Sound Agriculture and Syngenta have partnered to explore opportunities to reduce the use of nitrogen fertilisers in China by up to 30% while maintaining on-farm productivity
Sound Agriculture’s flagship product SOURCE stimulates soil microbes to provide access to more nitrogen and phosphorus in the root zone, reducing the need for nitrogen fertiliser.
The collaboration has the potential to reduce the use of nitrogen by 7.5 million metric tonnes per year in China alone. This is equivalent to removing 220 million tonnes of CO2,2 or 50 million cars from the road every year.
The partnership brings together two leaders in sustainable agriculture to address one of the biggest challenges facing farmers. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth, but the overuse of nitrogen fertilisers can have environmental consequences, such as greenhouse gas emissions. Plants frequently use only 50-70% of the nitrogen fertilisers used.
When growing plants do not make full use of nitrogen, they can be lost from the fields and negatively impact air and downstream water quality. SOURCE gives growers the confidence not to overuse because they will be able to remove nutrients stored in the soil.
“SOURCE enhances the natural systems that exist in the field, harnessing the innate ability of the plant and soil to perform better,” said Adam Litle, CEO of Sound Agriculture. “We have seen great results in the US and are thrilled to work with Syngenta to extend into China and make a significant impact on the health of our planet.”
“Our partnership with Sound Agriculture provides an opportunity to collaborate and explore how we can provide growers with additional complementary choices of sustainable products and technologies to improve plant health,” said Corey Huck, global head Biologicals, Syngenta. “This is in line with Syngenta’s Good Growth Plan to accelerate innovation for more sustainable agriculture and to help farmers fight climate change.”
SOURCE uses proprietary technology to activate soil microbes and to give plants access to more nitrogen and phosphorus. The product was commercially launched for the 2020 growing season after three years of successful field trials, which showed a positive increase in yield across the US, Syngenta will test the product and if the trials are successful, commercialise SOURCE in China. Initially, the product will be used for maise and wheat with future expansion to rice, potatoes and possibly other crops.
Syngenta will be responsible for SOURCE’s product formulation, field development, sales and marketing in China. Sound will manufacture SOURCE and work together on future product development for subsequent crops. If successful, the partnership has the potential to expand across Asia and beyond.
