shared in priority areas.

SUCCESS: 20 yrs, 240 FARMS Projects, Water Conserved = 20 mil gallons-per-day

In recent years, the SWFWMD embarked on what Steve refers to as the most significant water-restoration project in the world. Yet very few people, even in Florida, are aware of the project. The water district used dynamite to literally blow up the dams on the Kissimmee River, purchased the river flood plains, and restored the meandering 103-mile river. Wildlife immediately returned.

Big Sugar remains an obstacle to cleaning up Lake Okeechobee of agricultural chemicals, stopping the east/west flow of excess water, and restoring fresh-water replenishment to the Everglades and Florida Bay. In 2007 then Governor Crist spoke to the U.S. Sugar Corporation, “I have an idea that might solve all our problems. Why don’t we just buy you out? If Sugar is polluting the Everglades, and we are paying to clean the Everglades, why don’t we just get rid of Sugar?”

In November 2014, about 75% of Florida voters approved an amendment to the state constitution; the amendment requires one third of documentary-stamp revenue to be placed into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund and spent on a variety of environmental programs and initiatives. These funds may prove ample to execute Governor Crist's idea.

Steve's PPT presentation is available for download at this LINK.

* a significant portion of the Integrated Water Management section was derived from Steve's PPT presentation and transcript of the recorded webinar. 

Algal Blooms, a Economic Perspective - Brad Bass*
In his presentation, Brad uses algal blooms as an example in his evolution of studying the economic impact of an environmental phenomenon. With excess phosphorous the main catalyst, in 1970 Lake Erie was in dire conditions from algal blooms and other pollution.

President Nixon & Prime Minister Trudeau
signing the GLWQA April 15, 1972.
Courtesy of the EPA

In 1972, then U.S. President Nixon and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) that coordinates the actions of Canada and the United States in restoring and protecting the water quality of the Great Lakes. At the time of execution, Trudeau described the state of the Great Lakes as a disgrace. Though later removed, in the original published version of The Lorax, Dr. Seuss included "I hear things are just as bad up in Lake Erie" when referring to water-pollution levels.

Through regulations focused on wastewater-treatment facilities, erosion control, and phosphate-concentration levels in laundry detergents, the Great Lakes achieved a 60% reduction in phosphorous loadings through the 1980's

With the onset of chemical-agriculture practices, Ontario’s agricultural heartland was becoming the largest source of this bioavailable phosphorus. 

Additionally, there were New Factors at Play:

• Population growth and land use changes
• Changes in phosphorus discharges from urban and agricultural landscapes due to changes in land use and land-management practices
• A changing climate
• increased frequency of severe storms
• increased temperatures
• longer growing seasons
• Ecosystem changes - aquatic invasive species
• changes to water clarity and nutrient flows caused by Zebra and Quagga mussels
• Bioavailable phosphorus increasing
• linkages to above factors 

Lake Erie responded with algal plumes/blooms, and hypoxia that resulted in devastating fish and other marine-life kills.

Lake Erie algal bloom
Source: QUEST Ohio

Brad shared the evolution of his approach for creating effective, long-term solutions to the excessive bioavailable phosphorus. In 2008, Brad viewed the scenario as a technology issue and his role was to replicate natural processes in technologies.

Zebra mussels, an invasive species, fueled Cladophora outbreaks close to the beaches. Along with a colleague, Brad discovered that zebra mussels were an excellent growing medium in green roofs. Thus, Brad replicated natural processes in technology.

By 2013, Brad noticed the complexity arising from scientific understanding and chose to address the interaction between climate and management of the land. Within the complexity of the scenario, Brad built a model that showcased where green infrastructure may reduce the phosphorous loads.

In 2015, Brad resonated with Aristotle's famous quote: The more you know, the more you know that you don't know. Brad concluded that the complexity arose from the following factors:

• Impact of social and economic factors on adoption of new management practices
• Scientific understanding
• Linkages between different spatial scales
• Interaction between climate and management on the land

When assessing the cost of algal blooms, Brad chose to embrace an economist's, versus an accountant's, perspective and focus on the impact of blooms on social welfare. In his economic analysis, Brad used loss of well being as the barometer of algal blooms' direct cost to the economy,

The following cost categories were used to assess the ecological benefits provided by the lake-water quality:

• Commercial fishing
• Water users: industries (including municipal drinking water treatment plants)
• Recreational users: individuals that participate in lake-based recreation 
• Non-users: individuals that do not use the lake but are concerned about its quality 
• Tourism: the “tourism industry”.
• Property owners along the lakeshore 

Using the above categories, the study assessed the estimated economic impact on the Lake Erie Economic Basin in three scenarios: business-as-usual, policy intervention, and a stable lake. For 2020, total annual benefit of implementing best-management practices was $350.4 million, with the largest benefit of $118.9 million for carbon sequestration.

