Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audienceare: -historically underserved producers including native american tribes - Western small and mid size growers -Other commercial growers The company has completed certain trials and certain othertrials are ongoing with commercial growers that validate the proposed technology. Changes/Problems:-Phase II efforts are best coordinated with commercialization efforts. Responsible parties were contacted in the midwest but no response was received. Upon conversations with other extension agents at Iowa State University, we were informed that the NRE program Iowa is currently stalled because of technical issues. Our main goal around this objective was to tie in with government based programs as a customer base to enable commercialization efforts in Midwest. This seems to not be possible at this point. Fertilizer reduction trials with BioCat-P were conducted as part of Phase I and were successful. These were followed up with multi-year crop variety trials in Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa, and Ohio and validated the efficacy of BioCat-PTM seed treatment. -Environmental conditions can affect the trials. The spinach trial with JV Farms had to be postponed to later Jan 2025 due to atmospheric river conditions in the US -Same seed variety should be used in the control so the treatment can be accurately compared to the control -Treatment prtotocol is continually optimized carefully with drying of seeds to their original moisture content. If the spinach and leaf lettuce seeds are not completely dried, they can germinate enroute to shipping and/or in storage before planting and die. -Ideally, allfalfa trial should have been matched with phosphorus deficient soils in year-1;however, because alfalfa trial will continue for the next 3-4 years, it will be possible to test the efficacy of P reduction seed treatment with soils becoming depleted in phosphorus in subsequent years. In addition, a new alfalfa trial was started this year in year-2 What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Networking opportunities: The PI was contacted by the Forbesbusiness council to become a member and is considering this opportunity to help with the commercialization efforts of the company Industry Conferences: The company won the pitch competition at the 'Tech World Innovation Summit' held in June, 2024jointly with the SBIR summit in Washington, D.C. Attracting external funding: The PI has been successful in bringing external non-dilutive grants to support commercialization efforts and is undertaking efforts to bring in dilutive and non-dilutive funds to enable commercialization Internal presentations: The PI has been presenting to the team and stakeholders on a regular basis and isetting up an advisory board comprising all the stakeholders? How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?-The company has made considerable progress on the project conducting multiple trials with commerciali stakeholders. -The commercial stakeholders having trialed the proposed technology areaware of the efficacy of the proposed technology. -The company is in the process of updating website with trial results to support customer outreach -The company will be drafting and publishing news articles to support commercialization efforts What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?-The company will be repeating the demo trials in Western US. -Complete setting up an advisory board of stakeholders in the Western US -Undertake tech trasfer efforts with historically underserved producers -Match commercial trials in year-2 to build on efforts in year-1 for successful industrial scale implementation of the technology for climate smart agriculture -Build a network of collabrators in the Western US to address critical conservation needs in the Colorado River Basin -Set up a commercial facility in Yuma, AZ
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Executive Summary Purpose of the Research: The goal of the proposed research is to reduce the application of synthetic/organic phosphorus fertilizers by ~50% without reducing yields thus offering a considerable reduction in input costs to small and midsize, organic, and conventional crop growers. A brief description of the research carried out: The research comprised a novel and patented technology that solubilizes residual inorganic and organic phosphorus in soils as well as makes synthetic and organic phosphorus fertilizers available on demand for sustainable crop growth eliminating any leaching losses. BioCat-PTM is a novel, next generation, biofertilizer, biocatalyst comprising proprietary phosphobacteria that makes both applied and residual inorganic and organic phosphorus available for crop growth. Our Phase II effort focused on Sweet Corn, Arugula, Cilantro, Wheat, Alfalfa, Spinach, and Leaf Lettuce. The Research Findings or Results: The Phase II effort has involved small plot trials of baby spinach and leaf lettuce and demo trials of BioCat-PTM treated seeds in calcareous soils for growing alfalfa; wheat; spinach; arugula, and cilantro with synthetic P fertilizer (Mono ammonium phosphate), organic P fertilizer (poultry manure), on the Ak-Chin Farms, JV Smith farms, and Top Flavor farms. The efficacy of BioCat-P has been shown successfully in demo trials of spinach, alfalfa, arugula, and cilantro. Soil samples, leaf samples data and raw yields are being processed. Similarly, results are being compiled from small plot trials of leaf lettuce and spinach. During