- Background
- What we're looking for
- What we can offer you
- Q&A
Residential turf fertilization has historically relied on either soluble nitrogen sources such as urea and ammonium sulfate or, increasingly, on enhanced-efficiency fertilizers designed to synchronize nutrient release with plant demand. Currently, chemically condensed nitrogen sources (methylene ureas, etc.) and polymer-, sulfur-, and resin-coated ureas dominate the commercial slow-release nutrient landscape. Exploring new technologies and manufacturing methods for the slow release of nutrients from fertilizer is even more critical when considering environmental and regulatory implications and restrictions.
Fortunately, a parallel set of novel coating and non-coating technologies continue to evolve for turfgrass applications. Methods such as precision microencapsulation, low-temperature spray techniques, and reactive coating systems that cure under ambient conditions could dramatically expand the palette of viable fertilizer coating materials. More recent innovation has shifted toward matrix-bound, co-crystal, and biocomposite carriers, as well as carrier-less technologies that eliminate a discrete coating layer altogether. Lignin- and polysaccharide-based composite matrices, hydrogel nanocomposites and natural organic carriers have shown to deliver sustained nitrogen release over time. Continued exploration of these emerging technologies could help unlock more sustainable, scalable, and effective approaches to sustained nutrient release.
We are seeking novel coating and non-coating technologies to achieve sustained nutrient release from fertilizers that move beyond the energy-intensive, solvent-dependent, and costly processes that have long dominated the industry. New, more sustainable coating methods and non-coating routes—including chemical condensation, co-crystallization, mineral/biopolymer matrices, hydrogels, and biochar/organic carriers—need to remain active areas of research. By rethinking how slow-release fertilizers are manufactured, it is possible to unlock the real-world potential of alternative technologies that perform well in the field without the negative effects of current products, such as leaving a lasting environmental footprint.
- UV-curable coating systems
- Reactive layer coating (RLC) systems
- Waterborne nanocomposite emulsion coating
- Cardanol-based bio-polyurethane coating
- Inverse vulcanization-based coating
- Electrospinning and electrospraying for nanofiber encapsulation
- Metal matrix-condensate hybrids with urea condensates
- Ion-exchange materials and intrinsic nutrient retention by inorganic frameworks
- Lignin, chitosan, alginate, hydrogel composite matrices via chemical crosslinking
- Bio-based nano encapsulation via ionic crosslinking
- Biochar and porous-host carrier composites
- Ability to demonstrate the proposed technology at bench scale
- Data demonstrating the performance (e.g. uniformity, nutrient release behavior, or related validation metrics) through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), release profiles, or other relevant methodologies
- Representative coating, composite, or matrix samples available for internal laboratory testing
- Acceptable safety profile for associates and the environment, in alignment with our chosen UN Sustainable Development Goals such as SDG-3 (Good Health & Well-Being) and SDG-13 (Climate Action)
- Broad compatibility with fertilizer and nutrient inputs (e.g., urea, monoammonium phosphate, potassium sulfate, poultry litter, blood meal, etc.) or clear rationale for expected compatibility
- Available at commercial scale or show clear potential and a feasible path to scale
- Data demonstrating slow-release properties of the materials in any medium
- Prior review by relevant government bodies (EPA, USDA, OSHA, states, etc.)
- Viable supply chain for sustainable inputs used in the manufacturing or synthesis of the slow-release materials
- Processes that cannot reliably manufacture reproducible, industrial-grade materials
- Solutions that may require hazardous inputs, or would create by-products that are hazardous to associates or the environment
- Technologies more than ~5 years from potential market entry
The Q&A is now closed.
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