Start-up joins forces with university scientists to combat soil degradation
The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) and the University of York have partnered with agricultural technology start-up CroBio in a £670,000 project.
It is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)’s Farming Innovation Programme and supported by Innovate UK.
The initiative will set out to enhance CroBio’s living soil amendment, a technology designed to improve nutrient preservation, water retention, and carbon sequestration in agricultural soil.
The project brings together CroBio, the University of York’s plant and soil scientists, and the BDC’s scale-up expertise in a collaborative effort to advance sustainable farming practices.
The technology requires only one application per growing season.
Dr Daniel J Upton, senior scientist at CroBio, said: “This collaboration addresses key challenges facing agriculture.
Dr Daniel J Upton
“Our technology has the potential to provide farmers with a cost-effective solution for water and nutrient management in agricultural soils and decrease dependency on fertilisers.
“This project will support the development of solutions that have benefits for both agriculture and the environment with applicability across widespread territories.”
Deborah Rathbone, bioscience innovation team leader at the Biorenewables Development Centre, said: “The BDC is excited to partner with CroBio in scaling up this innovative technology.
“As well as providing project management, we’ll be developing the technology for glasshouse and field trials to validate its effectiveness in real-world conditions.
“By combining our expertise in bio-based applications with CroBio’s pioneering approach to soil health, we’re working to address some of the most pressing challenges in modern agriculture.”
Dr Andrea Harper, senior lecturer at CNAP, University of York, added: “We are thrilled to be part of this ground-breaking research project.
“Our role will be to rigorously evaluate this innovative product in the glasshouse, analysing its impact on plant growth and soil health.
“These insights will guide its progression to field trials, ensuring a thorough and science-backed assessment.”
The technology works by introducing living microbes that produce bacterial cellulose, creating a natural scaffold around plant roots that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water.
This process not only improves water retention but also enhances nutrient availability and promotes carbon sequestration in the soil.
It aims to offer a sustainable solution that could help farmers adapt to climate change while reducing their environmental footprint, setting a new standard for agricultural practices.
