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Jun 13

AQUATROLS Signs Research and Development Agreement with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service

PAULSBORO, N.J. – Aquatrols Corporation of America, the global leader in soil surfactant technology, is pleased to announce a new Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.

This CRADA was put in place to further develop a technology that Aquatrols licensed from Brigham Young University in January 2011. The objective of this strategic partnership is to further advance a surfactant seed coating formulation that is effective in treating soil water repellency and improving seedling establishment in wildland, turfgrass, and agricultural systems.

The agreement has the potential to improve plant establishment in water-repellent soils, a persistent problem for growers worldwide. The merger of seed treatment and surfactant technologies could potentially reduce the cost, time, and amount of seed needed in the agricultural, horticultural, and turfgrass industries.

In addition, the partnership may also offer real solutions to an impeding decline in the overall availability of water. According to the USDA, “drought, climate variability, salinity, and competing demands for water resources could lead to 20% less water available for agriculture and rural and urbanizing communities by 2025.”

“Surfactant seed coating technology has the potential to address this alarming issue by increasing moisture availability within the soil surrounding seeds, leading to a reduction in watering rates,” stated Aquatrols President Tracy Jarman.

The potential for improved moisture availability along with a possible rise in the speed and success of plant establishment may also play a pivotal role in restoring areas affected by severe drought and/or wildfire conditions.

“Improved seed coating technology has the potential to transform the way rangeland is restored. We are in need of new tools to help managers in their restoration efforts,” stated Tony Svejcar, Rangeland Scientist and Research Leader at the Agricultural Research Service.

Although there is plenty of work to be done, there is a sense of optimism among those involved in the partnership. “New seed treatment technologies may dramatically improve seeding success of native species, which currently has a failure rate of over 90%,” predicted Dr. Matt Madsen, Research Ecologist and Inventor with the ARS.

With the CRADA now in place, field evaluations are expected to begin in Fall 2012 in North America, Europe, and Asia.

About Aquatrols

Aquatrols has been the world leader in the development of cutting-edge soil surfactants and other specialty technologies in the professional turf, ornamental, and agricultural industries since 1954. Aquatrols regularly conducts studies with universities, technical organizations, and research institutions around the world to develop new and innovative soil technologies. For more information, visit www.aquatrols.com.

About the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the USDA’s chief in-house research agency.  The ARS conducts research to develop and transfer solutions to agricultural problems that Americans face every day. The service conducts over 800 research projects in more than 90 locations worldwide. For more information, visit www.ars.usda.gov.

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Aquatrols

About The Author

More than 60 years ago, Aquatrols introduced the world’s first commercially available soil wetting agent. Since creating an entirely new product category to address water management challenges and opportunities, the company has remained a top innovator and producer of high-performance soil surfactants and related technologies. Aquatrols’ advanced product suite optimizes soil-water-plant interactions in agricultural, professional turfgrass, and horticultural industries in more than 40 countries. Headquartered in southern New Jersey, Aquatrols also has offices in the United Kingdom and conducts business on six continents.

6 Comments

  1. […] are looking for new ways to conserve. New technologies are being developed to help stem the tide. Surfactant seed coating is just one way we’re planning for the future. But we can’t do it […]

  2. […] Revolution, Aquatrols continues to lead the way in advancing surfactant technology and consistently works with other organizations to develop new, water-saving techniques. As we pause to look back, we are sure that Mr. Moore would […]

  3. […] seedling germination and establishment in water repellent soils. You may recall that Aquatrols signed a recent CRADA to further develop surfactant seed coating […]

  4. […] collaboration between Aquatrols and Dr. Madsen is the result of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement the company and the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service signed last year that is intended to […]

  5. […] Seed Enhancement Technology. He has worked closely with Aquatrols since 2012 when the company first signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the ARS to explore the effects of surfactant […]

  6. […] three-year agreement renews a CRADA that Aquatrols first signed with the ARS in 2012. The original partnership has resulted in promising field and greenhouse trials, pending patents, […]