You fertilizershave been essential for growth in agricultural production over the years. However, the inappropriate use of these products can cause serious environmental problems.
Concerned about it, researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) have developed an innovative biofertilizer that uses common agricultural residues and promises to help in sustainable production.
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Traditional fertilizer is used to enrich the soil with nutrients, this allows a significant increase in the production of agricultural crops. However, excess can result in environmental damage.
Leaching is one of the problems associated with the intensive use of chemicals. This consists of a process in which nutrients not absorbed by plants are dragged by rainwater, thus ending up contaminating water bodies.
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In response to these challenges, the team of researchers from the Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry at USP developed a revolutionary biofertilizer, the “Liquid Bioactive Biofertilizer Produced from Waste Agricultural”.
The idea arose during the doctoral study of researcher Giovanna Ribeiro, supervised by professor Maria Olimpia Oliveira.
The main differential of the biofertilizer is its sustainable origin. It is composed from the anaerobic fermentation of agricultural waste, such as poultry litter and cattle manure, which would normally be discarded.
This technique is known for its ability to transform organic waste into a nutrient-rich fertilizer for plants.
Giovanna Ribeiro points out that the raw materials were carefully analyzed throughout the patent development process.
The objective was to ensure that the final product met the quality standards established by the researchers and was rich in essential macro and micronutrients for plant growth.
The biofertilizer has been validated on a laboratory scale, and the patent application has already been deposited. However, before being marketed, the product must undergo soil performance tests, dilution, dosage and application adjustments, in addition to registration with regulatory bodies.
The expectation is that the biofertilizer developed at USP can revolutionize sustainable agriculture, providing a more ecological and efficient alternative to conventional fertilizers.
With the use of agricultural waste as a raw material, food production can be more user-friendly. environment, avoiding soil and water pollution.
Giovanna and her team are now looking for commercial partnerships to make large-scale production feasible and take the biofertilizer to interested farmers.
This innovation promises to boost responsible and sustainable agricultural production, contributing to a greener and more prosperous future for the sector.