Source: BIOMINERAL SYSTEMS LLC submitted to NRP
PHOSPHORUS BIOFERTILIZER FOR SUSTAINABLE CROP PRODUCTION
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1015943
Grant No.
2018-33610-28281
Cumulative Award Amt.
$100,000.00
Proposal No.
2018-00182
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Aug 1, 2018
Project End Date
Mar 31, 2020
Grant Year
2018
Program Code
[8.12]- Small and Mid-Size Farms
Recipient Organization
BIOMINERAL SYSTEMS LLC
3315 BREMEN HWY
MISHAWAKA,IN 46544
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The proposed project pertains to the development of a novel phosphorus biofertilizercomprising special seeds and seed treatments to reduce the need for P fertilizers in cropproduction by up to 50%. Our biofertilizer is therefore an environmentally sustainable, and costeffectiveamendment to synthetic and organic phosphorus fertilizers. Sustainable production offood and energy crops is critical because US dominates production of major food and energycrops. No current US patents are directly related to the proposed research and productdevelopment and do not infringe or compromise the resulting intellectual property. The proposedresearch is unique in a number of ways. It targets both accumulated and residual insolublemineral- phosphorus and organic-phosphorus and also added synthetic fertilizers and proposes asustainable way to provide for plant's phosphorus needs while enhancing soil quality.Furthermore, it develops a phosphorus biofertilizer product based on a detailed mechanisticcharacterization of phosphorus availability thus helping reduce the need for synthetic phosphorusfertilizers while still reliably obtaining optimal crop growth. It is expected to perform better thanMonsantoBioAg biofertilizers currently on the market.The proposed research addresses the key societal challenge of Global Food Security and Hungerand the need for sustainable food production by development of methods/ technologies to reduceor eliminate the usage of synthetic fertilizers. It also enables biofuel industry to become animportant and commercially viable source of renewable energy. It will enhance internationalcompetitiveness of US Agricultural Industry by reducing input costs and enhancing sustainabilityof rural farm economies. It will support increased opportunities and improve quality of life bymaking smaller size land holdings profitable. If the project is successful, the proposed phosphorus biofertilizer willrevolutionize corn, soybean, wheat, and sorghum production and set a precedent for thesustainable production of other crops in the U.S. It will also revolutionize and diversify thesynthetic phosphorus fertilizer industry. By helping with sustainable phosphorus management, itshould also dramatically reduce costs for remediation of surface water quality and treatment ofadverse human health effects.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
100%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2050110100033%
2051820110033%
2051510206134%
Goals / Objectives
The proposed research addresses the key societal challenge of Global Food Security and Hunger and the need for sustainable food production by development of methods/ technologies to reduce or eliminate the usage of synthetic fertilizers. It also enables biofuel industry to become an important and commercially viable source of renewable energy. It will enhance international competitiveness of US Agricultural Industry by reducing input costs and enhancing sustainability of rural farm economies. It will support increased opportunities and improve quality of life by making smaller size land holding profitable. If the project is successful, our phosphorus biofertilizer will revolutionize corn, soybean, wheat, and sorghum production and set a precedent for the sustainable production of other crops in the U.S. It will also revolutionize and diversify the synthetic P fertilizer industry. By helping with sustainable P management, it should also dramatically reduce costs for remediation of surface water quality and treatment of adverse human health effects.The proposed project pertains to the development of a novel phosphorus biofertilizercomprising special seeds and seed treatments to reduce the need for P fertilizers in crop production by up to 50%.1. To determine root and shoot inoculation efficacy of proprietary endophytic inoculums in commercial varieties of corn, soybean, sorghum, cotton, and wheat.2. To demonstrate the efficacy of proprietary endophytic bacterium in small plot trials growing corn and soybean with reduced application of chemical fertilizer.
Project Methods
Efforts:Development of a biofertilizer that will enable the farmers to reduce P chemical fertilizer application while maintaing optimum yieldsEnhancing environmental sustainability, protecting surface and ground water quality, and improving the viability of small and medium size farms

