Greentechnologies, LLC (GT) proposes to upcycle digestate from anaerobic digestion (ad) of agricultural waste into a commercial organic-based enhanced efficiency fertilizer (EEF) that can be used in…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded $650,000 to Greentechnologies, LLC on September 1, 2026, under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program (CFDA 10.212) to develop commercial organic-based enhanced efficiency fertilizers from anaerobic digestion digestate of agricultural waste.

Greentechnologies will conduct Phase II objectives including developing commercial pilot manufacturing of selected formulations, conducting field studies to demonstrate efficacy of the new anaerobic digestate-based organic fertilizers, and exploring further innovations to diversify product offerings. Phase I efforts evaluated the technical feasibility of adapting the company's patented technologies to digestate feedstock; Phase II will refine laboratory protocols demonstrated in Phase I and scale to pilot production. Anticipated results include a new domestic source of enhanced efficiency fertilizers and a generalized, portable process tailored to meet regional nutrient needs. Phase III will pursue full commercialization leveraging Greentechnologies' position in the organic fertilizer marketplace.

The project responds to the research topic of conservation of natural resources with emphasis on soil health and nutrient management. Work diverts organic waste from landfills while avoiding nutrient loss from inefficient land application.

Performance occurs in Jacksonville, Florida, with an award period from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028.

Greentechnologies, LLC (GT) proposes to upcycle digestate from anaerobic digestion (ad) of agricultural waste into a commercial organic-based enhanced efficiency fertilizer (EEF) that can be used in agricultural production. Currently, digestate does not meet most agricultural requirements and falls short of being an EEF. This project adapts patented technologies to enhance nutrient content and engineer organic fertilizers with enhanced efficiency nutrient release profiles. The new technology takes advantage of a waste byproduct, diverting organic waste from landfills or avoiding nutrient loss caused by inefficient land application. The application responds to research topic conservation of natural resources, with emphasis on soil health and nutrient management. The sbir effort will culminate in the commercialization of a new category of enhanced-efficiency recycled-nutrient fertilizers based on ad digestate. Phase i efforts evaluated the technical feasibility of adapting GT's patented technologies to digestate to produce commercial fertilizers. Phase II objectives include: 1. Develop commercial pilot manufacturing of selected formulations, refining laboratory protocols demonstrated in phase i; 2. Conduct field studies of the new anaerobic digestate based organic fertilizers to demonstrate their efficacy; 3. Explore further innovations, taking advantage of the unique features of digestate feedstocks to diversify product offerings. Anticipated results are a new source of domestically produced EEF's and a generalized process that will be portable to other facilities or producers, tailorable to meet regional nutrient needs. Phase III commercialization will take advantage of GT's position in the organic fertilizer marketplace.