Evonik, Essen, Germany, said on Sept. 15 that it is involved in microbial biostimulant research that it expects to result in the launch of a product in 2025-2027. The company said the new development is a unique combination of bacteria and bio-based additives that has the potential to significantly reduce the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
Evonik said an initial greenhouse trial with wheat and corn showed a promising reduction of up to 50% in the use of nitrogen fertilizers. The company is now conducting field trials in various environmental conditions to verify the results obtained in the greenhouse. In addition, it is working on the optimum formulation of bacteria and additives.
“Our innovation has the potential to become a stepping stone to the future of agriculture. It could greatly reduce the use of nitrogen fertilizers without reducing crop yields,” said Jan Wolter, who heads the Farm to Form area at Creavis, Evonik’s strategic innovation unit and business incubator.
The European Commission’s (EC) goal is to reduce agricultural use of mineral fertilizers by 20% and pesticides by 50% by 2030.
Evonik noted that the new EU Fertilizing Products Regulation of July 16, 2022, is giving Evonik’s R&D tailwind: In this regulation, for the first time, the EC provides biostimulants with a uniform legal basis as a new class of crop protection products. That paves the way for EU-wide commercialization. The European Biostimulants Industry Council estimates that the market for biostimulants is growing by between 10-12% a year.