Key+ revolution: Hello Nature develops an innovative chelation technology based on vegetal peptides

KEYLAN is the new range of natural products, powered by KEY+ technology, which will revolutionize the market of chelated micronutrients.

To find out more, read the interview with Philippe Cognet, Chief Sales Officer at Hello Nature

A new concept of chelation is born, the biochelation™: a technology of natural origin, sustainable and with a low environmental impact based on vegetal peptides. HELLO NATURE, a leading company in the research and production of sustainable solutions in agriculture, has developed the KEY+ technology in its Innovation Hub (Anderson – USA) in over three years.

Innovation Hub (Anderson – USA)

KEY+ introduces in the chelated micronutrient market an innovative concept of green chelation, the Biochelation™, and a new range of products, KEYLAN: the goal of the new solutions is to supply micronutrients in a biochelated form to the plant in order to optimize their absorption and, at the same time to boost plant metabolism thanks to the peptide action.

"At HELLO NATURE - explains Luca Bonini, CEO of the company, we have always studied the polyvalent properties of peptides, which are already used in our actual biostimulant range. After long years of research, we found out that peptides are also able to chelate micronutrients, in the same or in a better way that chemical components do, but of course, in a 100% natural way”.

KEYLAN is suitable to prevent and cure nutrient deficiency on a wide range of crops, through applications to the soil or by fertigation. The new range has an effectiveness comparable to that of synthetic chelates, is efficient with a broad range of soil pHs, is highly stable and water-soluble and leaves no residues in the soil or in the crops. Moreover, it provides the same amount of micronutrient with only half the dose of any standard synthetic chelates, with obvious economic and environmental benefits.

"If peptides are the key, L A N is the acronym of what it’s most important: LIFE, AGRICULTURE, NATURE. The product name KEYLAN embodies the essential values that we share", adds Bonini who specifies" We believe in a greener Life which means making conscious and responsible choices and engaging in practices which minimize the environmental impact of our actions, day after day, in our daily activities. We believe in a more sustainable agriculture and nowadays our duty is to foster environmental conservation by reducing pollution of precious resources, like water, by stopping soil degradation and by preserving agroecosystems. Finally, we believe in the ability of Nature which inspires us every day and has the power to shape flawless substances, process and mechanisms ".

KEYLAN is a complete range of products in soluble powder, powered by KEY+ technology, featuring Iron, Calcium, Manganese, Zinc and two complexes, KEYLAN MAX and KEYLAN COMBI. The KEYLAN range of products will soon be available for all our customers and distributors around the world following the registration delays in each country. Besides, the obtention of the organic certifications such as ECOCERT will guarantee the product being suitable for organic farming according to US, European and Japanese rules.

To discover more, watch the video on www.keylansolutions.com

Interview with: Philippe Cognet, Chief Sales Officer at HELLO NATURE

Why does HELLO NATURE decide to launch KEYLAN today?

Earlier this year, HELLO NATURE became the official name of our company. This name clearly defines our strategic position towards the market and represents, for us, a great challenge: we want every product developed in our laboratories to be based on technologies inspired by Nature, innovative and able to guarantee a more sustainable future for agriculture and our planet. The KEYLAN concept perfectly reflects and summarizes all our values. It is the sustainable and greener choice which had so far been lacking in the chelated micronutrient sector.

How was the KEY+ technology discovered?

HELLO NATURE has always studied the polyvalent properties of vegetal peptides, which we call “Plant Stimulating Peptides”, already used in our actual biostimulant range. Besides, we knew that the pharmaceutical industry already used peptides to chelate metals to make them available for medical and cosmetic use and that complexation with single amino acids had already been used in agriculture. So, it was obvious for us to follow this path: we were sure that our peptide cocktail was able to chelate various elements. After numerous attempts, we found out the right timing to introduce the metals into the production process to have a high enough concentration of peptides able to perform the chelation. Now, we have optimized the operation, so we are able to obtain a good chelation effect, while maintaining the integrity of our Plant Stimulating Peptides, preserving also their biostimulant activity.

How does the KEY+ technology work?

The KEY+ technology is based on the intrinsic ability of peptides to behave like synthetic chelates, or to form different types of bonds with positively charged metal atoms. In fact, the "Plant Stimulating Peptides" contain a great number of potential atoms able to form strong bonds with the metal. To these bonds, which guarantee the greater stability, is to be added the ability of some side chains of amino acids, forming our peptides, to bind the metal through different types of forces, which contribute to further increase the stability of the peptide-metal bond.  Thanks to these multiple interactions, the peptides take a 3D dimension, and they organize close to the metal, to form a fence around it and ensuring that the metal atom becomes part of a strong and biologically stable ring structure. The resulting structure, called biochelate™, improves the solubility and bioavailability of the element, which becomes readily available for plant uptake.

What are the differences with the technologies already on the market?

The KEY+ technology introduces on the market a brand-new concept of green chelation, or better, a new concept of Biochelation™ which has numerous advantages and differences compared to the technologies already available. First, compared to traditional synthetic chelation, it is a 100% natural technology, environmentally friendly, harmless to living organisms and respectful of biodiversity, which leaves no residues in the soil or in the crops. In addition, thanks to the presence of plant peptides we have a dual action nutrient biochelation™ and biostimulant that improves the absorption of the element itself, also boosting plant metabolism. Instead, synthetic chelating agents cannot be used by plants, they are only a carrier of the micronutrients. Specifically, speaking of Iron, our peptides biochelate this metal in the bivalent ionic form which is the form readily used by plants and easier to absorb; while synthetic chelate agents, like EDDHA, chelate iron in the trivalent form which is not readily assimilable by plants. Compared to traditional amino acid complexation the main difference is that the KEY+ technology has multiple chelation points, as well as multiple types of interactions, which make the peptide-metal bond stronger than the amino acid-metal complex. The latter is a weak and unstable complex, with only two bonds with the metal.

What are the methods of use and applications of KEYLAN?

KEYLAN is suitable to prevent and cure nutrient deficiency on a wide range of crops. The goal of the range is to supply micronutrients in a biochelated form to the plant in order to optimize their uptake, and at the same time to boost plant metabolism thanks to the peptide action. It can be applied through two main modalities: drip irrigation or soil injector. It is suitable for crops grown in hydroponic conditions, even in in full hydroponic recycling systems as it is specifically formulated to prevent any photosensitivity issue and it is not degraded by UV. The dose varies according to the type of product and to the specific crop. The experimental trials, which we have conducted over the years, have shown that KEYLAN is efficient in a wide pH range, is highly soluble and stable. In addition, it provides the same amount of micronutrient with only half the dose of any standard synthetic chelates, with obvious economic and environmental benefits.

When will the new KEYLAN range be available?

The KEYLAN range of products will soon be available for all our customers and distributors around the world following the registration delays in each country. We are finalizing the KEYLAN registration process in Europe, focusing on KEYLAN Iron which will obtain the REACH authorization soon, and throughout the rest of the world, in compliance with the current local regulation. Besides, we are finalizing the obtention of organic certifications such as ECOCERT so that we will guarantee the product being suitable for organic farming according to US, European and Japanese rules.