b'PARTNER CONTENTTO SECURE THE FUTURE OF FOOD, HARNESSING MICROALGAE IS A MUSTIN TODAYSproduction agriculture, microbes areresearchers have put together a very balanced mostly dormant. I often hear people say differentfood source that impacts an incredible diversity variations of, My soil is dead. It has low organicof microbes. That diversity is important because matter, and I need to bring those microbes back. growers want the most bang for their buck. So, they start introducing various productsThe way to do that is to activate a lot of those that promise to return the soil to its previousdifferent microbial species, because they all have glory. The reality is that there are still a billiondifferent jobs. Some of them are handling water bacteria and a million fungi found in just oneuse efficiency, some take care of nutrient use teaspoon of soil. Unfortunately, modern agricul- efficiency. This leads to stronger germination and Norm Davy, Chiefturebased on the monoculture approach tobetter emergence.Revenue Officer,growing cropshas rendered them dormant.What does this mean at end of day for a Heliae Even with good rotations, microbes dont havefarmer? Its a pretty big deal. Our PhycoTerra the necessary sources of food they need to thriveproducts each feed microbes in unique ways. in a monoculture growing system. PhycoTerra ST*, our new seed treatment, utilizes This has innumerable consequences for grow- technology that is specifically designed to target ers, but there is an answer. microbes that live on and in seeds which play Let me back up a moment. A number of yearsa critical role in germination, stand establish-ago, scientists at Arizona State University (ASU)ment and in the end we see much more vigorous went to the Arizona desert to research howcrops resilient to many stresses. plants survive in such a harsh environment. WasIn Canada, our seed treatment technology there something in the soil that they could iden- will be very inexpensive when used on corn, tify and transport to other soils that could makesoybeans, canola and wheat, and can provide a those soils more productive and more effective?7:1 to 300:1 return on investment, depending on This is where they discovered a specific typecrops and application rates.of a single-celled organism called microalgae.Major progress is on the horizon when it comes Its not the kind of algae youd find in yourto the use of microalgae in seed treatment. Science neighbours pool. Microalgae are organisms thatis only beginning to uncover the mysteries of the microbes love to feed on. Heliae was foundedsoil microbiome, and it is hugely exciting to be at upon the pioneering work these researchers did.the forefront of pioneering new products that har-At Heliae Agriculture, we have discoveredness microalgae to feed that soil. Microalgae-based that microalgae hold the key to unlocking solu- seed treatment will become a standard application tions that can feed and save our threatenedfor many growers as we see a high market pen-planet. With food production systems at signifi- etration of microalgae-based tools.cant risk globally and soil health degrading at anAs water and nutrient efficiencies become alarming rate, we have proven that innovationsparamount, the need for innovations like these with microalgae rise to these challenges throughwill only be compounded. Growers must make their unique capabilities and inspire hopebetter use of the microorganisms already living through some very promising possibilities. in their soil and that all starts with tending to soil It is our passion to provide sustainable andhealth. Microalgae technology is going to be a affordable solutions for food, agriculture, andvery important part of the way that we farm and environmentally focused industries, which is whygrow food for the future. we have invested over 10 years of research and*Currently available in the U.S.development in providing solutions for the next 50 years of challenges facing planet Earth. THERES GIANT POTENTIAL ALREADY IN YOUR SOIL! By adding microalgae to the soil or the seed,WAKE IT UP WITH PHYCOTERRA. LEARN MORE AT you feed the existing microbes that live there, whether in the rhizosphere or spermosphere. OurPHYCOTERRA.COM.NOVEMBER 2021 GERMINATION.CA 39'