Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies, Vancouver, BC

Vancouver-based Ostara helps protect precious water resources by changing the way cities around the world manage excess nutrients both in wastewater streams and due to fertilizer runoff. The company's proprietary technology, the Pearl Process, recovers otherwise polluting nutrients, phosphorus and nitrogen, from municipal and industrial water streams, and transforms them into a slow release, eco-friendly fertilizer marketed as Crystal Green. The process helps wastewater treatment plants reduce nutrient management costs and meet increasingly stringent discharge limits, while Crystal Green’s innovative Plant-Activated mode-of-action improves crop yield and performance, while reducing the risk of nutrient leaching and runoff. Crystal Green (5-28-0 +10% Mg) is a slow-release nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium fertilizer that is used in blends by growers primarily throughout North America and the UK. Providing full-season nutrient availability to plants and crops, Crystal Green is more efficient and environmentally friendly compared to conventional phosphorus fertilizers. Ostara operates facilities throughout North America and Europe and has a number of projects under construction, design and development, including the largest nutrient recovery facility in the world in partnership with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Ostara is also the recipient of numerous awards including a World Economic Forum 2011 Technology Pioneer, the Global Cleantech 100, and Deloitte’s Technology Green 15.