Grantee Research Project Results

SMARTP Fertilizer - The Environment-Friendly Phosphate Alternative

EPA Contract Number: 68HERC25C0034
Title: SMARTP Fertilizer - The Environment-Friendly Phosphate Alternative
Investigators: Varadachari, Chandrika
Small Business: Agtec Innovations Inc
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: December 16, 2024 through June 15, 2025
Project Amount: $100,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2025) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

Description:

We are developing a non-polluting phosphate fertilizer, SmartP, designed as a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional phosphate fertilizers like DAP and MAP. These existing fertilizers are water-soluble, leading to phosphate runoff and leaching into water bodies, which contributes to eutrophication and harmful algal blooms that causes large-scale fish deaths and water toxicity. Phosphate "fixation" of water-soluble fertilizers by soil, makes it unavailable to plants. Consequently, crops often utilize only 30% of the added phosphate.

Unlike conventional options, SmartP features a root-activated release mechanism, where phosphate is held within a crystal matrix and released only when stimulated by plant root exudates. This "smart" on-demand release system will eliminate runoff and leaching losses; reduction in plant available P due to fixation will also be negligible. By eliminating different types of P losses, the efficiency of this fertilizer will be high and it will be effective at significantly reduced application rates compared to the conventional MAP/DAP.

SmartP has a 3-dimensional network of polyphosphate and orthophosphate that is bound by calcium ions. Its constituents are phosphate (P), calcium (Ca) and nitrogen (N). It will leave no microplastics or any other undesirable residues in soil because all of its constituents are plant food. Preliminary research shows that leaching of P from SmartP is insignificant. A few crop trials have shown that SmartP can achieve higher crop yields even with a 50% reduction in application rates compared to DAP.

SmartP is produced from cheap and readily available raw materials available in the country and the production process is clean with no emissions of gas or liquid effluents. It will have a cost per lb that is comparable to DAP; its application rate per acre is much lower than DAP/MAP so cost per acre to the farmer will be much reduced. The yield benefits together with reduced costs will give the farmer a higher ROI. SmartP is suitable for all crops under all agro-climatic conditions. Our beachhead customers will be greenhouse farmers and vegetable growers and subsequent customers will be farmers growing major crops like corn, soybeans etc.

This EPA-SBIR project aims to provide proof-of-concept that SmartP can significantly reduce or eliminate phosphate runoff and leaching, while delivering better yields at reduced dosages. In addition to environmental benefits, SmartP will conserve the natural phosphate resources, sourced from limited reserves, by reducing application requirements and eliminating waste.