b"and providing the plant with nutrition in the establishment and initial growth phase to facilitate the establishment of a strong and functional root system directly from the beginning, serving the plant with the nutri-ents and water to maximize carbon uptake through photosynthesis.For agriculture, a few granules can be placed in the soil just under the seed, thereby favouring the seed and not the weed. In this way, a significantly reduced application rate of inorganic fertilizers could be achieved.Another solution within agriculture is via Seed Applied Technologies (SAT). We have produced seeds with arginine phos-phate crystals in a seed coating. In this Effect of arGrow on nitrate leaching in drainage water way, no additional application steps need to be performed during planting. So far, we rates. While the rate of grass cover wasANY CERTIFICATIONS OR VALIDATIONShave received promising results with our significantly enhanced with our product,YOU HAVE OBTAINED TO SUBSTANTIATESAT seeds, with no records of penalties. the leakage was kept to a minimum, com- THEIR EFFECTIVENESS? This technology is not just of interest for plying to the European standards, whereasN: We maintain strict quality controlagricultural crops such as soybeans or corn, conventional fertilizer use displayed aboutmeasures throughout our manufacturingbut also for the home-grower. Seed coating 3.5 times higher leaching levels. This is justprocess. We are members of the Europeanof, for example, tomato, carrots, lettuce, or one example of how our technology offers aBiostimulant Industry Council (EBIC),onion seeds is no problem.novel tool for addressing the Farm to Forkand actively contribute to building up a goals, especially in the agricultural sector. uniform regulatory framework for biostim-Id like to mention that not only isulants within Europe. And of course, we are the amounts of applied nutrients reduced,currently certifying our products according we believe that our innovation can also helpto EBIC standards. With growing interest reduce input of pesticides. To fight pestsin biostimulants and respective market and diseases, plants need to produce defensegrowth, there will be an increased demand compounds. For this, a significant amountfor sustainable solutions with validated of carbon is needed. Carbon, however, iseffects. We are prepared to fulfill these also needed to make nitrogen derived fromdemands. Seeds treated with arGrownitrates plant available. Converting nitrates to nitrogen competes with plant defenseSWE: SUSANNE, YOU TESTED THIS NEWSWE: NIKLAS, WHAT ARE YOUR NEXT activities in times of need. Theoretical cal- INNOVATION. WHAT DID YOU FIND? STEPS?culations and practical experiments haveSUSANNE SCHMIDT (SS): ArginineN: The company has gone through a big shown that nitrogen sources such as aminoincreased the water use efficiency of tropi- transformation from innovation, patenting, acids, in particular arginine, provide smallcal tree seedlings in initial glasshouse-basedpilot production and commercialization to plants with a carbon bonus. This is becauseresearch. This is important in our viewhaving our own production facility, meeting amino acids contain both plant availablebecause the survival of trees in restorationthe needs from forestry in 2022 onwards. nitrogen and carbon, hence, the carbonplantings will depend on how plants useWe are now looking to expand our interna-costs associated with the uptake and uti- water as it often is a limiting resource thattional market and forestry customers in the lization of amino acid derived nitrogen isdetermines the survival of tree seedlings.Baltics, Germany, Austria, France, South significantly reduced. This carbon bonusWe have yet to understand the mechanisms,America, the U.S. and Canada are testing thereby enables plants to better combine abut all is pointing to benefits to a plantsthe product, with encouraging results. high growth rate with investments in vari- physiology 1 . We are also excited about exploring ous defense compounds. Consequently, thisour technology for agricultural crops, where would lead to a need for less pesticides: yetSWE: REGINA, HOW DO YOU FORESEEwe currently are underway with greenhouse another important requirement in the FarmTHE APPLICATION OF YOUR PROD- and field tests in several countries as well as to Fork strategy. UCTS? YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THEdevelopment of a SAT platform. There are In summary, the application of ourPOSSIBILITY FOR PRECISION PLACE- several new patents progressing and we are product will lead to an improvement of theMENT AND SEED APPLICATIONS. CANdeveloping a new plant biostimulant formu-plant's physiology and strengthen the plant,YOU ELABORATE A BIT MORE ONlation with novel release rate characteristics. including an increase in its metabolic activ- THAT?In forestry, we offer solutions and ity leading to a higher resilience against abi- RG: Yes! In forestry, our innovation isproducts directly to end-users. In the agri-otic stress, pests, and diseases. mainly used in granular form, placed undercultural sector, we foresee more focus on the seedling at planting. In this way, theB2B for SAT seeds, as well as licensing SWE: NIKLAS, HOW DO YOU ENSUREbiostimulant comes close to the target and supply. In this way, capabilities and THE QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY OFthe rootand a small dose per seedlingresources are best managed throughout the YOUR BIOSTIMULANTS, AND ARE THEREis enough. We believe in precision dosingvalue chain for the benefit of the farmers. 1: Organic nitrogen improves the water use of tropical tree seedlings cultivated for restoration plantings (Krishnan et al., 2023), https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ppp3.1036338ISEED WORLD EUROPEIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM"