Carbon trading our way out of hunger crisis

CORONADO, Calif.--Reducing greenhouse gases isn't enough for EcoVerdance and Accelegrow Technologies; why not tackle world hunger, too?

This year's Future in Review conference has chosen to spotlight a company called EcoVerdance, which is using a product developed by Accelegrow to promote carbon trading by using the proceeds from selling carbon offsets to purchase a chemical called Accele-Gro-M that dramatically improves the yields of existing farms and makes it possible to grow plants in places previously thought impossible.

I have to admit, the first time Future in Review organizer Mark Anderson described the scheme, two things popped into my head: the fable of Jack and the Beanstalk and the episode of The Simpsons in which Homer covered a barren farm with nuclear waste to produce a tobacco/tomato hybrid plant. But Dennis Knight, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Accelegrow, says his company's product is legit.

Accele-Gro-M is an all-natural chemical fertilizer that consists of hormones, proteins, nitrogen, urea and two proprietary ingredients for which Accelegrow is seeking patents. It overrides a plant's natural response to a stressful environment, which is to shrivel up in order to protect itself. Instead, Accele-Gro-M encourages the plant to open up and accept moisture from whatever sources are available, such as dew. And despite the stressful situation, it somehow encourages the plant to keep growing, Knight said.

The company has been studying the use of the fertilizer in drought areas, and has seen yields grow from 40 bushels an acre to 180 bushels to 190 bushels per acre, Knight said. Only 8 ounces of the product are required per acre of farmland, and the cost to the farmer is around $8 to $11 per acre, depending on the crop and the area of the world in which it will be used.

But EcoVerdance thinks it can use the promise of Accel-Gro-M to encourage carbon trading. The idea is to sell carbon credits to companies looking to reduce their carbon output, either voluntarily or as part of government regulation. Then, EcoVerdance will use that money to purchase Accele-Gro-M and donate the fertilizer to farmers in developing countries.

This will have several effects, according to David Morris, director, chairman, and president of EcoVerdance: crop yields will be enhanced on the same plots of land, and previously unusable plots can generate food. Additionally, the more plants that grow, the more carbon dioxide that can be taken out of the atmosphere.

EcoVerdance is still working out the kinks, and further testing of the product is required, but that's the idea. Knight claims that Accele-Gro-M has no side effects, either in the food that people eat grown with the product, or in any run-off into the groundwater.

[blurble]

And you see what hormone replacement pills do to women? BULL. Keep that CRAP OUT of my food!!!! I don't want ISHT that's been put on STEROIDS. You want more food?? BUY an ANT FARM and BREED THEM. That's right biyatch, it's called survivorman living.

[blurble]

And you see what hormone replacement pills do to women? BULL. Keep that CRAP OUT of my food!!!! I don't want ISHT that's been put on STEROIDS. You want more food?? BUY an ANT FARM and BREED THEM. That's right biyatch, it's called survivorman living.

[suyts]

????? "seen yields grow from 40 bushels an acre to 180 bushels to 190 bushels per acre,...." Of what??? Mr. Krazit got it right though, "scheme" is a word to describe this. 8 oz. to cover an acre??? How??
All this for a scheme that contributed to food shortages in the first place.

[vijayind]

"Then, EcoVerdance will use that money to purchase Accele-Gro-M and donate the fertilizer to farmers in developing countries."

What did the people of developing countries do to deserve this ?? They are in hardship as it is...

[Taxman0911]

Sounds like there just repackaging Soylent Green.

[splust]

I have seen, first hand, the crop improvements when Accele-gro has been applied and the results are quite remarkable. Yes, I am biased, but I'm also quite proud to represent the positive side of the story in a world of naysayers. This is an all natural product that stands to have a deep and lasting impact on many lives at many levels...farm, food, fuel, forest and the air we breath.

[LemminginND]

Cobra venom is an all natural product too and I don't want that in my food. Just because something is all natural doesn't automatically make it safe. No side effects in the run-off of our groundwater? Does this product magically become inert when it goes into a river or lake? What will this super fertilizer do to river and lake weeds???

[duggerdm]

What a horribly presented article. Apparently the author hasn't heard, or choses to ignore basic critical thinking and responsible skepticism (typical C/Net reporting) . "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof." - even in popular media articles. Though the Simpsons and the The Future Review onference are referenced, no scientific references are provided for the product in the article - so we have no idea of the validity of the claims. Just more fluff reporting - and time waste.

[splust]

Good point about Cobra Venom although I doubt it would pass certification as a food grade product as Accele-gro has. I'd say within a few year's time you will have heard of the product relative to how it has helped alleviate some of the world's hunger by providing the already proven capability to grow crops where they once could not.

[rucknrun]

BOOO to this.

[lms4132]

Accelegro did make some claims that were hard to believe so I followed up and went to their website (www.accelegrow.com). They had photos, charts and videos of the testing that has been done so far.

[ace549]

I have infact seen accelegrow in action. There have been remarkable yield increases in test plots of corn, soy beans, and cotton in my area of the country. The unbelievable thing is that the increases happened in a year of drought when most farmers lost the majority of their crops. From my understanding the product is not a fertilizer but an additive. Outstanding product and Eco friendly

[blurble]

So if I eat the food that was sprayed with this, will it suck all the water out of my body? No thanks. I don't want to eat bio engineered crap. There's too many 3 eyed fish and freaks in our rivers and sidewalks.

[EcoRegulator]

Why so negative?

[EcoRegulator]

Accelegrow has a "Caution" label, which puts it in the same category as salt in terms of harmful chemicals. It also increases Biomass, in some cases by well over 100% therefore removing carbon from our air supply..... It is better to not show your ignorance and to do your homework before commenting.

Give ingenuity a chance.

[carbontheory]

Gentlemen......Go to either www.accelegrow.com or www.ecoverdance.com .....they have the goods.....this is remarkable stuff......i have been told that they have had over 600 independent tests to confirm their statements.......not only do the plants that use their product take in twice as much carbon....but they produce 100% more nutrients......home run......if you think this is bull, then why did the #2 guy at Archer daniels midland join this company and the #1 guy from cargill.........gentlemen....dont be so quick to dismiss this product....from what i have read the plants also use 80% less water that are using accelegrows product..........do more research before you slam it.......as i did.....good luck

[atmospure]

Yes, please research before commenting. It shows you actually know what you're commenting on. I've also seen the affects of Accelegrow and if you go to the website, it will show you exactly how it works. Also, my finance is a doctor and has explained how just because something is natural doesn't mean it's safe and just because something is synthetic doesn't mean it's not. The point is: who knows more about what 's in question, random naysayers or the SCIENTISTS who developed the product?