An innovative fertilizer coating plant was officially opened Monday morning in St. Thomas.
Located on the site of sister operation Agrico Canada on Edward Street, the CRF Agritech facility is a division of Quebec-based Sollio Agriculture.
The plant was built at a cost of over $20 million, something Sollio CEO Casper Kaastra described as “a long-term investment in St. Thomas.”
CRF Agritech GM Mike Pastir outlines what the new facility brings to the table.
Among other products, the plant will produce PurYield fertilizer for corn growers in Ontario and Quebec. Sollio notes these provinces produce 92 per cent of Canada’s grain corn.
Pastir explains the impact PurYield will have on agriculture.
Two years ago this month, Sollio announced the investment in the plant to produce previously unavailable controlled-release fertilizers to eastern Canada and the northeastern U.S.
Kaastra stresses the significance of the St. Thomas operation.
Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stressed “Ontario farmers need to access a complete and effective tool box when it comes to the planting, growing and harvesting of good quality crops and food across the province.
The St. Thomas facility has an area of 25,800 sq. feet and at full capacity will manufacture over 100,000 tonnes annually.
A coating is applied to the fertilizer with the ability to add micronutrients and biostimulants, which provide gradual nutrient release in the soil that is time according to individual crop needs.
The plant will also be able to produce other coated fertilizer for uses other than agricultural.
In July of this year, 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 . . . Initial studies showed that the use of PurYield could potentially reduce GHG emissions by 30 per cent, while increasing field yield.
Researchers are currently validating this data.
