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Research & Development Request

Poland-Israel 6th Call for Proposals: Industrial and academic partners from Israel sought for developing a functional fertiliser

Country of Origin: Poland
Reference Number: RDPL20181127001
Publication Date: 10 December 2018

Summary

A university-based research group from Poland is seeking industrial and academic partners from Isreal that specialise in sorption and diffusion processes in polymers or in the preparation, characterisation, and evaluation of fertilisers for the Poland-Israel 6th Call for Proposals. The project aims at developing functional fertilisers with the use of biodegradable polymers that will increase assimilation of nutrients by crops. They are interested in the research cooperation agreement.

Description

Against the backdrop of the growing population and increasing food consumption, one of the main challenges facing the agricultural sector had been to raise the yield from fields. Fertilisers have helped combat this challenge but at the cost of creating other (environmental) problems. Relatively low assimilation of nutrients by crops from commonly-used fertilisers - uptake of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium by plants is approximately 50%, 10-25% and 50-60%, respectively - leads to pollutions, thus causing environmental and health hazards.



A group of scientists from a university located in northwestern Poland specialising in issues related to sorption and diffusion processes, in cooperation with one of a leading Polish manufacturer of mineral fertilisers, is interested in developing a new, more effective and less harmful fertiliser. More specifically, the consortium wants to develop a functionalised mineral fertiliser with prolonged time of components release, obtained with the use of ecological polymer materials that undergo the processes of biodegradation. Such fertilisers could be an attractive offer to farmers, plant producers and gardening enthusiasts. Compared to other fertilisers, it would be a novelty and, taking into account current trends to promote environment-friendly products and with the appropriate marketing and a reasonable price level, it could become a valuable and desired product.



The process of functionalisation will consist of inserting biobased (derived from renewable biological resources), biodegradable (degradable by biological means), and biocompatible (provoking no adverse effect on living systems) polymer materials into the composition of the fertiliser. Application of biodegradable and environment-friendly polymer materials will fulfil two functions. Firstly, polymers will act as sorbents of chemical compounds, mainly phosphorus and nitrogen compounds, that are contaminants of the air and water. Secondly, polymers will provide a slow and controlled release of mineral components. The used polymer materials should be characterised by a large surface and right (appropriate) pore size. Polymers will be filled or saturated as a result of sorption processes from the liquid and gaseous phase. The subject of the detailed analysis will be the individual processes involved in the transport of components into the polymer structure and subsequent transport from the polymer to the environment, such as sorption (adsorption, absorption, desorption), diffusion and dispersion. During sorption measurements, thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and adsorption isotherms will be used.



As a result of the project, two types of fertiliser will be developed and characterised. The first, the so-called matrix-based fertiliser, will use polymer network to embed and trap nutrients (a slow-release fertiliser). The second type of prepared materials will be controlled-release fertilisers, in which biodegradable polymers will constitute membranes, covering the fertiliser granules containing mineral components.



The scientists are looking for Israeli industrial partners that specialise in sorption and diffusion processes in polymers or in the preparation, characterisation and evaluation of fertilisers in order to submit a project proposal for the Poland-Israel 6th Call. Academic partners form Israel would be also welcomed.



About the Call:

- Official deadline: January 15th, 2019

- Deadline for the EoI: January 2nd, 2019

- Anticipated duration of the project: 24-36 months



Framework conditions of the Call:

- at least one Israeli and one Polish R&D performing commercial company;

- the project should have an obvious advantage and added value resulting from the cooperation between the participants from the two countries;

- the project should demonstrate the sustainable contribution of the participants from both countries and the project must be significant to both participants.

Advantages and Innovations

The proposed research project will have a positive impact on the environment. Its goal is to develop, characterise and evaluate new fertilisers functionalised using biodegradable polymers. Their application will contribute to the sustainable development of agriculture and the reduction of environmental pollution.

Stage Of Development

Proposal under development

Requested partner

The consortium is seeking an industrial partner(s) from Israel interested in the problem of sustainable agriculture. Depending on the partner's field of expertise, he will be expected to perform tasks concerning either sorption and diffusion processes in polymers or the preparation, characterisation and evaluation of fertilisers. The consortium is also ready to cooperate with the academic partners, with the same scope of expertise and role.

Dissemination Countries

Israel