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Yields of strawberry on average 18% higher… Fertilizer? Fertilizer ? Specifically biostimulants, a type of amendments that, in a way, replace the manure of yesteryear. What to regenerate the fertility of the grounds and to compensate for their fall in content in matter organic and microbial diversity (bacteria and mushrooms). These products have multiplied on the market without it being easy to compare them, as it is so complicated to analyze the functioning of the soil.
“Most biostimulants are organic fertilizers in disguiseregrets Renaud Nalin, president of BioInput. These are plant extracts,algaenatural resources that provide nutrients or a given beneficial effect. Our biostimulants, like others, are based on bacteria and aim for a broader action: stimulating the development ofecosystem microbial around the roots of the plant to help it mobilize and optimize the assimilation of soil nutrients as essential nitrogen Where phosphorus or defend against pathogens. »
“In the example of strawberries, the inoculation of one of our patented strains promotes the assimilation of nutrients by the plant up to +90% for nitrogen, +80% for phosphorus and potassium », he continues. He describes these amendments as probiotics : enough to promote the development of microbiome plants and improve their health, like the probiotics for our own health. The objective is to reactivate the soil microflora, to ultimately optimize the profitability of the ecosystem. Because contrary to popular belief, soils have a certain resilience and their microbial flora remains present even if it is dormant for lack of exchanges with the plants which become “lazy” by dint of fertilizer.
The key to this process of reactivation of the soil passes through bacteria capable of forming a freeze very viscous around the roots of plants, a gel based on exopolysaccharides. These bacteria produce this sugar long chains from monosaccharides naturally exuded by plant roots. It can easily be observed on biologically active soil, for example by digging up a grassland plant: thanks to this frost, the earth remains stuck to the root whereas that of a foot of cereal cultivated will be bare. Above all, it allows, because of its nature, to restructure the soil abundantly, giving it better water and nutrient retention capacities as well as better aeration. This cascade of benefits helps microbial communities associated with the plant to develop and ensure a multitude of phytobeneficial functions.
Targeting the best performing bacteria
“Thanks to the establishment of this ecosystem between the plant, the soil and the bacteria, we are aiming to reduce inputs while maintaining the returns cultures, explains Renaud Nalin. Our main asset is our ability to select the most effective bacteria for this, capable of forming exopolysaccharides, for plants of agronomic interest. To achieve this, we use bioinformatics screening methods based on analyzes genomics crossed with expert databases. »
The startup, resulting from the laboratory The sights (CNRS/CEA) specializing in soil microbiology and agronomy, has a good collection of bacterial strains for this purpose: the 2,000 identified by LEMiRE, plus those it isolates and then sequences from its own tests. on a diversity of cultivated plants and terroirs. Each selected bacterium is then tested on different cultures. Like the strawberrywho seems to appreciate.
“We now have eight bacteria ready for commercialization, rejoices Renaud Nalin. We have obtained eight marketing authorizations (MA) in Germany this fall, already two in France since December. » And in January 2022, the startup, which has eight employees, raised 1.5 million euros to build an industrial production unit which should be operational in the second quarter.
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