News and Updates
AgroMoor Biotech has joined an academic-research partnership with Texas A&M (TAMU) AgriLife Research & Extension Center at Uvalde and the Texas Association of Olive Oil (TXAOO) to generate economically-feasible recommendations that orchard-owners can incorporate into their freeze-protection and CRR-resistance plans.
AgroMoor is committed to advancing the Texas Olive Oil industry in any way that we can, as such, we are now a proud sponsor of the Texas Association of Olive Oil (TXAOO)!
To learn more about TXAOO and their ongoing efforts to facilitate olive production in Texas, please refer to their website at www.txaoo.org.
AgroMoor attended the July 2018 meeting of the Texas Association of Olive Oil (TXAOO) to present on the use of microbial fertilizers for water conservation. The meeting took place on July 21, 2018 at Central Texas Olive Ranch in Georgetown, Texas.
AgroMoor’s Youssef Bargach presents to TXAOO members on the water-saving capabilities of microbial fertilizers
The TXAOO meeting focused on fostering discussions on the role of irrigation management in Texas’ changing climactic environment. To enable such discussions, the meeting featured the following keynote addresses:
All resources from these keynotes, as well as other olive-related materials from previous meetings, are available on the TXAOO website at: https://www.txaoo.org/resources/
Below is a summary of AgroMoor’s presentation on the use of microbial fertilizers for water conservation; the full presentation is available via the button below.
Texas is undergoing marked climactic-changes that can reduce the availability of fresh water and impact the productivity of the local agricultural-industry. Agricultural producers in Texas are seeking innovative solutions to counter the impacts of this environmental trend. To date, a majority of the efforts to develop water-saving agricultural-solutions have focused on increasing the efficiencies by which physical irrigation mechanisms deploy water to crops. Such efforts have led to the development of ground-breaking technologies such as drip irrigation systems and processes (such as those identified by the EPA for water savings at https://www.epa.gov/watersense/watering-tips), which can all save a significant amount of water. There is, however, limited literature documenting efforts specifically targeted at increasing the efficiency by which plants absorb and retain moisture as a means of increasing water savings. Research and development (R&D) to address the latter challenge would enable water-savings on both sides of the irrigation equation – increasing both the efficiency with which water physically reaches the plant, and the capacity of the plant to utilize those water resources.
AgroMoor’s technologies focus on meeting the latter R&D need. The microbiological consortia we provide are explicitly targeted at manipulating various aspects of the plant environment that each contribute to water savings. Our tailored solution, currently focuses on four key aspects of the plant environment:
Humus Content - Our formulation increases the humus content of the soil, creating a larger surface area to hold on to water molecules as well as nutrients. The increased humus content effectively increases the cation exchange capacity of the soil; in other words, increasing the soils ability to hold on to positively charged ions. The overall impact is an improved soil-structure with higher nutrient content, a more stable pH, and an improved utilization of fertilizers. For further details on cation exchange capacity, refer to http://www.soilquality.org.au/factsheets/cation-exchange-capacity.
Exopolysaccharides - The formulation stimulates the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS), a glue-like substance that coats the root system, reducing water loss to the surrounding dry soil. Through the creation of these exopolysaccharides (what our team commonly refers to as ‘EPS Glue’), the microbes effectively create a mud-ball that surrounds the root system of a plant. This mud not only holds on to nutrients and moisture in a more efficient manner, but also enables the planting of crops in sandy soils. As a result, we are testing the effectiveness of our product to enable planting in desert environments both in Texas and the MENA region. As these tests progress, we will provide regular updates on our website; however, we are happy to provide more information to anyone who wishes to contact us.
Aquaporins - The formulation produces proteins called aquaporins, which regulate the opening and closing of the stomata (pores on the epidermis of leaves, stems, and other plant organs), thereby reducing water loss through transpiration. This scientific breakthrough is incorporated directly in our technology and fundamentally stimulates water conservation at the cellular level within the plant. For further information on the role of aquaporins in plants, refer to “The role of aquaporins in cellular and whole plant water balance” - Johansson et al.
Translocation - The formulation improves the efficiency of water translocation, allowing for a very even distribution of moisture across the plant. In effect, this enables the plant to mobilize moisture from one portion of the root system to other areas within the plant in a very efficient manner. This capability is particularly relevant to orchards operating drip-irrigation systems as it allows the moisture deployed at one portion of the plant’s roots to travel to the far extremities of the plant canopy. Ultimately, this translocation enables uniform watering patterns without the need for wasteful wide-spray emitters or sprinkler systems.
The combined capabilities of the LALITHA21 formulation, as described above, provide a wholistic approach to conserving water at the point of consumption. In this way, microbial fertilizers can offer an avenue for water savings that is currently underutilized and underrepresented in the market. The in-field trials of our product have shown water savings of at least 40%, a figure we intent to grow as we continue to advance our R&D efforts. These savings, coupled with savings from physical improvements to agricultural irrigation practices can enable a future in which our water security is not in complete jeopardy.
Meeting the future’s fresh-water needs will require innovative solutions at every point in the water cycle, from cleaning, to conserving, to deploying, and finally utilizing. At AgroMoor, we firmly believe that we are capable of and dedicated to playing a critical role in developing and deploying these innovative solutions, globally. Together, with industry partners such as the other presenters at the TXAOO irrigation meeting, we can develop a collective group in the agricultural industry dedicated to ensuring water security in the near- and long-term future.
As an organization we are committed to continuing our research into innovative methods for water conservation, in particular those enabled by microbial fertilizers. If you are interested in learning more about our technology or adopting our technology as part of your operation’s water-conservation plan, don’t hesitate to contact us.
