BRADENTON, Fla. -- A byproduct of brewing beer may be the answer to stopping red tide.
Mote Marine and University of Maryland scientists are seeing promising results in using leftover barley from Darwin Brewing Company in Bradenton to kill red tide algae.
"/> When Darwin Brewing Company is done making beer, they have spent grain leftover. Now, every week, they're giving 2,000 lbs. of the brewing byproduct to Mote Marine researchers who are studying how it can be used against red tide.
Scientists say extracted nutrients from the decomposed barley is showing promising results in helping to kill, Karenia Brevis, the red tide algae.
"It worked great. Within 24 hours, or probably less than that, we were able to kill all the Karenia Brevis in our small test system," said Dr. Vincent Lovko, senior scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory.
Scientists are still in the early stages of researching how the grain extract mixed with other compounds could safely be applied to a red tide bloom.
