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Biostimulant Brand Seeks Partnership With Regenerative Farmers

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A seaweed-based biostimulant brand is looking to work with regenerative farmers following a wave of interest from the sector at the start of the year.

Marcus Palmer, the UK importer and distributor of Algifol, wants to establish field trials with regenerative farmers in 2023.

The move follows a rise in enquiries from farmers saying they want to apply biostimulants as part of their regenerative techniques.

“We had several phone calls and emails in January from farmers wanting further information about Algifol and its benefits as part of a sustainable approach to agriculture,” says Marcus. “Algifol is produced by Neomed Pharma in Germany, and they have undertaken a considerable amount of research around the world to document its positive effect on a wide range of crops. One area they are yet to look into is regenerative farming within the UK, so we decided to take this on.

“We’d like to hear from regenerative farmers who are willing to apply Algifol to their crops and work with us to gauge its effect. We will supply the Algifol they need free of charge, so there’s nothing to lose.”

Algifol is derived from brown algae, which is dried and refined. The result is an entirely natural liquid boasting a wealth of trace elements, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, polyuronides and growth-regulating plant hormones.

Neomed Pharma says Algifol is also a natural nitrogen source due to the high presence of amino acids and peptides. This makes Algifol ideal for combined use with reduced amounts of N fertiliser. When used with a reduced amount of fertiliser, Algifol naturally improves the nitrogen use efficiency of the crop, producing a better yield and reducing the use of costly fertilisers.

Sales of Algifol increased by 33% in 2022, fuelled partly by the rising cost of fertilisers and partly by a growing number of farmers looking for natural ways to boost their crops’ resistance to extreme weather conditions and increase yield and quality.

Algifol is available in one litre (£21.99+VAT) and 10-litre cans directly from Marcus via his website – www.mjpsupplies.co.uk. Discounts are available for larger quantities which can be supplied to both growers and agrochemical companies for inclusion in their fertiliser and biostimulant blends.

Regenerative farmers interested in partnering with Marcus should email [email protected] or call 07702 293 727.

HOW CAN RAINWATER TANKS HELP WITH WATER CONSERVATION?

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water-conservation

What Is Rainwater Harvesting?

Rainwater harvesting systems collect the runoff from rainwater from roofs so that it can be filtered and used. The systems are not usually intended to produce drinking water. Instead, they are used to provide water for watering gardens, flushing toilets, and operating washing machines in homes, and process water and irrigation resources in industry and agriculture. In an approach that saves both money and resources, harvesting rainwater means valuable and increasingly scarce mains water can be saved for drinking, bathing, and making cups of tea.

What Are The Main Ecological Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting?

Mains water is expensive and energy-intensive to produce, recycle and treat. The water must be filtered through multiple treatment facilities before it is tested, stored, and finally transported via infrastructure that requires constant maintenance. This process is lengthy, and in a staggering 35% of cases results in the water being flushed down a toilet. Rainwater harvesting can be used to replace mains water for flushing and cleaning equipment, acting as a relatively effortless and highly cost-effective recycling solution.

How Else Does Rainwater Harvesting Benefit The Environment?

Excess rain can cause significant damage, especially in built-up areas. Over-development removes soil and other natural drainage solutions, so heavy rainfall can easily lead to major flooding events – as it increasingly does in the UK every winter. When rainwater is collected and used, the risk of damage from overflowing sewers and run-off is mitigated. Many high-risk towns are now implementing large-scale rainwater harvesting as part of their flood-defence systems, a strategy that has been backed by scientific research.

Are Rainwater Conservation Tanks Safe?

There are two safety concerns with rainwater harvesting: the rainwater itself, and the storage tanks used to collect it. Rainwater harvesting systems collect water that runs off the roofs of buildings. As such, the first phase of collection will contain debris and other contaminants leached from the air, including car exhaust particles.

Commercial and agricultural systems are designed to safely flush the first runoff and include advanced filtration units to ensure that the rest of the collection is clean. Rainwater tanks are made from UV safe plastics that reduce the risk of any biomatter from developing into a hazard, and easy cleaning ensures that maintenance is straightforward. Additionally, the valve systems prevent rainwater from mixing with mains water, so cross-contamination is impossible. Therefore, rainwater conservation represents one of the safest methods of ecological water management.

Can I Install a Rainwater Conservation Tank On My Site?

Unless the roof is completely flat, rainwater harvesting is possible. There are three main types of system: direct pumped, indirect pumped, and indirect gravity. Each of these are appropriate for different building designs and application requirements. For instance, using conserved water to flush a toilet requires less pressure than the demands of an industrial washing machine, so gravity is often sufficient. Rainwater harvesting systems can be aided by pumps to increase the water pressure, so when opting for the approach always check with an experienced provider to ensure that the system is optimised for purpose.

Find Out More

Water conservation can reduce costs and improve efficiency whilst benefitting the environment. The quality of the rainwater harvesting system makes a difference to quality, safety, and convenience, so for expert advice get in touch with MJP Supplies today, and ask about our range of durable fluid management products.