The Mosaic Co., Tampa, and Sound Agriculture, Emeryville, Calif., announced on March 9 that they have formed a strategic partnership to bring a revolutionary nutrient efficiency product to market to boost yields across major row crops and improve soil health. The companies will collaborate on the development and distribution of a proprietary mix of Sound’s bio-inspired chemistry and key micronutrients.
Sound’s technology activates the soil microbiome to give plants access to nutrients to optimize fertilizer inputs. The partners said early data indicates that the combination has the potential to be a best-in-class product within the broader nutrient efficiency space.
“Mosaic is committed to providing advances in soil health for our customers and products that have the potential to minimize fertilizer loss to the environment,” said Kim Nicholson, Mosaic’s Vice President-Ag Technology and Innovation. “Sound’s innovative technology will complement our product portfolio, providing growers with an in-season solution to enhance fertilizer efficiency and optimize production.”
“Partnering with Mosaic will help us quickly scale our technology by leveraging their significant technical expertise and market access,” said Adam Litle, CEO of Sound Agriculture. “We’re excited to find a partner who shares our passion for positively impacting agriculture practices, improving the bottom line for growers, and increasing soil health.”
The co-developed product is expected to launch in the U.S. by 2023, before rolling out to additional markets throughout the Americas, with a focus on Brazil, Argentina, and Canada. Sound will focus on manufacturing of the active ingredient and product formulation, while Mosaic will oversee field development, regulatory, sales, and marketing efforts. Initially, the product will be available for use on corn and soybeans, with the potential to expand to additional row crops such as wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane, coffee, and others.
The partnership will complement Sound’s Source™ product line of foliar products for corn and soybeans by adding core micronutrients for growers looking for a more complete in-season fertility solution. The partners said that because the product leverages bio-inspired chemistry, it offers more stability and consistency than many other nutrient efficiency products. With an in-season application timing, Mosaic said this product collaboration enhances its own existing soil health portfolio, providing another tool for a comprehensive, well-balanced approach to plant nutrition.