AFRICA – Sub-Saharan Africa is poised to benefit from a biofertilizer technology developed by the British agri-biotech company Legume Technology, aimed to provide a cost-effective alternative to expensive artificial nitrogen fertilizers.
The initiative has gained significant momentum following the award of a £2.15 million (US$2.8M) grant from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
This advancement brings a cost-effective alternative to expensive artificial nitrogen fertilizers within reach for millions of smallholder farmers across the region.
“The absence of affordable fertilizer options significantly impacts agricultural productivity and livelihoods,” said Dr. Bruce Knight, co-founder and managing director of Legume Technology.
“Synthetic fertilizer is not only too expensive for many of these families, but increased use would also bring its environmental problems, “he added.
Based in Nottinghamshire, Legume Technology has spent over two decades pioneering microbial biofertilizers that utilize natural microbes to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that crops can readily absorb.
While these biological nitrogen-fixers (BNFs) have been successfully used in developed countries, particularly with legume crops like peas and beans, the new project aims to extend this technology to non-legume staple crops such as maize, millet, sorghum, and cassava; essential food sources across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The project will see Legume Technology collaborating with global research institutes, innovation centers, and universities to identify and evaluate 50 BNF bacterial strains known for their nitrogen-fixation effects.
These strains will undergo intensive testing at the University of Nottingham, with the most promising candidates further assessed by the James Hutton Institute, a leading agricultural science institution in the UK.
Field-scale trials will then be conducted to validate the laboratory findings and ensure that the microbes deliver the expected results under real-world conditions. These trials are critical for demonstrating the biofertilizer’s reliability and its potential to boost yields for smallholder farmers.
A significant aspect of the project involves developing specialized packaging suitable for the needs of Sub-Saharan smallholders.
Currently, biofertilizer products are packaged in quantities designed for large-scale farming, making them impractical and expensive for smallholders, whose farms are typically less than half a hectare.
To address this, Legume Technology plans to develop a new packaging line that produces smaller, affordable packs designed to maintain the quality and shelf life of the biofertilizers.
“The new Micropack design is akin to a crisp packet,” Dr. Knight explains. “It’s easily portable and highly affordable while keeping the contents fresh and free from contamination.
This small bag has the potential to transform the lives of millions of African smallholders by enabling their crops to grow bigger and better, resulting in more productive harvests without any environmental side effects.”
The project will also focus on raising awareness among smallholders about the benefits of biofertilizers.
In-country commercialization trials will be conducted to validate the products and demonstrate their effectiveness, helping to overcome one of the major barriers to biofertilizer adoption in Africa: a lack of awareness and accessibility.
The grant will further support the design, construction, and installation of a new packaging line at Legume Technology’s factory in East Bridgford, marking a significant step forward in the global effort to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability in regions where access to traditional fertilizers is limited or prohibitively expensive.
“This project is a complete win-win for everyone involved. “We’re delighted with this grant and the opportunities it provides to improve agriculture’s productivity and sustainability, particularly for the small-scale farmers who are the backbone of food production in Africa,” Dr. Knight noted.
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