The CTC Technology Centre continues to progress in the development of advanced systems for the controlled release of fertilisers using nanotechnology. With the overarching aim of improving agricultural sustainability and promoting circular-economy-based models, the Advanced Materials and Nanomaterials team has demonstrated that the use of clay nanoparticles and biochar as fertiliser carriers enables a slower, more controlled release of nutrients to plants. This development significantly reduces the environmental impact of traditional agrochemicals, improves nutrient-use efficiency, and supports the transition to more sustainable precision agriculture.
Inmaculada Ortiz, a researcher at CTC, presented these advances, linked to the European project AGRO4AGRI, at the 3Bs Materials Tech conference, an international event held in Lisbon that brings together leading European stakeholders to discuss advances and industrial applications in biomaterials.
In this context, Ortiz explained that results from laboratory-scale trials, both in water and soil, indicate that the use of these porous nanoplatforms enables greater control over the release of the fertilisers they carry. Their effectiveness is due to their high surface area and their porous or layered structure, which enables efficient retention and controlled desorption of agrochemicals. The trials conducted to date indicate that the use of these naturally derived materials does not cause any environmental impact and may even have beneficial effects on plant growth and development.
These findings make it possible to move beyond the traditional model, in which indiscriminate application and the crops’ own absorption rate result in up to two-thirds of fertilisers being wasted. In addition, because the particles are small and have a high specific surface area, a lower amount of active substance is required to achieve the same effect as conventional chemical products, helping minimise leaching and preventing chemicals from seeping into the soil and contaminating water resources.
In addition to presenting a poster on these results, Ortiz delivered a presentation on the use of forest-derived biochar as a nanoplatform for the controlled release of nitrogen-, phosphorus-, and potassium-based fertilisers. Both approaches employ sustainable materials, which, due to their structural and compositional properties, provide additional benefits to the substrate. In this regard, within the AGRO4AGRI project, the combination of these two approaches is currently being evaluated.
Controlled release is a system that enables a slower, more consistent dosage of fertilisers encapsulated within nanoparticles. Thanks to nanotechnology, plants receive a steady supply of nutrients over an extended period, helping prevent nutrient loss and significantly improving the efficiency of nutrient uptake. As a target, AGRO4AGRI has set a controlled-release duration of up to 30 days, compared to conventional fertilisers, which typically release their contents within 4 to 10 days.
AGRO4AGRI
The Horizon Europe AGRO4AGRI project was launched on 28–29 May 2024 in the Valencian town of Paterna. With a 48-month implementation period, the initiative aims to deliver innovative and Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) solutions for plant nutrition and protection, with the goal of reducing agrochemical use in agriculture and minimising their environmental impact.
The project consortium comprises twelve beneficiaries from seven different countries. Coordinated by AINIA (Spain), it includes the participation of the Technological Centre CTC (Spain), the University of Southern Denmark – SDU (Denmark), the Technical University of Denmark – DTU (Denmark), the Cajamar Foundation (Spain), the Hoogstraten Research Centre (Belgium), SIPCAM OXON (Italy), the Vienna Institute for Advanced Studies – IHS (Austria), the Galician company Syspro (Spain), the fertiliser company Mirat, and the international consultancy FI Group (Portugal and Spain). In addition, Optimat (United Kingdom) participates as an associated partner.
The research, supported by €5.3 million in funding from the Horizon Europe Programme, aims to enhance industrial competitiveness and strengthen the EU’s leadership in the agri-food sector. It is no coincidence that the project is fully aligned with current policies and initiatives such as the European Green Deal, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Farm to Fork Strategy and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
