Source: ASMARK, 9/1/20
 
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have announced the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges, a joint EPA-USDA partnership and competition to advance agricultural sustainability in the United States.  The competition includes two challenges that seek proposals for new and existing fertilizer technologies to maintain or improve crop yields while reducing the impacts of fertilizers on the environment.  "The shared goal here is to accelerate the development of next generation fertilizers for corn production that can either maintain or increase crop yields while reducing environmental impacts to our air, land and water," said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.  Along with EPA and USDA, the competition is coordinated with The Fertilizer Institute, the International Fertilizer Development Center, the National Corn Growers Association and The Nature Conservancy.

The first challenge aims to identify existing Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers (EEFs) that meet or exceed certain environmental and agro-economic criteria.  EEF is a term for new formulations that control fertilizer release or alter reactions that reduce nutrient losses to the environment.  This challenge will not have a monetary prize, but winners will receive scientific evaluation of their product and recognition from EPA, USDA and other collaborators.  The second challenge aims to generate new concepts for novel technologies that can help address environmental concerns surrounding agriculture practices while maintaining or increasing crop yields.  A panel of expert judges will review the submissions.  Each winner will receive at least $10,000.  Registrants must submit their entries by October 30, 2020 for the first challenge, and by November 30, 2020 for the second challenge.  Winners will be announced in the winter of 2021.