Pursell Agri-Tech, Sylacauga, Ala., announced on April 22 that it has filed a non-provisional patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to protect Intellectual Property related to its biodegradable coating components and application process.
The company is currently in end-stage research and development of a novel coating technology that will enable commercialization of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) products meeting European Union biodegradability standards.
Pursell said its patented, lower-temperature coating process enables the incorporation and survival of best-in-breed biostimulants and microbes, allowing Pursell to deliver a biodegradable CRF product with nutrient uptake and a biostimulant package tailored to a crop’s specific needs.
“Our current coating technology utilizes an extremely thin membrane, which already decreases the amount of polyurethane used in the process. This biodegradable technology, coupled with biostimulant inclusion, has the potential to be a true game-changer for both Pursell and the fertilizer industry at large,” said Joe Brady, Pursell CFO and Sustainability Initiatives Lead. “When introduced, our biofortified, biodegradable CRF products will offer the broad benefits of our current products, without any of the potential effects of non-biodegradable coatings.”
Initial biodegradable product field trials are being conducted this spring in university and industry grower trials in the Midwest, Southeast, and Canada, targeting corn production.