Foogly Corp Awarded Grant to Test Innovative Dune Fortification on Fire Island

A Princeton PhD's company aims to use recycled materials to strengthen Fire Island's fragile dunes and combat coastal erosion.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 9:21pm

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A bold, geometric abstract painting in earthy tones of green, blue, and brown, depicting the complex interplay of natural forces and human interventions that shape coastal ecosystems like Fire Island's dunes.An abstract visualization of Foogly Corp's innovative approach to fortifying Fire Island's dunes using upcycled waste, aiming to strengthen the coastal ecosystem's natural resilience.Fire Island Today

A company founded by a Princeton University PhD has received a $305,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to test a new system using local food and solid waste to help fortify Fire Island's soil and sand dunes, taking a fresh approach to combating accelerating coastal erosion. Foogly Corp. plans to use upcycled materials like glass, seashells, and biomass to produce a fertilizer that can improve soil health and strengthen the root systems of native plants on the island's dunes.

Why it matters

Fire Island and coastal areas worldwide are facing increasing threats from storm surges, sea level rise, and accelerating erosion. Traditional methods of fortifying dunes, like adding sand, are seen as temporary 'Band-Aids' that don't address the underlying ecological damage. Foogly's approach aims to provide a more sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution to dune restoration.

The details

Foogly Corp., founded by Princeton PhD Kevin Speina, will use the NSF grant to test its innovative dune fortification system on about 50 properties on Fire Island, in collaboration with the Pines Conservation Society. The company plans to use its fertilizer made from recycled materials to plant native species like milkweed, pitch pine, beach plum, and sea pea, which have strong root systems that can naturally compact the soil. Foogly has already produced several hundred pounds of the material, obtaining shells from a corporate sponsor, pumpkins from a New Jersey farm, and biomass from discarded Christmas trees.

  • In 2022, Speina founded Foogly Corp. while a PhD student at Princeton.
  • In March-September 2025, a significant portion of recently replenished beach on Fire Island eroded rapidly.
  • In April 2026, Foogly Corp. received a $305,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Science Foundation.

The players

Foogly Corp.

A company founded by a Princeton University PhD that aims to use recycled materials to produce fertilizer and improve soil health, with the goal of fortifying sand dunes and combating coastal erosion.

Kevin Speina

A Brooklyn resident and the CEO of Foogly Corp., who started the company in 2022 while a PhD student at Princeton.

Fire Island National Seashore (FINS)

The government entity responsible for maintaining the shoreline health up to 100 feet offshore on Fire Island.

Ed Romaine

The Suffolk County Executive, who wrote a letter of support for Foogly Corp.'s grant application.

Cory Booker

The New Jersey Senator, who also wrote a letter of support for Foogly Corp.'s grant application.

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What they’re saying

“Foogly offers an opportunity to address two major environmental challenges that affect many municipalities in Suffolk County and across Long Island: coastal erosion and the need for sustainable, cost-effective soil amendments to improve local soil health and local farmers' well-being.”

— Ed Romaine, Suffolk County Executive

“From drone photography and slides, you could see it was eroding rapidly.”

— Kevin Speina, CEO, Foogly Corp.

What’s next

Foogly Corp. plans to conduct growth and seed germination experiments with native plants from Fire Island at Eisenhower Park greenhouses and hopes to receive a research and development permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to test its dune fortification system directly on the island's eroded areas.

The takeaway

Foogly's innovative approach to using recycled materials to strengthen coastal dunes and improve soil health could provide a more sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to the growing problem of coastal erosion, potentially serving as a model for other communities facing similar challenges.