Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** our proposed approach will…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** our proposed approach will utilize a novel and patented technology that will solubilize residual inorganic and organic phosphorus in soils as well as make synthetic and organic phosphorus fertilizers available on demand for sustainable crop growth eliminating any leaching losses. Biocat-PTM is a novel, next generation, biofertilizer, biocatalyst comprising proprietary phosphobacteria that makes both applied and residual inorganic and organic phosphorus available for crop growth. The goal of the proposed research is to reduce the application of synthetic/organic phosphorus fertilizers by ~50% without reducing yields thus offering a considerable reduction in input costs to small and midsize, organic, and conventional crop growers. Our phase II effort is focused on field corn, sweet corn, wheat, cotton, alfalfa, spinach, and leaf lettuce. The technology has been validated in small plot trials of field corn in farmer city, illinois and in sweet corn trials in maricopa, AZ. Biocat-PTM inoculum production has been scaled up to 100 l in a custom batch fermentation reactor. The phase II effort will involve 1 acre demo trials of biocat-PTM treated seeds in calcareous soils for growing field corn; cotton; alfalfa; wheat; spinach; and leaf lettuce with synthetic p fertilizer (mono ammonium phosphate) and organic p fertilizer (rock phosphate) on the AK-chin and crit tribal lands. The company has contacted USDA extension agents for the 'nutrient exchange program' of iowa and 'vermont pay for performance program' of vermont to conduct demo trials in these states for a product launch targeted to small and mid-size growers. The company does not see any barrier to market entry and post-phase II, the biocat-PTM will be available to historically underserved producers of the AK-chin and crit tribes as well as any other customers. Biocat-PTM can also be applied to organically grown crops and will enable an easier transition for conventional growers transitioning from conventional to organic production systems. There is no regulatory burden associated with biocat-PTM in conventional production systems in the state of arizona and in the midwest. Biocat-PTM inoculum can be registered with omri (organic materials review institute) for organic production systems.