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Commercializing a sustainable micronutrient fertilizer

Technology
TECHNOLOGY PRIORITY

Make; Sell

PROJECT TIMELINE
February 2022 to September 2023
PROJECT STATUS
Fund I: Complete
TOTAL INVESTMENT
$14,587,959

Consortia Contribution
$8,213,412

Cluster Contribution
$6,374,547

PARTNERS

Lucent Biosciences

AGT Food and Ingredients

Aberhart Ag Solutions

IN10T Canada

NuWave Research

Goal

To support the development of the first commercial-scale manufacturing facility for Soileos micronutrient fertilizer. To develop additional Soileos products, and support the construction, commissioning and launch of manufacturing in a 20-ton-per-day processing facility to be located in Saskatchewan.

Project Summary

In a previous project, Lucent Biosciences partnered with AGT Food & Ingredients to develop and scale the production of Soileos using lentil and pea hull fibre produced by AGT bound to zinc, manganese and iron.

Lucent and AGT have now partnered with NuWave Research, IN10T and Aberhart Ag Solutions to develop additional Soileos products and support the construction, commissioning and launch of manufacturing in a 20-ton-per-day processing facility to be located in Saskatchewan. NuWave Research will scale its proprietary Microwave Assisted Organic Synthesis (MAOS) technology to meet the manufacturing capacity requirements of the commercial scale facility. NuWave's technology is expected to significantly reduce the production time for Soileos. In10T is a field trial research company focused on accelerating the adoption of agricultural technologies in North America. IN10T will participate in the project through field trials and to strengthen the consortium's market intelligence related to the use of micronutrient fertilizers in Canadian broad-acre agriculture. The final consortium member, Aberhart Ag Solutions, will act as the sales channel to get initial commercial Soileos production volumes into the hands of Canadian farmers.

The project supported the development of engineering cost estimates for future commercial facilities and enabled the consortium to plan to build a commercial-scale manufacturing facility to produce micronutrient fertilizer for sale in the Canadian market within the next 1 - 2 years. Research completed during the project decreased manufacturing time and inputs required, significantly reducing anticipated commercial scale operation and capital costs and improving the process sustainability metrics. The project also supported national phase patent filings. Technology advanced in the project will be commercialized through proponent-led facility construction and manufacturing as well as through technology licensing. The micronutrient fertilizer product has applications for use in global broad acre, horticulture, fruit and vegetable and home garden markets.

Results and Impact

  • Reduced water requirements for the process by more than 75 per cent.
  • Increased environmental benefits as compared to conventional chelated fertilizers.
  • Expanded number of employees in positions such as organic chemists, research agronomists, production managers and business development leads.
  • Scaled SME project from bench scale to pilot scale.
  • Collaborated with 17 Canadian organizations -- ranging from academic institutions, the National Research Council of Canada, provincial contract research organizations, private contractors and equipment or technology providers -- who acted as subcontractors or service providers for the consortium, completed micronutrient fertilizer field trials for the project, and allowed the consortium to engage with more than 60 potential Canadian farmer customers.
  • Utilized contacts to provide the SME with introductions to potential customers
  • Facility opened in Rosetown, Sask. in Oct. 2023

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