Category: Blog

“Our planet’s survival depends on the precious link between soil and water. Over 95 percent of our food originates from these two fundamental resources. Soil water, vital for nutrient absorption by plants, binds our ecosystems together. This symbiotic relationship is the foundation of our agricultural systems” (World Soil Day | United Nations)

As we mark World Soil Health Day on December 5 this UN Statement gives us much to unpack, pointing to the important questions of how we produce our food, and how the nutritional density of our food is, how producing food can impact the availability and quality of the water we drink, and how important topics are interconnected.

At the center of this question is our soil.

At Biolevel we’re passionate about providing solutions to re-invigorate soil biology, to produce with more efficiency and less environmental impact, and to grow more nutritionally-dense, healthier crops. And we’re committed to supporting farmers who want to protect their soils for subsequent generations.

Primary succession begins when no plant life is present on the landscape, such as after a lava flow or glacial retreat. Over centuries, soil forms and deepens and successive communities of plants grow. Copyright Shutterstock.com

But how did we get to this point? Why is our action needed? To understand an important root cause of today’s struggle with soil health and agricultural productivity we have to understand the natural succession in soil development.

The University of Chicago nicely describes this in this article (What is ecological succession? | University of Chicago News). As eco-systems develop starting with lichens and pioneer species to more mature plant communities, so does the soil develop. Agriculture has benefited from growing initially in mature soils, but soil depletion is now a pressing issue. The cultivation of soil and monoculture, prevent soil from regenerating and maturing.

When we look at farmland which is put into conservation, we can see ecological succession happening: We see grasses as pioneer species, but we also see a wider variety of weeds, the first shrubs and we also have proximity to more mature climax communities like forests where beneficial microbes and fungi can migrate into the formerly disturbed soil. This is not present in rowcrop farming.

Image source: Succession On fallow land, vegetation unfolds in a predictable pattern, with weedy species slowly giving way to longer-lived colonizers, such as canopy trees. Photo: Lisa M. Dellwo via https://www.caryinstitute.org/news-insights/2-minute-science/succession

At Biolevel we work with beneficial soil microbes which are naturally soil occurring, to support pioneer stage environments like cultivated, monocropped agricultural soils to achieve ecological succession. Our products enable important natural nutrient cycling, support the reinvigoration of soil and improve growers’ profitability . 

Helping farmers to complement their work on soil structure and soil chemistry by addressing soil biology is our mission. We offer a practical range of products with ease of use in mind. Learn more about our biological soil solutions on our website or call Josh Seeman +1 904 657 0316 or email him to start your Biolevel biologicals journey. Interested in becoming a Biolevel distributor? Josh would love to talk to you too! 

Climate change and population growth are exacerbating Africa’s food security challenges. Prioritizing agricultural innovation that is geared to success is critical to helping African farmers to improve food security and lift their farm incomes.

The Issues

Compounded by the pressures of climate change and population growth, food security is an urgent issue for many regions including Central and South America, and Asia, but nowhere it is more pressing than Africa.

According to the United Nations, 73 million African people are living in the grips of an urgent food crisis, and 129 million more are on the cusp of food insecurity.And, with more than half of the world’s population growth likely to occur in Africa between now and 2050, food security on the continent is both a cause for urgency and an opportunity for agrifoodtech innovation to flourish.

In relative terms, the cost of food is high for Africans who pay an average 30 to 40 per cent more for food than other countries with a similar GDP, and rely heavily  on food imported from outside the continent. Such reliance drives up food prices, while the Covid Pandemic has highlighted the risks from disruptions in global supply chain logistics and steeply increased freight costs.

For all that, agriculture plays an outsized role in most African economies. Its contribution to GDP is high and agriculture employs a large percentage of the workforce, mostly on smallholder family farms lacking access to inputs and technology.

Additionally, African farmers face rising temperatures and sea levels, changing rainfall patterns, and more frequent extreme weather and climate events. The World Meteorological Association suggested in its 2019 report: Climate Change and Africa that these conditions could lead to yield reductions in major crops of between five and 21 per cent.. 

