Lucent BioSciences develops biodegradable fertilizer coating that could improve nitrogen efficiency while reducing environmental impacts.
A Canadian agricultural technology company is taking aim at two of agriculture's most pressing environmental challenges with a new fertilizer innovation designed to improve nitrogen efficiency while eliminating microplastics from crop production.
Burnaby, B.C.-based Lucent BioSciences has developed a biodegradable coating technology for controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers that could help farmers reduce fertilizer use, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve nutrient management.
The Government of Canada announced on September 16 that it will invest up to $1.98 million in the project through the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program's Research and Innovation Stream.
The company's approach addresses a growing concern within agriculture and environmental circles. Many controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers currently rely on polymer coatings that can leave behind microplastic residues in soil. Lucent Bio's alternative uses a biodegradable coating made from surplus starch fertilizer materials, creating a product intended to deliver the agronomic benefits of controlled-release fertilizers without the long-term environmental footprint associated with microplastics.
According to the company and federal officials, the technology is engineered to release nitrogen closer to the period when crops need it most during their growth cycle. Improved nutrient timing can increase fertilizer efficiency and reduce nitrogen losses to the environment, potentially decreasing greenhouse gas emissions linked to fertilizer use.
Farmers may also benefit from lower fertilizer requirements and reduced input costs if the technology performs as expected in commercial applications.
The investment of up to $1,976,150 will support continued development of the technology as Lucent BioSciences works toward bringing the innovation closer to widespread agricultural use. The project aligns with federal efforts to accelerate adoption of clean technologies across Canada's agricultural sector while helping producers remain competitive in a changing marketplace.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald said innovations such as Lucent BioScience's fertilizer technology demonstrate how Canadian companies are developing practical solutions that can strengthen sustainability and resilience in agriculture. He noted that improving nitrogen efficiency while reducing fertilizer use and emissions could help producers reduce costs and environmental impacts at the same time.
Terry Beech, Member of Parliament for Burnaby North-Seymour, highlighted the economic and environmental opportunities associated with agricultural innovation. He said the tools being developed in Burnaby have the potential to benefit farmers across Canada by improving efficiency and supporting environmentally responsible production practices.
Lucent BioSciences co-founder and Chief Science Officer Farah Nour said the federal funding will help accelerate development of the company's biodegradable biopolymer technology for controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers. She noted the goal is to help growers obtain greater value from the nitrogen they apply while reducing nutrient losses to the environment and advancing a Canadian-developed solution for farmers.
This is not the first federal investment in the technology. In 2022, Lucent Bio received up to $1.33 million through the ACT Program's Research and Innovation Stream to develop the technology for use on seeds, resulting in a product now known as Nutreos. The latest funding expands the company's work into controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers, representing another step toward reducing agriculture's dependence on conventional fertilizer technologies.
The project brings together several research and industry partners, including A&L Canada Laboratories, Bureau Veritas Canada, Simon Fraser University's Chemistry Department, and 4D LABs. Their involvement reflects the increasingly collaborative nature of agricultural innovation as companies, researchers, and governments seek solutions that balance productivity with environmental stewardship.
If successful, Lucent Bio's biodegradable coating technology could provide Canadian farmers with a new tool for maintaining crop productivity while reducing agriculture's environmental footprint.
“Federal government funding gives Lucent Bio the opportunity to take the technology we have been developing and move it into a new area with significant potential in agriculture," said Nour. "We’re applying our biodegradable biopolymer technology to controlled-release nitrogen to help growers get more value from the nitrogen they apply while reducing nutrient losses to the environment."