biodegradable polymers

Our first-of-its kind biodegradable polymer-coated urea is helping support some of the latest advances in more sustainable agriculture.

Throughout history, agriculture has advanced with breakthrough innovations. Sometimes, the benefits they bring can come at a cost. Urea fertilizers, for example, greatly increase yields – but they can be costly for farmers and be washed off the fields, causing environmental pollution.

Controlled-release urea fertilizers can help solve these problems. By encasing fertilizer in polymer coatings, they make possible “precision agriculture”, delivering nutrients to crops exactly where and when they are needed. The potential outcome is less waste, less cost, and lower environmental impact. However, it’s an imperfect solution. When these products use polymers that are not biodegradable, the used coatings can themselves pollute the environment once the fertilizer has done its job.

This is where SABIC saw an opportunity. Working together with manufacturers and farmers, we have pioneered the use of certified biodegradable polymers in controlled-release fertilizers. Crops get precision-targeted nutrients, with reduced impact on the environment. Today, SABIC and our collaborators have developed the design and project engineering needed to transform this new concept into a marketable, world-leading innovation.

The power of collaboration is helping to create the next breakthrough in sustainable agriculture.