5/27/2021 - By Dr. Tom Reed

Harrell’s POLYON®  controlled-release fertilizer was selected to move onto Stage 2 greenhouse trials, of the ‘Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers: Environmental and Agronomic Challenge’ (EEFs: Environmental and Agronomic Challenge | Innovation at EPA | US EPA). The Challenge is a joint United States Environmental Protection Agency  (EPA) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) partnership. The goal of the competition, on next gen fertilizers, is to advance agricultural sustainability. 

“Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer” (EEF), is a term for formulations which control fertilizer release or alter reactions, reducing nutrient losses to the environment. EEFs and other product technology innovations, may be an important addition to a system of conservation practices, which help reduce the impacts from agriculture on the environment, while maintaining or increasing agricultural productivity and profitability.

The challenge consists of three stages:

• Stage 1: Potential solvers will submit information describing the EEF and how it is anticipated to meet the requirements. Submissions will be reviewed by an expert judging panel.
• Stage 2: A subset of Stage 1, solvers will be invited to submit physical products in order to compete in planned greenhouse testing.
• Stage 3: Potential for field trials following Stage 2 greenhouse testing, locations to be determined.

“The EEFs: Environmental and Agronomic Challenge aim is to identify existing EEFs currently on or near-market that meet or exceed certain environmental and agro-economic criteria.” -EPA USDA. The initial stage of the Challenge required potential solvers to submit information describing the EEF and how it is anticipated to meet the criteria. Submissions were reviewed by a judging panel of scientific experts. In addition to the recognition received from EPA and USDA, POLYON® fertilizer was selected for advancement to lab and greenhouse trials. More information on the challenge is located at EEFs: Environmental and Agronomic Challenge | Challenge.gov.

Along with the EPA and USDA, the competition is in collaboration with The Fertilizer Institute  (TFI), The International Fertilizer Development Center  (IFDC), The Nature Conservancy  (TNC), and The National Corn Growers Association  (NCGA).

The winner of the challenge is set to be chosen in the winter of 2021 at a date and time to be determined.