Verdesian technologies honored with Next Gen Fertilizer awards

Two technologies from Verdesian Life Sciences were recently recognized for their innovation in addressing efficient fertilizer use.

Verdesian’s pipeline product VLS8308 (a novel nitrogen stabilizer) was honored with a favorable evaluation as part of the Next Gen Fertilizer Innovations. The purpose of this Challenge was to identify concepts for novel technologies for fertilizers and other product technology innovations that can reduce the environmental effects from modern agriculture while maintaining or increasing crop yields. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in conjunction with The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), the Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) to identify enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) and related products to reduce the environmental effects of row crop agriculture while maintaining or increasing farmer productivity and profitability. Along with the recognition comes a cash incentive.

The recognition of VLS8308 comes on the heels of Verdesian’s AVAIL® technology being honored as a Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges, EFFs: Agronomic and Environmental Challenge recipient, also sponsored by the aforementioned organizations. This Challenge aimed to identify existing EEFs currently on or near-market that meet or exceed certain environmental and agro-economic criteria. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers facilitate the growth of crops at yields that provide sustained global food production. However, fertilizers applied without consideration of the appropriate rate, timing, source, and method, can have harmful effects on the environment and human health. EEF is a term for new formulations that control fertilizer release or alter reactions that reduce nutrient losses to the environment.

“For many years, growers all over the United States have recognized the performance that our AVAIL and now AVAIL T5 phosphorus enhancer technologies, along with our roster of nitrogen stabilizer products, offer in allowing farmers to continue to produce the yield they need while losing less fertilizer to the soil and water,” said Dr. Kuide Qin, Chief Science Officer, Verdesian Life Sciences. “We are so honored that judges from this respected panel of experts recognize the value that our existing technologies can provide – and the benefits of them to growers and the land. We are also honored that they saw the work that Verdesian continues to do with respect to our nitrogen stabilizer line of products. This inspires us to hold true to our mission: to enable a sustainable future for farmers through our nutrient use efficiency products.”