Washington, D.C. – The White House today honored Carrie
Vollmer-Sanders, Director of the Western Lake Erie Basin Project for The Nature
Conservancy, as a “Champion of Change” for her efforts to promote a healthy
Lake Erie by working with farmers, agribusinesses, researchers, government
agencies, and conservation groups to improve nutrient management and drainage
practices through the use of 4R Nutrient Management (applying the Right source
of fertilizer at the Right rate at the Right time, in the Right place).
With Vollmer-Sanders’ leadership, this broad group of
stakeholders developed a voluntary, third-party certification program in which
farmers’ fertilizer and crop advisers can be recognized for their efforts to
improve water quality through the use of site specific, science-based best
management practices.
“This certification program is good business for farmers as
well as water quality—not just for the fish in Lake Erie but also for the
people who rely on the lake and its tributaries for drinking water,” said
Vollmer-Sanders. “Fertilizer run-off into waterways contributes to harmful
algal blooms. This certification program will help make sure that fertilizer
grows crops, not algae.”
The 4R Nutrient
Stewardship Certification Program, managed by the Nutrient Stewardship
Council, was created to be a consistent, recognized program highlighting
agricultural retailers’ nutrient stewardship efforts. The program ensures that
social, environmental and economic sustainability objectives are met through
the adoption of 4R nutrient management. The three-year program will encourage
information sharing and the incorporation of new research and technologies with
the goal of improving water quality in Lake Erie.
The program was made possible through the support of The
Nature Conservancy, the Joyce
Foundation, the Great Lakes Protection Fund, the Mosaic Company Foundation, and
The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), along with fertilizer retailers like The
Andersons and Morral Companies.“Ensuring that 4R Nutrient Stewardship has the maximum
positive impact will require the active engagement of a diverse set of
stakeholders,” said TFI President Chris Jahn. “Carrie has been an instrumental
force in bringing the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Certification program to fruition
and we are most appreciative for her work and for TFI’s growing partnership
with TNC.”
Vollmer-Sanders
will be recognized today at the White House along with 13 others through the “Champions of Change” program. President Obama created the Champions of Change
program as an opportunity to feature individuals doing extraordinary things to
empower and inspire members of their communities.
“The
Certification Program is part of our ongoing work aimed at finding solutions
that will allow society to grow enough food and have clean water to drink for
the 9 billion people on the planet in 2050,” said Sean McMahon, The Nature
Conservancy’s North American Agriculture Program Director. “Key stakeholders
agree that water quality is a top priority for maintaining strong economies,
communities, and biodiversity. By working together we can achieve lasting
conservation benefits for both people and nature.”