Biolevel’s Co-Founder Laurence Berman says that their products have the potential to prove the benefits of its products beyond the traditional crops of Europe and North America.  

“From the outset, Biolevel has focused on establishing a presence in Kenya, an innovative, export-driven market with a sophisticated agricultural sector,” says Biolevel co-founder Laurence Berman. “Kenya’s strong agricultural tradition and rigorous product assessments make it a respected leader across Africa. As a mission-driven business, Biolevel is committed to partnering with smallholder farmers in the region, making our innovative biological solutions available to support sustainable agriculture in this and other emerging markets. By collaborating with Kenyan farmers, we aim to provide them with a meaningful return on investment through improved yields while showcasing Biolevel’s potential impact within a region that sets high standards for agricultural excellence.”

Five keys to successful agricultural innovation for African crop growers

Key To Successful Innovation	How Biolevel Products Measure Up
1.  Improved logistics Agriculture in Africa relies heavily on transportation for both inputs and finished goods. While geography is partly responsible for lack of infrastructure and isn’t easily overcome, one solution is to develop products that are more easily transported (low volume/low mass) and use innovative delivery methods.	Biolevel’s biological products are applied at 250g/ha compared with conventional bulk fertilizers with use rates of over 100 kg/ha which makes them low volume/low mass.These are easily transported and distributed by pioneering ‘last mile’ delivery start-ups when typical smallholder farms only require the equivalent volume of a chocolate bar each growing season.This is one way Biolevel can provide equal access to all geographies and work towards the goal of equity.
2.  Prioritization of safety Africa is home to some of the world’s most important wildlife and natural habitats, with close proximity between smallholder farms, communities and wildlife reserves. Product safety is critical in any market, but never more so than where the risk of accidental misuse is high, and the risk of commingling with food supply more likely. For example, where treated seed could be accidentally diverted into the food supply.	Biolevel products consist of Biosafety Level 1 type microbes which means these products have never been found to be harmful to animals, plants or people.
3.  Ease of use Any new soil health enhancement/nutrient management/crop management solutions must be easy to use by smallholder farmers, fitting into their systems and agronomic practices, and not require any specialist equipment or farm productivity tools, which may be costly, and not readily available.	Biolevel products including MaizeNP, PhosN, GramaxNP and ReGenerator are easily applied in multiple ways by farmers and do not require specialized machinery. Biolevel has  been partnering with the Aga Khan Development Network in Kenya to demonstrate how to use products in local conditions, and these projects are also being used to share best practices and methods for crop yield improvement with a large number of other smallholder farmers.
4.  Sustainability Industrialization and the degradation of land due to increased use of agricultural inputs, are  challenging China’s quest for high yield crops, protect drinking water from agricultural run-off, and feed their growing population. Implementing sustainable agricultural practices in Africa so it avoids the pitfalls experienced by China is critical for the African people, and for the continent’s natural habitats.	Biolevel products allow these often conflicting goals of increasing yield and sustainability to converge, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, limiting  water pollution and runoff/contamination, and streamlining supply chains.
5.  Profitability Any on-farm innovation must be profitable for the end-user; the farmer. Every dollar spent on biological agricultural inputs must return several more dollars’ worth of additional yield, while the initial investment in the biologicals must be affordable. Traditional bulky and heavy fertilizers are often a key cost -driver for farmers.	Biolevel’s low application rate of 250g/ha helps keep the delivered cost affordable for growers, while its demonstration plots in Kenya have highlighted significant yield improvements on potatoes and corn. For example, potato yields increased from 7-8 t/ha on typical smallholder farms to 12 t/ha. Trials in corn were similarly successful.

Biolevel’s Kenya Business Development Manager, Gabriel Chinembiri, says that irrespective of geography, “So soil analysis recommendations shouldn’t just focus on adding more fertilizers or higher P blends. Instead, they should aim to enhance nitrogen movement and phosphorus solubilization for better plant availability,” says Gabriel. “Biolevel’s biofertilizers improve nutrient accessibility, boosting pest and disease resistance as well as yields, by prioritizing soil biology”.