Progress 08/01/18 to 03/31/20

Outputs
Target Audience:The proposed project pertains to the development of a novel phosphorus biofertilizercomprising treated seeds and foliar and otherseed treatments to reduce the need for P fertilizers incrop production by 30 - 50%. Sustainable production of food and energy crops is criticalto ensuring global food security. The proposed innovation (BioCat-P) will facilitate theutilization of phosphorus pool (not otherwise readily bioavailable) in acid andalkaline soils by crops to satisfy their phosphorus needs. The proposed research is uniquein a number of ways. It targets organic and inorganic phosphorus and proposes a sustainable way toprovide for plant P needs while enhancing soil quality. Organic phosphorus and 'fixed' phosphorus from applied synthetic P fertilizers constituteasignificant pool of soil P. Currentresearch and our own validation data substantiatereduced P needs of treated seeds/plants. This technology has now been patented. The proposed research addresses the key societal challenge of Global Food Securityand Hunger and the need for sustainable food production by development of methods/technologies to reduce or eliminate the usage of synthetic fertilizers and reduce the usage of inefficient manure based fertilizers and expensive organic fertilizers. It also enablesbiofuel industry to become an important and commercially viable source of renewableenergy. It will enhance international competitiveness of US Agricultural Industry byreducing input costs and enhancing sustainability of rural farm economies. It will supportincreased opportunities and improve quality of life by making smaller size land holdingprofitable. With the success of this project, BioCat-P will revolutionize corn, soybean, wheat, and other crop production systems in both conventional and organic agriculture. Changes/Problems:We did not face any major challenges or problems. The product was originally geared towards corn and soybean and was later modified to exclude soybean which would have been another row crop and replaced with sweet corn, a vegetable grown by small and medium growers. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The PI has benefited from the opportunity of directly engaging in microbial work. She has also gained expertise in planning for field trials and in coordinating and conducting field trials. Veryvaluable experience in grower engagement and understanding the needs of small and medium farms has been gained. ThePI has also gained expertise in protecting the intellectual property and managing patent portfolio and productcommercialization. The PI has successfully patented the BioCat-P technology obtaining the most valuable and the hardest to attain 'a new composition of matter' patent. In addition, the PI has been been able to file continuation patents to further boslter the IP. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We are in the process of updating our website with relevant product validation results to reach investors and potentialcustomers as well as potential commercialization partner companies. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Under goal 1, we tested inoculation efficacy of BioCat-P in field corn, and sweet corn. Field corn, especially silagecorn is grown by small and medium growers here in Indiana and has a very large market locally here in Indiana, and Illinois.With our carefully positioned field trials, we aimed to build a strong, enduring, and also growing market share for our product. The Phase I effort was carefully organized to establish the technical feasibility of BioCat-Pand consisted of: 1) testinginoculation efficacy of BioCat-Pin commercial varieties of field corn, and sweet corn; 2) small plot trials of field corn inIllinois; and 3) small plot trials of sweet corn in Arizona. The inoculation efficacy tests were successful. The field corn trials showed the same yield as the untreated control (@recommeded rate of phosphorus fertilizer application) at 50% reduced fertilizer application while the untreated control at at 50% reduced fertilizer application lost several bushels in yield. Similarly, the sweet corn trial showed that BioCat-Ptreated seeds at50% reduced fertilizer application rate had the same yield as the untreated control with full recommnded phosphorus fertilizerapplication while the untreated control with no phosphorus fertilizer application lost yield. BioCat-P is a patented technology (US patent awarded) and proved successful in field trials and the product is being commercialized. Additional patents have beenfiled to further protect intellectual property. Some grower trials were completed in 2019/2020and the product will be sold to conventional and organic growers starting 2021.

Publications

  • Type: Websites Status: Other Year Published: 2020 Citation: www.biomineralsystems.com