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Federal government investing $1.6M towards new high-efficient fertilizer

Jul 4, 2022 | 1:49 PM

CALGARY, Alta. – A Calgary company is receiving over $1.6 million to produce high-efficiency fertilizers made with organic carbon.

The federal government is giving the funds to Sulvaris whose carbon control technology has shown to convert organic waste into high-efficiency fertilizers that are rich in nutrients and economical to use in large-scale agriculture.

This announcement, made earlier today, comes on the heels of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, one of the world’s major agricultural producers.

“Our farmers are being called upon to play an even greater role in feeding the world, and we are continuing efforts to ensure they have access to the resources they need,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

This project could potentially help the country lower its fertilizer greenhouse gas emissions. The federal government has pledged to reduce these emissions by 30 per cent below 2020 levels by 2030.

“Our commitment to a more circular economy by utilizing by-products from the oil and gas industry and waste biomass from the agriculture and forestry industries is prominent in our strategy to provide solutions to help meet the world’s 2050 zero-emission goals and increase sustainable food production through the development of our carbon-based products,” added Rick Knoll, CEO, Sulvaris.

Canada currently produces 12 per cent of the world’s fertilizer.

It’s also estimated there are over 93 million acres of cropland, just in the country, that need fertilizer to replenish the nutrients drawn from the soil by plants as they grow.