Brad concluded his presentation showcasing that humanity's demand for ecological resources exceeds the capacity to regenerate in one year; if the entire global population lived in accordance with United States standards, it would require nearly five earths to provide the ecological resources for the living standard.

Brad's PPT presentation is available for download at this LINK.

* a significant portion of the Algal Blooms, an Economic Perspective section was derived from Brad's PPT presentation and transcript of the recorded webinar. 

Question & Answer Session
With the impressive presentations complete, Jim moderated a Question & Answer (Q&A) session. The below is copied with minor edits from the recorded webinar's transcript.

What are the top two or three pricing initiatives that could rationalize or optimize the use of water in the Western United States?

Jay: There's a big difference, I think, between pricing you want to do for the different sectors. Agriculture is the by far the biggest human-based water user, at least in in the West. It's important that water be priced so as to show the opportunity costs, at least in the other economic sectors. And I think that will be sufficient. I think the the true opportunity cost of that water use is often higher than the economic-opportunity costs. But if you get it up to the economic-opportunity costs. I think you're doing pretty well.

Brad mentioned the value associated with the carbon sequestration aspect of the programs featured. Please talk more about how carbon sequestration works in that case and how it creates the value included in your report.

Brad: We were surprised that carbon sequestration was the biggest benefit; we  expected the biggest benefit to be directly in the reduction of phosphorus. What we realized is that many of the best management practices increase vegetation. It's not that they necessarily decrease energy, decrease energy use, but they do increase the ability of the soil to sequester carbon in the surface vegetation. 

For the cost estimate, we took the current price of carbon globally and calculated how much it would increase over the next 30 years. One reason the benefit was so large is the price of carbon; the sequestered carbon could be sold as carbon credits or otherwise receive payment for the sequestered carbon.

How does the carbon sequestration work in the context of the water itself?

Brad:

Cover crops is a farming BMP that
increases carbon sequestration.
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

It's not the water; it's the actions you do to protect the water on the land that lead to the carbon-sequestration benefit. All of those best management practices are in the soil themselves. If you put up a tree line or wind break, you're going to end up planting a lot of trees. If you put in a cover crop, you're going to increase the amount of vegetation cover on your soil: you could double it, or at least increase it by a third every year. If you restore a wetland, the vegetation in that wetland is going to sequester more carbon than it otherwise would. If you were to restore fragile land with trees that would actually sequester a tremendous amount of carbon. 

A related question. In your cost-benefit analysis, you put a value or a cost number on in-action versus the cost of action.  How do you translate the costs that are done on a kind of the inaction to actual financing that gets applied to these solutions?

Brad: The government of Canada had actually experimented with a using climate bonds to finance

greenhouse gas-reduction activities. If you purchased it, a bond would be used to invest in those specified activities. And I thought, now that we know what the cost of inaction is, we have the basis to create ecological bonds for water quality in the Great Lakes. It was a proposal that I started before leaving the department for another role, and I don't think anybody picked up on it.

Steve, in the context of Florida's scenario, if you could see one policy implemented at the Federal level, what would would it be? And in in the same manner at the state level. What would you see as being policy actions that can be taken at the federal and state levels to address the issues Florida experiences?

Steve, At the state level, reinitiate discussions, to terminate sugar farmed in the Everglades; it is important to work together with the local communities who rely economically on the sugar farms. Due to the devastating environmental destruction from the sugar industry, there is opportunity to work with those communities to create a more resilient economy based upon the value of the world's only Everglades as an attraction.

Organic farming grows healthy soil
Photo courtesy of Holly Elmore Images

As many organic farmers say "We grow soil!" Soils with a healthy, thriving ecosystem absorb, retain, and filter significantly more water than deteriorated soils. Thus, healthy soils are an excellent defense for drought and flood scenarios. 

The USDA Organic Transition Initiative subsidizes farmers in the 3-year period, moving from conventional, chemical agriculture to organic, biology-based agriculture.

In Florida, the citrus industry is exploring a return to biology-based agriculture; the chemistry-based agriculture devastated the soil ecosystem, and the citrus orchards are suffering from diseases and viruses. Production levels deteriorated back to 1963 levels.

