H2020 Bulhnova Project: Liquid biofertilizer formulated with rhizobacteria that promote plant growth

Bacteria-Based Biofertilizer to Replace Chemicals A new approach to natural liquid fertilizers seeks to reduce environmental impact while improving food security. The process also requires less energy. The global population is projected to increase by 35% over the next 40 years. To feed this growing world, agriculture will need to keep pace. Agricultural production will need to increase to accommodate the growing population, but most of this increase is expected to come from increased production on existing farmland, much of which has already been degraded and lost its nutritional value.

Fertilizers are essential for ensuring quality and volume. However, the increased use of chemical fertilizers to improve crop yields can harm animal and human health, as well as pollute the environment. “The production of inorganic fertilizers is an energy-intensive industrial process; around 2% of global energy production goes to fertilizer production, mainly nitrogen and phosphate,” explains José Manuel Casanova, president and general manager of Probelte in Spain. Biofertilizers are a more environmentally friendly option, but they have drawbacks. Their shelf life is often short, and fertilizers only work with specific crops and are expensive. The Bulhnova project proposes another solution. Rather than increasing soil fertility by directly adding nutrients, Bulhnova does so through the natural process of atmospheric nitrogen fixation and solubilization of phosphorus and potassium. It also stimulates plant growth by synthesizing growth-promoting substances. Bulhnova is a cost-effective fertilizer with multi-nutrient properties that improves crop quality and reduces harmful environmental impacts. A promising solution, Bulhnova is the result of over five years of research, testing, and demonstrations. It is created from a group of bacteria that colonize roots and the rhizosphere soil.

These bacteria are potent biostimulants that produce effective phytohormones (signaling molecules that promote plant development and growth). Bulhnova is formulated from the fermentation of broths incorporating two specific bacteria: Azospirillum brasilense and Pantoea disperse. The process includes the careful selection of the two bacterial strains, their cultivation in a specific nutrient medium, and their fermentation in a liquid base. While most technologies separate biofertilizers according to the nutrient they provide, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, Bulhnova is an integrated product that combines all three into one, meaning it can be used more versatilely across different crop groups. This was achieved by successfully merging the two indigenous bacterial strains and providing the necessary conditions for their coexistence.

Bulhnova can be blended with conventional fertilizers to achieve up to 20% more production, while reducing the environmental impact and carbon footprint by more than 98%, according to the project's research. "Another unique feature of Bulhnova is its ability to work in conjunction with conventional fertilizers and reduce the dosage of chemical fertilizers, thereby decreasing pollution and their environmental impact," Casanova adds. Until now, most biofertilizers could only be produced in solid form due to the difficulty of achieving stability and long-term viability in the package for application to crops. Solid biofertilizers have good stability in the package, but are less effective.

Bulhnova is a liquid product, which means it acts quickly and can be applied via drip irrigation. Research and Development The EU grant enabled the project to determine the technical, commercial, and financial feasibility of developing and commercializing Bulhnova, as well as to develop the perfect formula to achieve stability across different crops and extreme temperatures. "The product is now close to commercialization, and our next step is to achieve technical and commercial viability by developing the industrial version of Bulhnova," says Casanova.