Lucent Bio introduces slow-release boron fertilizer for sustainable crop production

Lucent Bio, a Canadian agricultural technology firm, has launched Soileos Boron + Zinc, a slow-release granular fertilizer developed to improve the efficiency of boron use in crop production. The product, built on Lucent Bio’s patented cellulose-based delivery system, is intended to reduce boron leaching, improve uptake, and align nutrient availability with crop demand throughout the growing season.

Boron is a critical micronutrient for plant development, but it has posed challenges to growers due to its high solubility and narrow range between deficiency and toxicity. Traditional water-soluble boron fertilizers often leach from soil—especially in sandy or high-rainfall areas—necessitating corrective foliar applications later in the season.

“Soileos Boron + Zinc gives growers a smarter, safer way to manage boron,” said Lucent Bio CEO Michael Riedijk. “It improves nutrient efficiency, simplifies crop nutrition planning, and performs consistently across a range of soil types.”

Applied at seeding, the product uses microbial mineralization to release nutrients steadily into the root zone. According to Lucent Bio, this approach reduces the need for in-season foliar treatments and minimizes environmental losses. The fertilizer can be applied via broadcasting, banding, or in-furrow placement.

Farah Nour, Chief Science Officer at Lucent Bio, said the product was developed specifically to address the long-standing challenges of boron delivery. “Our goal was not just to reformulate boron, but to solve its delivery problem. The microbial release mechanism helps synchronize nutrient availability with crop uptake, supporting both yield and soil health.”

The company reports that Soileos Boron + Zinc has demonstrated consistent results in field trials across diverse soil conditions, including high-pH and sandy soils.

A recent third-party lifecycle assessment found that Lucent Bio’s Soileos fertilizers may sequester up to 2.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per acre. The company positions its new product as a climate-positive input, particularly for oilseed crops such as canola. The fertilizer is aimed at supporting growers’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, as well as Scope 3 emissions targets set by agri-food companies.

Soileos Boron + Zinc is now available for pre-order in the United States.