The Andersons have added Ferti Technologies Inc. of Saint-Michel, Canada, to a patent infringement suit initiated late last year. The infringement suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, involves three patents related to dispersible granular fertilizer technology. Ferti Technologies is the fourth party cited in the suit along Enviro Granulation LLC of South Carolina; Plant Science Inc. of Ontario, Canada and Harrell’s LLC of Lakeland, Florida. As of Jan. 27, the defendants had not filed answers to the complaint.
The Andersons said its investment in intellectual property is limited, however, but research and development is crucial to the success of its professional turf business and the company will defend its technology in this suit and others if necessary.
The Andersons introduced its dispersible granular technology in 2004 under the brand name Contec DG®. It says Contec DG® products serve golf courses nationwide.