Innovations

Pivot Bio develops naturally-occurring crop nutrient product

 

A Silicon Valley ag tech company is developing a crop nutrient product that uses naturally-occurring microbes to deliver nitrogen in a timely and efficient manner.

Karsten Temme, CEO of Pivot Bio, says their ON technology has the potential to improve yields while eliminating nutrient degradation, leaching, and toxic runoff associated with conventional fertilizer.

“This is the first time we can look to a bio-solution to produce nitrogen on-demand for a crop.  That means being able to guarantee that the access to nitrogen is there every day of the growing season, especially during those late vegetative stages when the crop needs it most.”

He tells Brownfield Pivot Bio has discovered microbes that exist on the roots of corn plants that produce nitrogen, but Temme says 100 years of fertilizer use has silenced those genes.

“We bring those (microbes) into the lab and reawaken the genes, turn them back on.  Then we can package them up, either as in-furrow treatments or seed coatings, and deliver that back to the root system of the plant.  And now these microbes can produce nitrogen on demand on a daily basis for the crop.”

Pivot Bio is rolling out what they’re calling the Intent to Pivot program this year, partnering with growers across the Midwest to beta test its first commercial product.

Temme says the company is hoping for a commercial launch in 2019.