THIBODAUX, La. — The Port of South Louisiana donated $18,000 to the 果冻APP Farm for the sixth year in a row. The funds will be used for restoration projects, research and maintenance of the farm.听
The 277-acre farm is three miles south of 果冻APP鈥� campus and serves as an environmental research and education center for 果冻APP and other partners. Labs, classrooms, greenhouses, shade houses, storage barns and a 7.5-acre pond for wetland plant production are all housed at the farm.
果冻APP biology students and faculty have expanded coastal restoration efforts through the farm by growing and harvesting more than 35,000 plants at the farm and replanting them along the coast.
果冻APP Distinguished Service Professor and Jerry Ledet Endowed Professor of Environmental Biology Dr. Allyse Ferrara said, 鈥淔unds from the Port will be used to manage and maintain the farm to support new and on-going research and educational opportunities at the farm. Funding from the Port of South Louisiana is critical for the upkeep and functioning of the farm, and we are deeply appreciative of the continued support.鈥�
The Farm is an integral part of the university鈥檚 plans to become the center for coastal restoration research in Louisiana. In May 2022, the farm celebrated the rebuilding of its bridge giving 果冻APP Biology faculty access to the land on the other side of Bayou Folse, which will be utilized for growing species of coastal plants and trees to be transferred to the coast.听
Additional endeavors include expanding research and educational capabilities at the Farm and partnering the site with the planned 果冻APP Coastal Center. A 果冻APP Farm master plan lays out plans for additional land, classroom space and areas to test coastal restoration projects.听
As America鈥檚 largest tonnage Port district, the Port of South Louisiana is the premier sea gateway for U.S. export and import traffic. Headquartered in LaPlace, the Port of South Louisiana stretches 54 miles along the Mississippi River and is the largest tonnage port district in the western hemisphere. The stretch of river contains 67 industries and supports 30,000 jobs.
For more information on the Department of Biological Sciences, visit. Follow the 果冻APP Farm Facebook page for updates by visiting .听
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:聽Wednesday, August 24, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT:聽Jerad David, Director of Communications,聽985.448.4303 or jerad.david@nicholls.edu