OMRI approves soil amendment claiming to boost yields for organic farmers by 15%

September 25th, 2014

Inocucor aims biological solution at organic farmers, those transitioning to organic

by Sustainable Food News
September 24, 2014

Ag biotech company Inocucor Technologies Inc. said its proprietary biological soil, seed and plant accelerator has been approved for use on U.S. organic farms and in greenhouses as an organic soil amendment to boost crop yields, while reducing or eliminating use of chemical fertilizers, by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI).

The Montreal-based company said its Garden Solution product uses a blend of yeasts and bacteria that, when fermented, “cross-talk” to populate the soil, seeds, crops and surrounding area (the phtyo-microbiome) with beneficial nutrients.

The company is targeting the product at current organic growers, as well as farmers seeking to transition to organic farming or reduce chemical inputs on their farms.

Inocucor said field tests of the product show it promotes plant growth, increases plant biomass and causes earlier maturation of fruit and vegetables, often increasing yields by up to 15 percent.

More than 3,000 products have been reviewed against U.S. and Canadian organic standards and are listed on OMRI’s Product List.

Founded in 1997, OMRI provides organic certifiers, growers, livestock producers, manufacturers, processors and handlers an independent review of products intended for use in certified organic production, handling and processing under the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) standards.

OMRI recently expanded its services to include input review to the Canadian organic standards.

Nearly 1,000 companies have applied for OMRI to review their products against organic standards. Acceptable products are OMRI Listed and appear on the OMRI Products List or OMRI Canada Products List. OMRI also provides technical support and training to agricultural professionals.

“We designed Garden Solution as a vital piece in the sustainability puzzle for organic and conventional farmers. It gives all farmers a way to naturally condition soil, restore the soil-vegetation balance and reduce run-off of chemical fertilizers into groundwater,” said Inocucor co-founder and vice president Ananda Lynn Fitzsimmons.

Inocucor Garden Solution is patented and registered as a soil amendment in 12 states, and is expected to be approved for use in nearly two dozen more by mid-2015. It is also registered as a water treatment under the name of Aqua Solution in Québec and Ontario.