Drought Adaptation Industries blossoms in Alamogordo

ALAMOGORDO — Drought Adaptation Industries (DAI), a local start-up based in the Tularosa Basin, is working to transform gardening by dramatically reducing the required volume of water.

DAI, the creation of inventor and engineer Glenn Bell, started in Bell's garage in Tularosa as a way to supply friends and family an easier way to grow produce. Now, thanks to $357,000 in Local Economic Development funds, DAI has purchased a facility at 1505 Highway 70 West and grown into a manufacturing plant. 

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One of their first products to hit the market is the DAI Insta – Cubes Instant Compost Tea. 

“Compost tea can be one of the most beneficial supplements you put in your soil but the process to making compost tea is a long, arduous and expensive one," Bell said. "The overall theme of all DAI products is that they are simple and easy to use so the compost tea had to fit with that goal.”

Designed for large fields and commercial applications, DAI also offers the Instant Compost Tea pellets which instantly dissolve in water. The pellets have become increasingly popular among school districts and municipalities who are trying to keep fields and parks green without chemicals and synthetics.

This year, DAI is rolling out the Drought Ring, a planting system that increases plant yields while dramatically reducing water usage.

The Drought Ring came to Bell while he was gardening at his Tularosa home on a hot summer day. With a temperature over 100 degrees, Bell touched the ground and was burned by a rock. When tested, a thermometer showed 155 degrees shallow soil temperature. 

“The first part of the solution was pretty simple, plant deeper," Bell said. "We found that the soil temperature was lower and more growth friendly just a few inches down.”

With his new found knowledge on soil temperatures, Bell began engineering the DAI's Drought Ring. 

“Most people plant .5 inch to 1 inch deep in the soil. During an average 100-105 degree day in New Mexico, the soil temperature at that depth gets as hot as 150-170 degrees leaving a stressed environment for plant growth," Bell said. "If you dig 6 inches deeper into the soil, you will notice how the soil feels wet and much, much cooler. That is where we want to plant our seeds as the temperature remains consistent 85-95 degrees day and night.” 

The Drought Ring accomplishes two things that are vital to plant growth, it changes the temperature of the soil by planting deeper and changes the watering dynamics vital for plant growth therefore saving water and ensuring effective water use.

Over the course of five years, DAI conducted numerous test plots around the nation and documented the results. The results found that compared to traditional hose watering, DAI cut water usage by 95 percent while growing a robust crop.

All of DAI products are created from 100 percent natural industrial waste, made from processed cow manure, worm castings, aged green compost and added natural minerals.

Bell's mission for creating these products is two-fold, addressing the issue of drought and food insecurity. 

"Right now we have two water basins that we get our water from here, our primary is Rio Hondo and it's down to 2 percent of what it normally is," Bell said. "Our back-up is the Rio system on the other side of Las Cruces and it's 3 percent. Matter of fact, for the first time ever the Rio Grande has been drying up right now. And it's not just here. By 2025, according to NASA NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), 78 to 80 percent of all the land mass in the United States will be in drought."

Bell said with expanding drought and an increase in population, comes many agricultural issues to address. 

"Right now we're struggling to feed and water everybody," Bell said. "The industry is going to have an additional 30 percent demand on potable water. Our water supply is going to continue to dry up because of the drought and then on top of that there'll be additional demand with the climb in population. When water gets expensive, think of how expensive vegetables are going to be." 

Bell said 85 percent of all potable water used today is going into agriculture and 99 percent of that water is wasted. 

"It's all being thrown away and evaporated into the atmosphere," Bell said. "So we've developed ways to control all that and eliminate any kind of learning curve. Make it absolutely simple for you or your children to learn. Our best beta testers have been kids. Our idea is we can show them that they can make it to where they never have to be food insecure again.There is a lot of science in growing food but if you can take and control one basic cubic foot, you can control that whole environment. We've done that." 

Currently, DAI Insta – Cubes Instant Compost Tea and Instant Compost Tea pellets are available for purchase at the Tunnel Stop, 880 U.S. Highway 82, 575-682-5676, Hydra Grow, 710 E. Ninth St., 575-214-2020, Discount Pools, 700 E. First St., 575-439-8448, Western Auto Tularosa, 300 Granado St., 575-585-2131, and online through Amazon.

DAI will also have a booth at Alamogordo's Earth Day celebration at Alameda Park Zoo between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. April 28. 

For more information about DAI, visit DAI-NM.com.