During the month of October (2021) FA Bio have distributed 500 of their SporSenZ sensors, a unique soil microbial screening technology, to UK cereal growers as part of their campaign to discover superior soil microbes.
The SporSenZ technology facilitates the study of the soil microbial communities that interact with crops and provides unique information about agricultural soils’ microbiome. By understanding the natural microbial interaction with crops and their response to biotic and abiotic stresses, we can identify microbial biocontrol and biofertiliser candidates.
In exchange for giving them permission to study the microbes found in the soil samples, FA Bio are providing 19 UK cereal growers at 33 different sites with free SporSenZ microbial analyses, giving them valuable data to help boost crop yields sustainably. Hugh Frost, Director of Planting Ideas, is working closely with our pioneering grower volunteers to coordinated and manage the SporSenZ deployment and sampling. The aim of this collaboration is to develop game changing microbial products for crops, in particular, biofertilisers.
To achieve their mission of identifying sustainable farming solutions, FA Bio are focused on building strong relationships with their grower volunteers. Through their partnership with growers like Anna Pearce at Smales Organic Seeds, Ed Ford at Dyson Farming, Charles Frost at Manor Farm, Sam Phillips at Macaroni Farm and Paul Barnes, FA Bio can continue their revolutionary journey to discover new improved biological products.
The purpose of FA Bio’s study of soil microbes in winter cereal fields is to understand the impact of farming practices in different soils and environmental conditions on microbial biodiversity. By harnessing our understanding of the intimate relationships between microbes and plants, we can help feed the world sustainably.
Currently, 2.5% of the global Greenhouse Gas emissions come directly from synthetic fertilisers and a huge 75% of the global nitrous oxide emission are related to agriculture. FA Bio’s mission is to discover heroic soil microbes and help develop a microbial biofertiliser prototype for UK farmers in the next 2 years that can increase agricultural productivity sustainably whilst also improving soil health.
The results of FA Bio’s study will be published in a white paper at the start of 2022, once all SporSenZ samples from UK winter fields and grassland rotations have been collected and analysed.