A shift to biology-based, organic agriculture would significantly reduce the nitrogen and phosphorous loads in the waterways fueling algal outbreaks. Chemical-based landscape and grounds-maintenance practices also contribute to nitrogen and prosperous levels in the waterways, though in lower quantities.

Brad, The state of Vermont used to give out an award for innovative phosphorus reduction, and 2019 that award went to someone who developed the Biochar filter.

Steve, Biochar is an expensive way for removing phosphorus; we found that woody material, even sawdust, was quite effective.

Going back to the agricultural question, sugar seems to be a big element, and Florida's water juice. Hawaii phased out the sugar industry - are there any lessons to be learned for a transition out of sugar in Florida? Or are Hawaii and Florida completely different markets?

Steve, The type of agriculture is not the main issue; it is the location of the sugar farms just south of Lake Okeechobee where the fresh water flows into the Everglades and eventually to Florida Bay.

So there is an ability to to accommodate the sugar industry in Florida?

Steve, Yes. In the past there was an issue with the location of the dairy farms. Thus, the State purchased the dairy farms and relocated them to another part of Florida. A similar scenario could work for the sugar farms.

Is the sea-level rise likely to affect coastal land values, restoration, and recreation activities?

Jay, We have a saying in ecosystems for aquatic ecosystems, at least in estuaries. that elevation is destiny; I think that is going to be true. The urban coasts will probably harden like the Dutch have done over 1,000 years or so. Some coasts are too expensive to harden, and we will simply let them go.

Sea-level rise is a particular challenge for barrier islands and places subject to hurricanes, like the entire Florida coast.

The big coastal cities that have ample resources, are very well organized, and have access to tremendous expertise will still face sea-level rise challenges. It' will be fairly expensive for them to raise their waste facilities, their drainage systems, and their wastewater-discharge systems. Additionally, the cities must protect their their land from flooding.

One final question: with Florida such a low-lying state, how will it be impacted by sea-level rise?

Steve, The state legislature is actively incentivizing coastal communities to prepare for sea-level rise and will provide revenue to fund projects implemented in consideration of sea-level rise.

Recent "sunny-day" flooding in Miami
Photo: Steve Rothaus / Miami Herald

Many coastal communities have what we refer to as "sunny-day flooding" during a King Tide, an exceptionally high tide during a full moon. Based on the orientation of the moon to the earth, King Tides will be more frequent starting around 2030.

Most homes and buildings on the barrier islands are elevated due to hurricanes and are expected to fare well with sea-level rise. Planning for the infrastructure including roads, utilities, water & sewer lines, and lift stations is underway. Yet, roads can only be elevated so much. Sea-level rise is an exceptional challenge for the barrier islands.

... and sea-level rise will have a huge impact real estate values.

Jim, in San Francisco, the northern waterfront plans require the elevation of the seawall and the finger peers by up to 4 feet, which costs billions and billions of dollars. Sea-level rise is a problem that we're all going to be facing in the future.

After the Q&A session, Jim thanked the speakers for their outstanding presentations and those who attended the webinar. Jim reminded all that the webinar was recorded for post-event viewing. 

Holly closed the webinar with announcement of the fall webinar topic: Agriculture’s Impact on Water Quality & Quantity and Land Economics that will be orchestrated in a similar format.

To view the recorded Introduction to Water and Land Economics webinar, click HERE.

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 About Lambda Alpha International (LAI)

LAI is the honorary global network for thought leaders in all fields related to the preservation and sustainable development of land.

LAI is a growing network of chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Each chapter offers a wide variety of programs with industry leaders, discussion forums, community service projects and networking events.

Membership is highly selective through a nomination process initiated by an LAI member. Nominees for LAI membership must demonstrate ten or more years of experience in their fields, professional distinction, and outstanding contributions to the community in their field of endeavor.

LAI is committed to excellence and high professional standards to make a difference. A value to members is knowing you are someone who helped make that difference.

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Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. 

DONATE HERE

About Elemental Impact:

Elemental Impact (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the Zero Waste Zones, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the Era of Recycling Refinement was Mission Accomplished and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include Nature Prevails, Soil Health | Regenerative Agriculture, and Water Use | Toxicity.

The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity and SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area. What We Eat Matters is an emerging platform that intertwines within the three focus areas.

The Holly Elmore Images Rewilding Urban Landscapes-album folder documents two active pilots: the Native-Plant Landscape Pilot and the Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot.

MISSION:

To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.

Ei’s tagline – Regeneration in ACTION – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.

The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:

Ei is a creator, an incubator.

Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.

Ei brings the possible out of impossible.

Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.

For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | holly@elementalimpact.org.