New technology for greener agriculture

Danish agriculture is facing a huge challenge: the need to produce food with less environmental impact. A large proportion of the nitrogen fertiliser applied by farmers to the fields is not taken up by the plants, but ends instead in the groundwater, the aquatic environment or the atmosphere.

“With support from the Vissing Foundation for this project we can develop a new biological seed treatment which protects the roots of grass against pests that attack the shoots immediately after germination. When the roots remain healthy, the plants can absorb more of the nitrogen that has already been applied. This strengthens plant growth, and at the same time reduces loss of nutrients to the environment,” explains Kenneth Veland Halberg, joint managing director (Co-CEO) at YngviBio.

The solution is based on natural proteins that specifically target the pests responsible for root damage. It works without affecting other organisms. The seed is treated with the product before sowing, and therefore no changes are required in current sowing practices.

The purpose of the project is to document the technology in Danish field conditions and investigate how much it can improve the plants’ nitrogen uptake. In the long term, this technology could contribute to more sustainable agriculture, with less nitrogen pollution, fewer chemical pesticides, and more robust production of grass for both forage and seed.