A Saint Lucian project on the transformation of sargassum seaweed into organic compost will be showcased during the Earth Optimism Summit at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.

The project, the brainchild of Johannan Dujon, owner/manager of Algas Organics, will be highlighted at a gathering of 1000 conservation practitioners, pioneering scientists from varied fields, leaders in industry, philanthropists and artists. Presentations at the event will be streamed live to a global audience.

At a press conference held on Monday, Giles Romulus, National Coordinator of the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Program (GEF-SGP) in Saint Lucia, detailed the project’s history.

“This success is based on the hard work of Mr Johannan Dujon of Algas Organics who is participating in a project partnership that includes the Saint Lucia Fisher Folk Initiative, the GEF SGP UNDP, and the Inter-American Institution for Cooperation on Agriculture. The project is titled ‘The Removal and Utilization of Sargassum from the East Coast of Saint Lucia to Create Organic Compost for the Farming Industry.’ This project is still being implemented and will soon give to Saint Lucia its first Bio Fertilizer Manufacturing Plant.”

Mr. Romulus went on to state that officials at the Smithsonian were very impressed with the project.

“In early February we partnered with the Saint Lucia Fisher Folk Cooperative and submitted the project to the Smithsonian Institute for consideration. The Smithsonian Institute was in search of projects that could be promoted globally, as successes in a period when environmental indicators have taken a downward trend. The Earth Optimism Program which is initiated by the Smithsonian Institute has selected a Saint Lucian project for showcase in April. The project that is being implemented by Algas Organics met the criteria among many projects that were submitted. Mr. Dujon will be traveling to Washington, DC next month, where he will present the project, and in effect represent Saint Lucia as an unofficial ambassador.”

Also in attendance at the press conference was the Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, Hon. Dr. Gale Rigobert, who congratulated Mr. Dujon on his achievements and thanked him on behalf of the people of the east coast for finding a means to remove and utilize the invasive seaweed.