Championing Sustainable Fertilizer
With BCCAI’s support and co-creation model, Lucent Biosciences developed Soileos®, the cellulose-based technology that transforms cellulose derived from crop processing waste, such as lentil, pea or rice hulls, into a sustainable delivery agent for fertilizers.
The Problem
Micronutrients, crucial for sustaining crop health and, thus, food security, encompass vital elements such as zinc, iron, manganese, copper, molybdenum, and boron. Their deficiency poses a substantial threat, resulting in diminished crop yields, compromised harvest quality, and economic setbacks for farmers. The growing influence of climate change further exacerbates these challenges, introducing shifts in soil conditions and an increased frequency of extreme weather events that disrupt nutrient cycling, leading to micronutrient losses and subsequent crop deficiencies.
The Solution
In 2022, BCCAI provided funding and project support to Lucent Biosciences to develop an innovative solution to this intricate agriculture challenge. The collaboration facilitated the development of Soileos® – the cellulose-based technology that aims to replace conventional fertilizer products such as oxysulfates or synthetic metal chelators such as EDTA. Through this partnership, the company can now create products that not only meet these needs, but also contribute to more sustainable and regenerative agriculture. Its patented technology transforms cellulose derived from crop processing waste, such as lentil, pea or rice hulls, into a sustainable delivery agent for fertilizers. Through its research, Lucent has found that due to the biologically available carbon source in Soileos®, its use improves soil health by increasing the microbial biomass in the soil by 20%—a significant improvement to make crops more sustainable and profitable.
Through BCCAI’s co-creation model, Lucent Biosciences was not only able to improve and fine-tune its solutions by bringing a viable product to market faster, but also access research facilities and equipment that helped conduct product efficacy studies, permitting detailed assessment of the impact of Soileos® on wheat in controlled environments. The financial incentive helped alleviate the risk associated with R&D initiatives, allowing the company to pursue innovation with less fiscal pressure and scale concepts to a pilot phase with confidence. Lucent Biosciences’ Soileos® emerges as a reference in agriculture, contributing significantly to the journey toward more sustainable and regenerative agriculture.
After a successful first project with BCCAI, the company looks forward to another project focused on developing boron-based fertilizer. Boron is in high demand and very water soluble—as soon as rain or irrigation happens, boron runs off the soil, resulting in its deficiency.
Status: Completed
- $267,000 in funds
- 10 new HQP jobs were created during the project
