With a new grant from Gates Foundation, Legume Technology aims to rescue Africa’s deteriorating soils
AgFunderNews
2024.08.27
Africa’s decline in soil fertility worsens each year, and crop yields are consequently plummeting, particularly for smallholder farmers whose survival is pegged on small pieces of land averaging half a hectare.
Though many factors cause this degenerating soil health, acidification has emerged as a major contributor, largely because of over-dependence on chemical fertilizers like DAP, CAN and urea to supply nitrogen.
British ag biotech company Legume Technology aims to rescue African soils from further deterioration by leveraging microbial biofertilizers proven to increase crop yield.
Founded in 2000, the company has spent the last two decades working with natural microbes, both bacteria and fungi, that have a unique ability to capture nitrogen — which makes up nearly 80% of the air — and make it available to crops. Called “biological nitrogen-fixers” (BNFs), these crop protection solutions are particularly ideal for the “legume” family of crops that includes peas, soya beans, and pulses, among others.
Africa’s decline in soil fertility worsens each year, and crop yields are consequently plummeting, particularly for smallholder farmers whose survival is pegged on small pieces of land averaging half a hectare.
Though many factors cause this degenerating soil health, acidification has emerged as a major contributor, largely because of over-dependence on chemical fertilizers like DAP, CAN and urea to supply nitrogen.
British ag biotech company Legume Technology aims to rescue African soils from further deterioration by leveraging microbial biofertilizers proven to increase crop yield.
Founded in 2000, the company has spent the last two decades working with natural microbes, both bacteria and fungi, that have a unique ability to capture nitrogen — which makes up nearly 80% of the air — and make it available to crops. Called “biological nitrogen-fixers” (BNFs), these crop protection solutions are particularly ideal for the “legume” family of crops that includes peas, soya beans, and pulses, among others.
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