Algae-Based Soil Amendments

Algae-based soil amendments cultivate microalgae strains rich in polysaccharides, phytohormones, and micronutrients inside photobioreactors or open raceways fed by wastewater and CO₂. The resulting biomass or extracts are applied via fertigation or seed coatings to enhance soil structure, water retention, microbial activity, and carbon sequestration, offering a regenerative alternative to NPK fertilizers.

Specialty crop growers, turf managers, and carbon projects deploy these bio-fertilizers to reduce synthetic inputs, rehabilitate degraded soils, and document ecosystem services. Companies like Symbiosis, Van Iperen, and university spinouts pair algal amendments with precision application tech to deliver site-specific recipes.

Future iterations will integrate on-farm reactors powered by agrivoltaics, and genomic editing could tailor algae to specific soil deficits. Adoption barriers include shelf-life stability, cost competitiveness against commodity fertilizers, and regulatory clarity for organic certification. Partnerships with composters and carbon-credit developers will help scale distribution.