these demo trials and small plot trials, lessons were learned about how to treat seeds for optimal performance. Potential applications (commercial or other) of the research: The company does not see any barrier to market entry and post-Phase II because as part of Phase II, company is already validating technology and partnering with commercial growers (stakeholders). BioCat-PTM will be available to historically underserved producers of the Ak-Chin and CRIT tribes as well as any other customers. BioCat-PTM can also be applied to (conventional) sustainably and organically grown crops and will enable an easier transition for conventional growers transitioning from conventional to organic production systems. There is no regulatory burden associated with BioCat-PTM in conventional or organic production systems in Western US and in the Midwest. Objective 1: To adapt our proprietary inoculation protocol for treating spinach, leaf lettuce, alfalfa, wheat, corn, and cotton seeds. Progress with Objective-1: In this objective, inoculum concentration and inoculum contact time for each seed type were determined to optimize growth under reduced P fertilizer application. Greenhouse studies with spinach, corn, wheat, cotton, and alfalfa were conducted. Treatment with incoulum of absorbance 1, 1.5. 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 at 600 nm and contact times with inoculum from 10 minutes to 45 minutes were compared to determine the least inoculum density necessary for optimal yields and stand counts at 50% reduced P. In addition, seeds were treated and either planted immediately or stored at room temperature for 7 days, 15 days, 3 months, and 6 months to evaluate shelf life dependent performance. Table 1: Status of greenhouse study completion for Objective 1 Crops Shelf-Life (immediate) Shelf-Life (7 days) Shelf-Life (15 days) Shelf-Life (3 months) Shelf-Life (6 months) Alfalfa Complete Complete Complete Complete Ongoing Spinach Complete Complete Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Corn Complete Complete Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Cotton Complete Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Wheat Complete Complete Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Objective 2: Objective 2: To conduct small plot trials and 1 acre demo trials for BioCat-PTM treated seeds with reduced phosphorus fertilizer application in corn; alfalfa; cotton; spinach; and lettuce production systems as compared to a control with untreated seeds and application of mono ammonium phosphate fertilizer in recommended amounts. Progress with Objective-2: Small Plot Trials: Two sets of replicated small plot trials with varying levels of recommended P (0% to 100%) with paired controls comprising untreated seed and varying levels of recommended P (0% to 100%) were conducted with spinach and leaf lettuce at the Maricopa Agricultural Research Station; one planted Oct 20, 2023, and second planted Jan, 2024. In addition, replicated sweet corn trial were completed. Similar to spinach and leaf lettuce varying levels of recommended P (0% to 100%) with paired controls comprising untreated seed and varying levels of recommended P (0% to 100%) are being tested. Demo Trials: In addition to small plot trials, demo trials for alfalfa, spinach, arugula (as a stand in for leaf lettuce), cilantro (as a stand in for leaf lettuce), durum wheat, and sweet corn were planned (See Table 2). These trials have been harvested (spinach, arugula, cilantro, alfalfa, durum wheat),andothers for year II are ongoing (alfalfa, durum wheat, spinach) (See Table 2). All demo trials were conducted with commercial growers (See Table 2). Table 2: Status of Demo Trials, year-1 Crops Seed Treatment Date/Trial start Date Quantity of Seeds (lbs) Trial Acreage (Acres) Trial end date Trial Performance Commercial Stakeholders Sweet Corn 4/05/24 28 1 Completed as a small plot trial on Maricopa Ag Research Station Optimal yields (similar to 100% recommended P levels) with 50% reduction in P Was supposed to be Ocean Mist but untreated seeds were unavailable so commercial trial postponed to later this year Durum Wheat Seed 02/11/24 100 2 Completed early June Ongoing Top Flavor Spinach 01/28/24 180 3 Ongoing Ongoing Top Flavor Cilantro 11/24/23 35 1 Harvested twice Excellent! yield doubled; Year II Cilantro trials Top Flavor Spinach 10/22/23 30 1 Harvested First harvest @ 50% reduced P same as control; second harvest difficult to compare due to control variety being different JV Farms Arugula 10/20/23 7 1 Harvested Control vs. Treatment with 50% reduced -no difference JV Farms Alfalfa 09/26/23 100 2 Ongoing Stand counts were the same as the control; ~5 MT/Haincrease in yield with treatment at Green Chop AK-Chin Farms Progress with Objective-3:Responsible parties were contacted but no response was received. Upon conversations with other extension agents at Iowa State University, we were informed that the NRE program Iowa is currently stalled because of technical issues. Our main goal around this objective was to tie in with government based programs as a customer base to enable commercialization efforts in Midwest. This seems to not be possible at this point. Fertilizer reduction trials with BioCat-P were conducted as part of Phase I and were successful. These were followed up with multi-year crop variety trials in Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa, and Ohio and validated the efficacy of BioCat-PTMseed treatment.
Publications
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