Research
and development
Our funding projects
R&D FOR THE FUTURE
Research is our passion – that’s why we continuously develop our products, because only through research innovations can be created.
To be prepared for a sustainable future, we use various funding opportunities to research new and further developments.
HUMIC SUBSTANCES
Development of a novel soil conditioner containing humic substances from plant raw materials and residues
Humic acids – development of an agent for soil improvement. The main active ingredients are said to be humic acids obtained from composted plants.
In this project, SeedForward is researching the effect of humic substances derived from composted residues on plant growth and development.
Sponsors
NBank – Support program for low-threshold innovations in small and medium-sized enterprises and craft enterprises
SEED TREATMENT FOR SOY
Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important crops in feed production and extremely interesting due to its higher protein content and beneficial amino acid pattern compared to other grain legumes.
Advantages of soy for human nutrition have already been recognized and thus soy cultivation for food production is booming worldwide. Therefore it represents an enormous growth market. At the same time, cultivation of soy in our latitudes has been impossible so far or limited for various reasons.
In our feasibility study we want to lay groundwork for a product development for a special seed treatment for soybean, which will simplify its cultivation in temperate latitudes.
Sponsors
“Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand” of the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi)
INNOENDOPHYT
Utilization of innovative endophytic root fungi in seed treatments to strengthen vegetable crops with the aim of increasing plant tolerance against biotic and abiotic stress.
The joint project aims to develop an innovative product to strengthen various crops against pathogens and abiotic stress factors by developing a seed coating containing spores of a root endophytic fungus as well as growth-stimulating substances (biostimulants, signal substances, trace elements, plant extracts) and fertilizers.
In this process, spores of endophytic fungi are applied to the seeds, which enables the penetration of the endophyte and a systemic infection of the plant, which causes desired positive effects, such as increasing growth, yield, rooting, nutrient uptake, biotic and abiotic stress resistance. After development of plant-specific formulations, seed coatings are tested in greenhouse and field trials on cucumber, tomato, chinese and cauliflower, lettuce, spinach and sweet corn.
Sponsors
Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (BMEL)
Project
InnoEndophyt
Partner
Steinbeis Innovation gGmbH
Hochschule Osnabrück
BIONIK
In this project, SeedForward is developing a biological seed pill. The pelleting should consist of several layers, which then break up in the soil after water absorption.
The application of special hydrogels in the pelleting process is intended, on the one hand, to enable seed germination only when sufficient water is available and, on the other hand, to enhance the binding of moisture to the seed so that optimum germination conditions are present even in drier soil conditions.
Sponsors
INTERREG V A Germany Netherlands
Project
Innovations – inspired by nature
Partner
Agathos B.V.
IFP
The aim of this innovation project is to develop an alternative to conventional media and ex-vitro substrate preparations enabling sustainable micropropagation and plant cultivation.
Compared to conventional nutrient media/substrate additives these biological media are composed exclusively of diverse, complex organic and biological components obtained from various plant extracts and natural substances.
Together with our partner Piccoplant, the developed biological media are tested on economically relevant cultures.
Sponsors
NBank, Lower Saxony Innovation Support Program for Research and Development in Companies
Partner
Piccoplant Mikrovermehrungen GmbH