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SCIENTISTS at an environmental biotechnology company have developed a biological product that could potentially be used to directly reduce the amount of nitrogen and other fertilisers used by arable farmers.
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Amnite® A100, created by Stockton-on-Tees-based CBio (Cleveland Biotech), relies on an improved symbiotic relationship between plants and soil microbes - by increasing and improving the biological activity in the soil, the plants are better able to utilise macro and micro nutrients.
Given recent changes to legislation regarding fertiliser usage, early indications show this product could assist farmers in achieving their environmental targets, as well as significantly improving crop yields and water quality. In particular, farmers with land in heavily restricted Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) could find this to be a revolutionary alternative.
The product has also shown disease suppressing activity in a number of crops in numerous investigations and could potentially be used to supplement reduced doses of conventionally used fungicides in a standard programme. This in itself will have widespread benefits to both the farmer and the industry in general by introducing a completely new strategy in the struggle to prevent resistance to the existing chemistry which is currently available. More work in this area is envisaged for 2011.
Ben Hoskyns, managing director of CBio, said: "Following extensive academic research we have developed a product to achieve these environmental goals by incorporating a wide range of bacteria.
"Initial controlled field trials have been conducted that have proven the efficacy of the product in improving crop yields - which could be very good news for farmers of course - but the environmental benefits are of extreme significant to say the least.
"This product could provide the means to significantly reduce the quantity of nitrogen applied to the soil and therefore the amount that reaches the water ways and this will have a direct impact on water quality, the sustainability of intensive agriculture and could possibly provide a replacement product for banned fungicides - all of which would benefit the wider community in general.
"These products could have the ability to revolutionise agriculture and solve one of the burning issues facing farmers today - how to reduce nitrogen levels whilst not risking yield," said Mr Hoskyns. "Given projected population growth and food demands, crop yields will have to grow at least in line with this demand - these products could play a significant part in achieving this."
North Yorkshire-based independent trial specialists, NDSM, conducted controlled trials of the product which have demonstrated that when used in conjunction with, or instead of, existing chemicals then yields are, at worst, maintained or more often improved by up to 6pc - which in agricultural terms is significant.
Nigel Metcalfe, managing director of NDSM, said: "I'm very excited to be involved in the development of this new product from CBio - to-date our studies have not only shown a profitable response from treatment with Amnite A100, but also the potential to make more savings in both cost terms and environmental impact, by reducing the amounts of conventional inorganic nitrogen applied.
"Our work will continue to investigate these effects and I'm confident we will find even more benefits when we look at application timings and dose rates more closely in the 2011 field trials."
Further trials will take place next year before the product can be officially launched and marketed to agronomists and the farming industry.
CBio prides itself on only supplying environmentally friendly products that are both bio-degradable and sustainable. All components are from natural sources and in no way inhibit the natural breakdown of organic waste streams. Products are marketed as the natural alternative to chemical or mechanical solutions.
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