Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Cyanobacteria (Developing a process for the production of an organic hydroponic fertilizer using nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria)

Teaser

The huge energy and natural resources that are invested in the production of chemical fertilizers, especially nitrogen fertilizers, have made the search for sustainable replacements one of the most pressing concerns in agricultural research and development today. Growponics...

Summary

The huge energy and natural resources that are invested in the production of chemical fertilizers, especially nitrogen fertilizers, have made the search for sustainable replacements one of the most pressing concerns in agricultural research and development today. Growponics Ltd., one of the leading companies in hydroponic technology in the world, and over the last six months has been developing a biological process to produce ammonia directly from the air by using nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria. This type of fertilizer does not exist on the market today and will create its own category of high precision organic fertilizer, in contrast with existing products that suffer from a high sodium and organic matter content, low solubility, and poor nitrogen availability.

Work performed

This innovative project is funded by the EIC SME instruments phase I programme with the objective to reach a proof of concept for a continuous, high yield ammonia production process. The company has researched the various aspects of cyanobacterial ammonia production and growing conditions, and reached promising results. Cyanobacteria was grown in suspension and immobilized on different type of carriers. Ammonia production, its conversion to nitrate and concentration of the final product have been demonstrated.

Final results

Following these preliminary results, the company has decided to continue the R&D towards the full complementation of the proof of concept, and to seek funding for additional development and scale up, with the goal to have a commercial system ready by 2021.
The business model is composed of the company’s existing customers’ network, and the development of new ties with both large agricultural companies or collectives, and smaller farms, especially in Europe. All of these clients will benefit from an ecological (organic certified) nitrogen fertilizer, with the same quality of chemical fertilizers or higher. It will allow them to produce their own renewable, safe fertilizer with a zero CO2 footprint.
The company will strive to create collaborations with large players in the agricultural fruit and vegetable market, and with research labs that can contribute to the cyanobacteria research.
Our vision is to create self-sufficient farms for a more sustainable food production worldwide.

Website & more info

More info: http://www.growponics.co.uk/.