Government funding boosts local fertilizer production: Innovative new coating technology reduces nutrient use without cutting yields
By Lilian Schaer for Bioenterprise Canada
A first-of-its-kind fertilizer coating plant in Canada is now up and running and bringing an innovative new fertilizer solution to farmers in Eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.
CRF Agritech, which opened its new facility in St Thomas, Ontario on September 18, has a patented coating technology that can be applied to a wide range of fertilizers to protect and control their release into the environment. Not only does this ultimately reduce the amount of fertilizer farmers need to apply to their crops, but it also helps boost production by making the nutrients available to the plants when they need them.
“Given our priorities defined in our Grow Ontario strategy, it is reassuring to see how the agriculture sector is finding innovative made-in-Ontario solutions to address fertilizer supply challenges through the Fertilizer Accelerating Solutions & Technology Challenge,” says Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “The opening of this fertilizer plant is an example of how our government’s commitment is attracting further investment and creating innovative solutions for Ontario farmers and beyond.”
The plant is a joint venture between Sollio Agriculture, several agricultural partners in Ontario and the Maritimes and cooperatives in Quebec, and coating technology innovator Pursell from Alabama, says CRF Agritech general manager Mike Pastir.
“This is a proprietary technology that controls the release of fertilizer to match the crops’ demand,” Pastir says. “By doing so, we can apply less fertilizer, prevent leaching and denitrification, and reduce nitrous oxide greenhouse gas emissions but without impacting yields.”
One of the fertilizers that will be produced in the new St Thomas facility, PurYield, is currently part of research at McGill University to scientifically validate its agronomic and environmental benefits. Initial results from the project in 2021 and 2022 have shown that using PurYield has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer by 30%.
The other big benefit of CRF Agritech’s innovation and new facility is its central location to key agricultural production areas in Eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, minimizing supply problems for farmers.
“Being based in Ontario, we can have fertilizer available when and where farmers need it, reducing our reliance on imported product,” Pastir says. “We’re eliminating supply chain risks as well as lowering the overall carbon footprint because we now have a much shorter transit time from production to producer.”
Earlier this year, CRF Agritech was named a recipient of grant funding under the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs’ Fertilizer Accelerating Solutions & Technology Challenge, which Pastir notes has been incredibly valuable in helping the brand new company promote its Canadian-made fertilizer solution in Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada.
Part of those efforts include product trials with McGill University and Solio Agriculture’s Research Farm in Quebec. In Ontario, 15 corn trials are being run across the province this year, along with two in wheat – one near Belmont and one at Ridgetown.
“The Fertilizer Challenge funding lets us do demonstration plots to showcase the technology to growers, so they can see firsthand that it is good for the environment and can increase yield,” he says. “That’s something we couldn’t have done without this funding; being a start-up means we don’t have a lot of money.”
The funding also enabled Pastir to hire a quality assurance manager and focus on marketing activities to promote the new fertilizer product to growers.
“I’m extremely grateful for the support. It brings credibility to our product when the government stands behind it with funding, but there is also a lot of PR, marketing and exposure that happens organically through this type of program that I can’t put a price on but is incredibly valuable,” he adds.
The coating technology can be applied to any type of fertilizer, including potassium and phosphorus, and could be expanded to include microbial and biological nitrogen products too.
“Ultimately, we want to protect the environment for the future, and we want to make sure growers are profitable plus give them a tool that supports sustainable production,” Pastir says.
The Fertilizer Accelerating Solutions & Technology Challenge is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
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