Lakeland, Fla.—Green Technologies is in the early stages of permitting for a new facility on 24 acres of land here to produce its unique slow-release GreenEdge brand of organic fertilizer from biosolids from a nearby wastewater treatment facility. “This would be a new facility in central Florida, the first of three plants that are planned in the central and southern part of the state,” Amir Varshovi, company president, told Green Markets. “We are going to break ground the end of the year and be in operation next year. We’re in the process of determining the location of the other two.” Headquartered in Gainesville, Fla., Green Technologies has developed a patented process for producing an organic-based fertilizer with a multi-release mechanism that Varshovi says sets it apart from regular or traditional organic fertilizer that rely on microbial degradation only. “GreenEdge has a mechanism for release by hydrolysis, as well as microbial degradation for mineralization that gives slow release capability with initial release from three or five days and also year-around release that is not impacted during cooler time of the year,” Varshovi pointed out. Advantages claimed for the product include better results with less fertilizer and less water, no plant burning while adding organic matter to soil, and improved resistance to disease and drought. “We have developed several markets for these products. Agriculture is part of our market, which also includes horticulture as well as golf courses and the lawn and garden consumer market.” He disclosed that current production of 15,000 tons per year is expected to quadruple with three facilities constructed and in operation. “Actually, we supply GreenEdge products throughout retail markets through Ace hardware stores, and some product out of Florida will reach into Central America as well as the Caribbean islands.” He also reported that the product offers different analyses, ranging up to 12 percent nitrogen, and P and K ranging from 1 to 3 percent and up to 8 percent.
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