Technological projects portfolio
SYMBOOST
Biofertilizer for legumes made from stimulated rhizobia
Investment: €700k
Scope: Agriculture and Environment
Scientific field: Biology and medicinal chemistry
Institution(s): Université Paris-Saclay - CEA - CNRS - Aix-Marseille Université
Development: Technology to be marketed
USE CASES
Rhizobia are bacteria that can enter into symbiosis with legume plants (soy, alfalfa, peas, etc.).
They fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and make it available to the plant. In exchange, the plant provides the bacteria with energy.
Nitrogen is a mineral element essential to plant growth and must often be added to crops through chemical fertilizer, which is not eco-friendly, or through rhizobium inoculants, which are compatible with organic farming but are less effective, especially with soy.
ADVANTAGES
SYMBOOST is developing an innovative approach based on understanding the mechanisms of symbiosis that will increase the effectiveness of nitrogen fixation of any variant of rhizobium.
This will lead to increased yield of legumes (up to 50% more biomass), without the addition of nitrogen fertilizer.
APPLICATIONS
SYMBOOST offers improvement of the biostimulants commonly used in cultivating soy or alfalfa.
The developed product will allow for direct application in the field by the farmer, potentially in the form of peat, encapsulated seed or liquid inoculants.
