AgRHO® S-Boost™ – biobased biostimulant for seed application
Country of development/application:
Belgium
Scope of innovation
☐ Office work
☒ Production / Service supply process
Sector-specific
☒ Yes / please, specify sector(s): Agriculture
☐ No (relevant for all sectors)
Description of the needs
In today’s agricultural industry, most areas worldwide are vulnerable to abiotic stress, a leading hindrance of crop production. Additionally, droughts, extreme temperatures, high winds and other forms of weather volatility can cause hydric stress, considerably reducing crop quality and yield. To overcome these obstacles and optimize agricultural input, many farmers turn to biostimulants for crop enhancement.
There is a growing interest for biostimulants in the agricultural world as the trend towards increased sustainability and reduced dependency on petrochemicals accelerates. In this fast-evolving landscape, replacing chemicals that protect crops by killing what might harm them with innovative products that make seedlings more resistant is a promising tool to enable sustainable agricultural practices that preserve ecosystems while continuing to feed a growing global population.
The idea is simple: to incorporate biostimulants in seed coatings that will help them germinate faster and stronger, thus reducing the need for chemical protection against diseases and pests during the plant’s growth stages – but the technologies and modes of action are new and diverse.
Based on microorganisms (yeast, fungi, microbials), natural extracts, minerals, etc., biostimulants come in different forms and with varying modes of action, making this one of the most active and innovative fields in agritech today. A myriad of players, from start-ups to agrochemicals giants, are in a race to bring to farmers innovative solutions as an alternative to traditional pesticides, which are being pushed out by tightening environmental regulations and increasingly discerning consumers.
And if those reasons aren’t enough, the pressure to switch to biological solutions is made even more urgent by the fact that traditional chemistries are encountering resistance issues from pests. Biostimulants are not only safer to the environment, they’re a more subtle and intelligent solution than mere chemical control. And this is because a healthy and vigorous plant in its initial development phase is less prone to disease and pest damage in its later stages.
For Solvay, a global leader in materials and chemistry serving a wide range of industries from aerospace to personal care, positioning itself in this segment has become a strategic priority, in no small part because it fits the company’s commitment to increasing sustainability through chemistry and innovation. The company considers formulating directly on the seed a more efficient and sustainable practice than formulating on the plant, and is actively moving towards preventive on-seed application with seed coatings.
Following the launch in 2019 of Solvay’s first biostimulant, AgRHO® S-Boost, which uses a breakthrough bio-based hydrophilic gradient macromolecule technology to channel water and nutrients from soil to seed, the next step was taken in 2021 with the acquisition of Bayer’s seed coating product line. The result is that Solvay is now poised to offer its innovative biostimulants to the seed industry in a much stronger position, as this acquisition also places Solvay among the world’s top three players in seed coatings.
Description of the solution
Solvay’s range of bio-based biostimulants, AgRHO® S-BoostTM, assists in combating the effects of environmental challenges such as abiotic and hydric stress. With its unique mode of action, this seed-applied biostimulant shapes soil properties around the seed to favor water and nutrient uptake, enhance germination, strengthen root development and ultimately facilitate crop yield improvement. After a few days of planting, AgRHO® S-BoostTM fortifies the quality of the root and synergizes with soil microorganisms to improve water and nutriment uptake.
Solvay’s AgRHO® S-BoostTM provides a sustainable method to improve crop yield and optimize agricultural production. S-BoostTM is a bio-based plant extract, chemically modified for biological stimulation. In a crowded biostimulant space, AgRHO® S-BoostTM stands out with its unique mode of action:
1) AgRHO® S-BoostTM is a bio-based macromolecule initially coated on the seed.
2) AgRHO® S-BoostTM physically shapes the soil into a water and nutrients attractor.
3) AgRHO® S-BoostTM modifies the plant environment and metabolism, strengthening root development by densifying secondary roots.
Description of the effect
Agricultural benefits
The agronomic performance of the AgRHO® S-BoostTM product range was evaluated through field trials conducted over a number of years on different geographical zones, mainly Europe, North America and Brazil. Field trials results on corn and soybean show that AgRHO® S-BoostTM exhibits a notable improvement in crop yield percentages in both corn and soybean production field trials:
• 102,8% increase of the corn yield.
• 103,2% increase of the soybean yield.
Environmental benefits
• 4% reduction of the greenhouse gas emission of corn production.
• 12% less nitrogen fertilizer needed.
• Up to 3% yield increase consistently across all major crops.
• 4% reduction of the greenhouse gas emission of corn production.
• 37% reduction in irrigation water consumption.
Financial benefits
• Return on investment 300% based on increase in yield with lower input costs.
Company/companies that developed/implemented/offer the innovation
Solvay is a science company whose technologies bring benefits to many aspects of daily life. As a global leader in materials, chemicals and solutions, Solvay brings advancements in planes, cars, batteries, smart and medical devices, water and air treatment, to solve critical industrial, social and environmental challenges.
SOLVAY SA
Headquarters: Rue de Ransbeek, 310, 1120 Brussels, Belgium
Phone : +32 2 2642111; Fax : +32 2 2641484 / 2643061
Website: https://www.solvay.com/en/
Additional information
Video: Solvay AgRho® S-Boost – a Sustainable Way to Secure Your Crop Potential