Biological Fertilizer

PROJECT SUMMARY

This innovation is a soil fertilization and conditioning biological fertilizer using microalgae culture that are cultivated at Nelson Mandela University. The project involves the development of three related product offerings using microalgae as the critical basic input. These product offerings are:

A low-cost, low-technology system for growing microalgae in a wet bed of animal manure or other organic residue and using the mixture directly as biological fertiliser, specifically aimed at subsistence or emerging farmers.
A biological fertiliser produced by incorporating microalgae with animal manure, compost or other similar constituents.
A soil conditioner containing microalgae either alone, or in combination with other common soil conditioners, e.g. compost or manure.

MARKET/NEED

The need for commercial fertilisers for food production is essential to produce the quantities of food required by the world’s population. However, current fertilisation practices have numerous unintended consequences, especially in over application. This in turn leads to poor nutrients in crops which this technology addresses. .

BENEFITS

The main benefit of using microalgae as a soil conditioner/fertiliser is that they stimulate bacterial growth in soils, provide excellent soil structure properties that improve water and nutrient retention, and also stimulate the secretion of growth hormones.

TRL

TRL6

PROTOTYPE

Yes

IP TYPE

Know-how

INVENTOR

Brian Tait

OPPORTUNITY TYPE

Collaboration | Investment