Research Finds Brand New Mode of Nitrogen Action for Crops

Cindy Zimmerman

New research published in Scientific Reports describes a breakthrough in nitrogen fertilizer technology seen as the first new mode of nitrogen action in crops to be discovered in a century.

Conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Purdue University and Pivot Bio, the study shows that gene-edited microbes can fix nitrogen from the air and feed it to cereal plants’ roots, providing the essential nutrient to crops. The study highlights PROVEN® 40, Pivot Bio’s second-generation corn product, which introduces the first new mode of nitrogen action this century. It includes lab and field evidence of nitrogen fixation.

In field trials, researchers used isotopic experiments to confirm nitrogen fixation in real-world conditions and measure plant nitrogen levels. On average, plants treated with PROVEN 40 showed higher nitrogen levels early in the season with no yield loss, despite a reduction of 35-40 pounds of synthetic fertilizer per acre. This suggests PROVEN 40 can be integrated into nutrient management plans while maintaining crop productivity.

Pivot Bio senior manager of commercial agronomy Ryan Van Roekel, who is co-host of Pivot Bio’s new “N-SIGHTS from the Farm” was at the NAFB convention this week talking about the advantages of PROVEN® 40.
NAFB24 Ryan Van Roekel, Pivot Bio (2:38)

2024 NAFB Convention Trade Talk photos

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