Anglo American and Biome Makers research demonstrates POLY4’s unique positive effect on soil health

Biome Makers and Anglo American have collaborated on a joint research project on the impact of POLY4, Anglo American’s new low-carbon fertiliser, on the soil microbiome.

The partnership involves soil trials that analyze and verify the impact of POLY4, Anglo American’s multi-nutrient fertilizer, on soil microbiome composition and functionality through a study on tomatoes and wheat in Spain.

As the importance of the soil microbiome in agriculture gains momentum, Biome Makers BeCrop^® Technology is delivering detailed insight into the impact of fertilisers on soil biology.

″Our collaboration with Anglo American shows our commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture through applied science,″ said Dr. Alberto Acedo, Chief Scientific Officer of Biome Makers. ″By leveraging BeCrop’s proprietary microbiome analysis tools and global soil database, we are able to provide companies like Anglo American with strong evidence of the positive effects of emerging ag input products on soil health.″

In the photo: Ifigenia Urbina Barreto, Ph.D. in Ecology and former Biome Makers employee, conducting a tomato trial.

The soil trials confirmed that with a targeted approach, POLY4 is environmentally friendly and preserves native soil microbiome biodiversity and boosts microbial nutrient mobilisation of potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and chlorine (Cl), improving plant nutrient uptake and development. The research also showed a reduction in soil electrical conductivity, thanks to the activation of calcium and chlorine microbial mobilisation, which further supports healthy soil ecosystems.

″The results from these experimental trials not only demonstrate the efficacy of POLY4 as a sustainable multi-nutrient fertiliser, but also highlight its potential to improve soil health generally in agricultural systems,″ said Dr Kathryn Bartlett, Soil Science Principal at Anglo American’s Crop Nutrients business.

″Biome Makers’ BeCrop^® Technology was fundamental to the study and confirms that POLY4 exhibits differentiated impact on the soil microbiome, promoting beneficial microbial functionality and increasing nutrient availability to the crop from the soil, which is incredibly important for long term soil health and therefore future food security.″

Biome Makers is committed to assisting ag-input manufacturers in understanding the impact of their products on soil microbiome composition and functionality. The company has worked with leading agricultural companies like Syngenta, Bayer, Disagro, UPL, among others to successfully demonstrate how leveraging soil biology data can foster healthier soils, improve ecosystem services, and ultimately lead to more sustainable farming practices.