For more information about Biolevel’s work in Kenya or our products please contact Gabriel Chinembiri +254 718 178866 or via email.

Using soil biology to cycle nutrients effectively for crop use could hold the key to reducing fertilizer requirements and the consequent impact on the environment.

In the fight against climate change, optimizing the use of synthetic fertilizers is a key target for farmers, government and environmentalists. This can be achieved by maintaining yield at reduced fertilizer rates, or by achieving a higher yield at standard fertilizer rates.

The problem with non-organic agricultural fertilizers

Commercial agricultural fertilizers contain high levels of synthetic nitrogen and phosphorus, both of which may have negative impacts on water quality and biodiversity.

While nitrogen is essential for plant growth and ultimately crop yields, synthetic nitrogen fertilizers are a major contributor to climate change. The manufacture of synthetic nitrogen is energy-intensive, resulting in high greenhouse gas emissions while the use of synthetic nitrogen in agriculture emits nitrous oxide – a potent and long-lived greenhouse gas.

Phosphate is essential for plant growth but is a finite resource that is increasingly mined in regions where social concerns are numerous.

The growing interest in bionutrition

Concerns around non-organic fertilizers have resulted in regulatory and public pressure to seek alternatives to synthetic  fertilizer use. For farmers, fertilizers are an expensive input, albeit one with the potential to produce a large return on investment. Synthetic fertilizer application is often inefficient, so the potential to reduce fertilizer use while accessing more efficient application methods offered by biological products represents a major win-win, both for farmers, and for the environment.

Similarly, while it is common for levels of plant-available forms of phosphorus to be below the required values in soils, those same soils hold significant volumes of ‘locked up’ phosphorus bound to calcium, aluminium or iron (depending on the pH value of the soil). By making these huge soil reserves available through the use of biological soil nutrition, there is the potential to reduce the application of phosphorus or increase the efficiency of applied P fertilizer.

However, this is not an easy balance to achieve.

How microbial products could reduce fertilizer use

One solution is to make better use of soil biology. Contained within the billions of different microbes in our soil are species that can help either fix atmospheric nitrogen, or successfully solubilize locked up phosphorus reserves.

Biolevel products contain both these types of microbes, and our trials are demonstrating the potential of using such products for building healthier soils while delivering yield improvements and reducing the quantity of fertilizer growers have to apply.

Biolevel case studies: 

Biolevel University of Florida trial on corn

The University of Florida, sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency, assessed the potential of Biolevel’s MaizeNP to reduce nitrogen fertilizer use. Preliminary findings from the first year of this multi-year study indicated that MaizeNP significantly increases corn yields at all nitrogen levels tested. In 2023, the results showed two benefits for farmers: 

• Achieving higher yields at standard nitrogen rates or maintaining yields with reduced nitrogen levels. Specifically, when MaizeNP was used with a full nitrogen rate of 350 lbs/acre, yields increased by 10.9 bushels per acre.
• Reducing nitrogen from 350 lbs/acre to 280 lbs/acre still yielded 5.7 bushels per acre more with Biolevel than without.

Biolevel trials on wheat and barley

Biolevel’s GramaxNP, a microbial liquid seed coating for small grains like wheat and barley, optimizes nitrogen fertilizer use. Trials by independent research organizations have consistently shown that GramaxNP increases yields beyond full nitrogen rates. After years of success in maintaining yields with 20% less nitrogen, 2024 trials demonstrated that yields can be sustained with a 30% reduction in nitrogen.

By enhancing soil biology to cycle nutrients more effectively, synthetic fertilizer use becomes more efficient, benefiting both yields and the environment.

Biolevel Distributor Certis Belchim showcasing the positive effects of Biolevel GramaxNP on small grains.
Talk to us about how Biolevel’s biological products can help you improve the condition of your soil and increase crop yields with ease and convenience. Call Josh Seeman +1 904 657 0316 or email. Interested in becoming a Biolevel distributor? We’d love to talk to you too!

