What if waste wasn’t waste at all? That question led two Iowa companies—Ajinomoto and Valent BioSciences—to partner with Iowa State University to test whether industrial byproducts from their manufacturing
operations could serve as effective alternatives to commercial fertilizers.
Through the CIRAS Technology Assistance Program (TAP), CIRAS co-invested state appropriations with the companies to collaborate with Iowa State agronomy and agricultural and biosystems engineering faculty to study the agronomic value of their byproducts. Field trials were conducted at Iowa State research farms in Boone and near Osage over multiple growing seasons.
Ajinomoto, which manufactures a high-value Omega-3 oil in Eddyville, needed to determine whether a new fermentation byproduct could replace synthetic fertilizer. Iowa State agronomy faculty, led by Assistant Professor Richard Roth, conducted a field trial that showed the product provided adequate nitrogen and improved soil sulfur levels—without harming plant health or grain quality. The results from this trial demonstrated the agronomic value of the byproduct as a replacement for synthetic fertilizers.
“This application completes a biocycle wherein byproducts are returned to the soil from which our raw materials are sourced. The findings give us confidence that our byproduct can be part of a more sustainable and profitable process,” said Paul Summer, associate director of new product development at Ajinomoto. “Working with Iowa State gave us credible, science-backed data to move forward.”
“This project demonstrates how science can support sustainable agriculture and help Iowa companies use local resources more efficiently,” said Brian Muff, CIRAS project manager. “It’s a win for the environment and for the regional economy.”
Valent BioSciences, a global leader in microbial products, had been giving away a similar byproduct from its Osage facility. A three-year study led by Associate Professor Daniel Andersen from agricultural and biosystems engineering proved the product’s value as a fertilizer. The collaboration included undergraduate students and demonstrated potential cost savings of up to $400,000 annually.
“We’ve always known our byproduct had potential, but this partnership with Iowa State gave us the evidence to prove its value,” said Dan Shirley, maintenance manager at Valent BioSciences. “Now, instead of giving it away, we can offer it as a viable input for farmers.”
“We demonstrated that this byproduct was capable of supplying crop nitrogen, and typically improved crop performance into the next year, offering real, measurable agronomic value,” said Andersen. “I’m excited about this work as it demonstrated a chance for companies to change how they might think about byproducts from their bioprocessing process, and it demonstrated we can continue to innovate on how we make Iowa agriculture circular and sustainable.”
“We enjoy making the connections where faculty can use their science in practice while making companies better,” said Muff.
Contact Brian Muff at bmuff@iastate.edu to learn more.