- InVivo says its upcoming zeolite-based product can cut nitrogen use by 30 per cent.
- The product acts on the plant to improve nitrogen uptake and protect yields.
- The launch comes as biologicals face scrutiny over inflated claims and inconsistent performance.
The patented product, scheduled for commercial introduction next spring, comes as farmers face high fertiliser costs, growing environmental scrutiny and increasing pressure to improve nutrient-use efficiency.
Laurent Martel, chief executive of InVivo Ag, the agricultural arm of French cooperative group InVivo, said the product could be among the first biostimulant-type solutions with a mode of action that is clearly understood through scientific research.
“It will be the first product where we know scientifically where it acts in the plant and why. The claim that we’ve got now, confirmed by all the testing, is that we will save 30% nitrogen application for farmers.”
Martel was speaking at an industry event in Singapore hosted by Pacific Agriscience on 9 July.
Modern tech unlocks an ancient solution
The product is based on zeolite, a naturally occurring volcanic mineral that has been used in agriculture for centuries.
Speaking to AgNavigator, Martel explained that the innovation lies in reducing the material to an extremely small particle size, which enhances its effectiveness.
The company was able to develop a method to solubilise the material into a liquid formulation, as a powdered format created handling challenges for farmers.
“What we discovered is that if you make it extremely small, it works better. But then it becomes dust, and farmers dislike dust. So we found a way to solubilise this product. Now that it’s liquid, it’s very easy for farmers to use,” said Martel.
The technology arrives at a time when the agricultural sector is increasingly seeking ways to reduce dependence on synthetic nitrogen fertilisers.
Nitrogen remains one of the largest input costs for many growers and is also associated with environmental challenges, including nutrient runoff and water pollution.
“Nitrogen is very expensive and now it’s also hard to get. It’s also a source of pollution. So, this new product is really checking all the boxes,” said Martel.
To support commercialisation, InVivo is currently building a production facility for the product.
The plant is expected to be completed by the end of the year in preparation for the planned market launch next spring.
Biologicals under pressure
The launch comes at a time when the biologicals sector continues to face questions over product performance and grower adoption.
While interest in biologicals has grown over the past decade, Martel said that uptake has been slower than many expected.
“It’s not coming quick – we even see some tendency to decrease.”
He attributed the slow uptake to a performance gap between biologicals and traditional inputs.
“We have never seen a product, an organic or biological, working better, being less expensive, and being more efficient,” he said. “It’s always more expensive, harder to use, and less efficient. Which means that there is a little bit of frustration at the farm gate.”
At the same time, Martel criticised exaggerated product claims, which he said have damaged the sector’s credibility.
“And on top of that, a lot of companies are bringing their biologicals with over claims, which doesn’t help… It’s always dangerous to say, because it’s biological, it’s good. Or because it’s non-biological, it’s bad.”
Those concerns are one reason InVivo is positioning its zeolite product around its scientifically understood mode of action rather than the broader biostimulant label.
He noted that the company is intentionally avoiding describing the product as a biostimulant because the term has lost credibility with many growers.
“We will avoid this term because biostimulant is snake oil now in Europe.”
Despite his criticism, Martel said biological products still have an important role to play in agriculture’s future, provided they can deliver measurable value on the farm.
“We absolutely want to push biologicals because it makes sense. Any time a biological will be doing the job as good as or better than a mineral product, that should be a good deal.”