Mission

Blue Earth Project leads Southern Minnesota into an ecological paradigm shift towards a resilient future. With a localized approach to a global problem, our innovative programming, community activation, and bold leadership will aid Greater Mankato in becoming a shining example of a community that properly addressed an environmental crisis.

History

Influenced by drone technology for precision agriculture, Blue Earth Project formed in 2017 and soon grew into an umbrella brand eco movement for Southern Minnesota. In May of 2019, Blue Earth Project incorporated as a non-profit organization in Mankato, MN. Since then, the Blue Earth Project crew has continued to grow and inspire mindful changes that ripple throughout Southern Minnesota.

State of Our Land

Deforestation rates are soaring from conversion to farmland. High rising yields adapted for row crop agriculture are depleting land of its ability to hold nutrients. Monocrop culture reduces biodiversity necessary for soil to have a resilient and balanced microbiome. The increase in drain tiling and decrease in buffer strips has accelerated erosion. Using our land primarily for crop production is diminishing natural vegetation, wildlife habitat and impairing waterways.

State of Our Water

Industrialized chemical pesticides and fertilizers are washing into our water systems causing high levels of nitrates and phosphates. Algal blooms from excess phosphorus are choking out aquatic life and recreational revenue. Wells are unfit for consumption from nitrate levels up to 40x the drinking water standard. Increased runoff and climate change is moving fertile soil and clouding our waters.

Why Mankato?

In 2016, Southern Minnesota lakes and rivers were deemed irreversibly “unswimmable.” According to some researchers and scientists, we should just, “forget about em!” However, we here at Blue Earth Project argue differently. Water is the foundation of life itself, and consequently, what we are facing is a MAJOR water problem! The Greater Mankato Area alone has seven rivers flowing into one, the Minnesota River, which flows into the Mississippi River. It has been said we are the largest contributor to the nitrate dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Everyone is downstream from somebody!