Sollio Agriculture inaugurates new fertilizer coating plant

Sollio Agriculture, the agri-business division of Sollio Cooperative Group, inaugurated CRF Agritech, a new controlled-release fertilizer production plant in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada.

The project was launched in 2021, after Sollio Agriculture entered a joint venture with several of its cooperatives in Québec, its Agromart retail partners in Ontario and the Maritimes, and Pursell, a fertilizer technology manufacturer based in Alabama, US.

At present, CRF Agritech is the sole plant in Canada able to manufacture controlled-release custom fertilizer formulations using Pursell’s unique coating technology. With an area of 25,800 square feet, the new controlled-release fertilizer production plant required an investment of over CDN$25 million.

It manufactures next-generation controlled-release fertilizer, including PurYield, for farmers across all Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States. It will also be able to produce other coated fertilizer for uses other than agricultural. At full capacity, the plant will manufacture over 100,000 tonnes annually.

“The strategic location of CRF Agritech will provide for reliable supply in Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States and reduce freight expenses for our customers,” said Casper Kaastra, CEO, Sollio Agriculture. “This strategic partnership between Pursell and the Sollio Agriculture network allows us to expand the potential market for this technology and support nutrient management initiatives associated with the use of fertilizer products. PurYield is an exciting addition to our portfolio, providing substantial benefit to farmers across the region.”

According to Mike Pastir, general manager, CRF Agritech, the collaboration with Pursell promotes skills development and knowledge transfer, “not only across our retail and cooperative networks, but also in the agricultural community. Through innovative coating technology and local fertilizer manufacturing, we expect large-scale adoption in the innovative agricultural product market, such as PurYield, given its agronomic and environmental benefits. We’re proud to be established in the very region where farmers use these products, but also to be committed to sustainable agriculture.”

Studies with McGill University

In July, Sollio Agriculture announced a major research project with McGill University. The aim of the study is to validate the agronomic and environmental benefits of PurYield, a coated fertilizer known to enhance nutrient uptake by plants. Initial studies showed that the use of PurYield could potentially reduce GHG emissions by 30 percent, while increasing field yield. Researchers are currently validating this data.

Find out more about CRFs in New AG International’s e-book on Slow- Controlled-Release and Stabilized Fertilizers, here.

Read our exclusive interview with Taylor Pursell, here.