“This is the story of a simple solution, a way to heal our planet. The solution is right under our feet — and it’s as old as dirt.” – Woody Harrelson in “Kiss The Ground”.

When the Netflix documentary “Kiss The Ground” aired in 2020, soil advocates and regenerative farmers and ranchers received important recognition of their work by Hollywood: Powerful voices telling a global audience the story of our soils, their importance for food production and our climate and the intricate and fascinating story of soil health.

Soils are not an inert medium serving only to grow crops and hold nutrients applied by farmers. Soils are living ecosystems that have a significant impact on climate and our planet’s ability to produce food for a growing population. Soil health is the delicate balance of soil biology, chemistry, and structure, with these elements being closely interconnected.

The state of our soil

Decades of high intensity crop production have taken a toll on our soils. Today, agricultural soils typically lack organic matter, and our soil’s ability to support a diverse microbiology is diminished. The use of inorganic sources of nutrition and the application of pesticides creates a hostile environment for ‘useful’ soil microbes and further degrades soil organic matter. 

Tilling and ridging creates an ecologically young soil with a microflora dominated by a low diversity of hardy bacteria, and few fungi. Such soil is more suitable for growing primary colonising plant species (weeds),not plants we want to grow; secondary colonisers or natural perennials. 

Most managed agricultural soils do not support the complex secondary successional biology we need, so they cannot simply be improved with biostimulants alone,and the short life of the crop cycle, and regular soil disturbance, does not allow time for a suitably diverse biology to develop naturally. 

Improving soil quality

The addition of specific types of biology to soils can bring significant improvements to soil performance, and crop size and quality.

There is no simple universal solution for adding biology. Effective biological soil management requires the strategic use of well-researched, high-quality, stable biological products, preferably in the form of consortia. 

What is a biological consortia?

A microbial consortium or microbial community, is two or more bacterial or microbial groups living symbiotically. In the context of soil biological products, these microbial communities play important roles in ecological systems, including the organic carbon and nitrogen cycles within our soils. Including multiple microbial species in bionutrition products ensures adaptability to diverse conditions and addresses plant nutritional needs holistically. 

How many microbes is too many microbes?

When properly researched and field-tested, biological soil consortia work synergistically to amplify the beneficial effects of soil biology, however large numbers of species in untested combinations can have antagonistic effects with no measurable benefits. 

Historically, many manufacturers have taken a ‘throw as many species into a consortia mix and hope for the best’ approach. Iflucky, this approach can be beneficial, but often species in the mix can act against each other resulting in a net negative result. 

Why choose biolevel biologicals 

Biolevel has a comprehensive understanding of how specific soil microbes work in combination to yield results that are greater than the sum of the individual parts. 

Through years of research, passion and persistence, we have developed a range of convenient, consistent and robust bionutrition solutions designed to reintroduce highly evolved, robust soil biology to agricultural soil, immediately improving nutrient uptake. 

The power of our well-rounded microbial consortia enhances the efficacy of Biolevel products, providing comprehensive plant nutrition.

Our Biolevel products go beyond Nitrogen fixers, incorporating P and K solubilizing microbes, utilizing eight microbial species to drive in-field success.

Advantages of Biolevel biologicals

Bioleve’sl biological soil solutions offer several  key advantages over competitor products: 

• Improved ROI opportunities for farmers
• Biodiverse, multi-stain consortia of beneficial bacteria rather than single or dual-strain.
• Multiple modes of action to generate Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K), rather than simply N. 
• Market-leading convenience, with no refrigeration required, an extended 24-month shelf life and no on-farm mixing or fermenting required.
• Compatibility with existing farm input regimes including crop protection, fertilizer, biostimulant and seed coating inputs.
• Efficacy across all crop types, soil types and environmental conditions
• High volumes of colony-forming units (CFUs) without limiting other inputs
• Large-scale production capacity suitable for broad distribution

Talk to us about how Biolevel’s biological products can help you improve the condition of your soil and increase crop yields with ease and convenience. Call Josh Seeman +1 904 657 0316 or email. Interested in becoming a Biolevel distributor? We’d love to talk to you too!