NetZeroNitrogen wants bacteria to replace synthetic fertilizer on farm fields

Artificial fertilizers are a modern wonder, which helps to feed billions of people, but it is not without its costs. The surface flow of fertilizers from Farm Fields led to dead areas in the oceans around the world, as low -starred oxygen levels were in coastal waters with the same life.

Getting rid of artificial fertilizers is long, but one of the startups believes that bacteria can eliminate up to half of them, all while undermining fertilizers over the cost.

Netzeronitrogen has developed a set of bacterial strains that are applied directly to the seeds and allow the factory to obtain nitrogen from the atmosphere instead of chemicals.

“This is an accurate sniping approach,” Justin Hughes, co -founder and CEO of Netzeronitrogen, told Techcrunch. “Unlike fertilizers, as it publishes it all over the field and actually hopes that some will strike the target, and a kind of rifle approach.”

The startup recently raised a $ 6.6 million seed tour led by World Fund and Azolla Ventures, and the company told Techcrunch exclusively.

NetZeronitrogen is a product of more than a contract by Gary Devine, which was studying nitrogen stabilizers that occur naturally. Hughes noted that the company’s bacteria were not genetically modified.

“We are not on any specific ethical floor on that. This means only that the organizational path is much easier,” he said. “It opens you to the organic markets as well.” Once the plant dies, bacteria die with it.

The company plans to launch its first rice product. It is partially a marriage: to apply bacterial breeds, it is currently easier for the seeds to be overwhelmed in the water they contain. Rice only happens that mired before planting. Hughes said: “You just mix it at this stage and rub.”

Hughes said that the company can use large fermenters to develop its strains, which could make its bacterial modification less than the equivalent amount of artificial fertilizers. He said: “The costs of vital manufacturing production are much lower than the Haber-BOSCH process, especially as soon as you start to expand,” referring to the process widely used to make fertilizers.

Hughes added that the goal is to sell Netzeronitrogen bacteria to farmers for at least $ 50 per hectare than they spend on artificial fertilizers. He said that in areas like Southeast Asia, this may mean 30 % to 40 %.

Currently, artificial fertilizers will not disappear. “Unfortunately, we cannot solve 100 % of the problem yet,” Hughes said. “But from the percentage we can solve, it is 100 % effective.”