Auburn University Researcher Studying Poultry Wastewater As Way To Irrigate Crops By Paul Hollis, Auburn University College of Agriculture Brendan Higgins, assistant professor in the Auburn University College of Agriculture’s Department of Biosystems Engineering, is leading a team of researchers to study the possibility of using poultry processing wastewater for irrigating in controlled-environment agriculture. As freshwater supplies become increasingly limited and the world’s population continues to grow, Auburn University College of Agriculture researchers are working on ways to find and utilize alternative water resources for irrigating crops. “One proven source that can meet this demand is wastewater,” said Brendan Higgins, assistant professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering. “In addition to providing water for crops, wastewater resources are rich in nutrients, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus. Combined, these nutrients can improve the growth of food crops.”