Citing its importance for improving the ability of Maryland's farming community to meet new nutrient management goals, Maryland Agriculture Secretary Henry A. Virts and Secretary of Business and Economic Development Richard C. Mike Lewin today urged individuals and bio-science businesses to respond to the State's request for proposals to develop alternative uses of animal waste.

"Nutrient management is essential for the health of our environment, but it also presents a serious challenge to farming and the entire agriculture industry," Secretary Virts said. "We must work cooperatively with our research institutions and the private bio-science community to make this traditional natural resource more environmentally safe and economically viable."

The Animal Waste Technology Fund has $1 million available to fund grants, loans and equity investments for projects to demonstrate or commercialize existing technology that either reduces the amount of nutrients in animal waste; alters the composition of animal waste in order to reduce nutrient losses; provides alternative waste management strategies; or uses animal waste in a production process. Requests for proposals for the Animal Waste Technology Fund are available from the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED). Or on the Internet at http://www.mda.state.md.us/pocomoke/rfp.htm. Proposals must be submitted to DBED by August 31, 1999.

"Any individual or company that develops the technology to better manage animal waste will have the entire world of agriculture beating at their door," said Secretary Lewin. "Governor Glendening and the State of Maryland are on the leading edge of an environmental and economic tide that recognizes the way we have managed animal waste in the past is inconsistent with our need for clean water and good public health."

Governor Parris N. Glendening and the Maryland General Assembly established the Animal Waste Technology Fund in 1998 in response to concerns that Maryland's seafood and tourism industries and the health of citizens were at risk due to nutrients accumulating in streams, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.

Calling on the secretaries of the environment and agriculture, Governor Glendening established the Inter-Agency Nutrient Reduction Oversight Committee to examine proposals for the use of the funds budgeted for animal waste reduction.

Projects must be located in Maryland and preference will be given to proposals that include participation by Maryland agricultural entities and the University System of Maryland. Further information and the complete RFP can be obtained by contacting Ms. Carol Drum, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, 217 E. Redwood St., 22nd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-767-6952, or by visiting the Maryland Department of Agriculture website at http://www.mda.state.md.us or the Department of Business and Economic Development website at http://www.mdbusiness.state.md.us.