Global overview
International patent activity targeting North America and Europe
The data collected from 23,736 international patent families in the Soil and fertilizer management sub-domain reveals a moderate CAGR of +5.6% from 2017 to 2021, as illustrated in Figure 2.22. This indicates a growing interest in the topic.
North America leads in patent filings among all continents, with the United States contributing 13,612 patents and Canada adding 5,854 patents. Europe comes in second place with a total of 11,358 patents, with Germany contributing 4,218 patents and Spain adding 1,757 patents. Asia follows closely behind, with China contributing 7,464 patents, Japan adding 4,613 patents, and India contributing 2,510 patents.
From a growth perspective, patents filed in Brazil, Argentina and India have exhibited significant growth, with CAGRs of 15.0%, 12.8%, and 11.4% from 2017 to 2021, respectively. This trend reflects the increasing interest in these countries as key markets for global AgriTech innovation. Concurrently, the CAGRs from 2017 to 2021 of international patent filings in Australia, Japan, China, the Republic of Korea, Europe (EPO), the United States and Canada also demonstrate a positive growth trajectory, with CAGRs ranging between 5% and 10% during the same period (Figure 3.1).
It is also important to mention that non-international patent families were not included in this analysis, which ultimately lowers the impact of regional jurisdictions from Asia.
Inventive regions
Innovation equally originates from Asia, North America and Europe
The United States leads as the primary R&D location for Soil and fertilizer management, with a total of 7,565 international patent families, followed by Germany with 3,352 patents, Japan with 2,642 patents, and China with 2,213 patents as shown in Figure 3.2.
Significant growth in this field is being seen in Asia, with India experiencing a CAGR of +28.5% from 2017 to 2021, and China with a CAGR of +17.7% during the same period. Latin America and the Caribbean is also seeing rapid growth, with Brazil showing a CAGR of +28.1% from 2017 to 2021. Dynamics of international patent filing in Europe and North America are generally steady, with an average CAGR for 2017 to 2021 for top 5 jurisdictions in Europe of +2.7%, while the average CAGR for 2017 to 2021 for both the United States and Canada is +4.7%.
North America
Innovation in the United States is supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which collaborates with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to share and apply space-based measurements of soil moisture to strengthen predictions of agricultural and climate trends and support research on the carbon cycle. The United States is also supporting, with investments of US$330 million, 85 locally driven, public–private partnerships to address climate change, improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability.
Europe
Europe supports partner locations to reduce their dependency on imported mineral fertilizers by investing in efficiency of use, alternative green and organic fertilizers, and sustainable agricultural practices and soil fertility management (e.g. agro-ecology), as highlighted in the Communication on fertilizers (1)European Commission. Food security: availability and affordability of fertilisers. (https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_6564). published on November 9, 2022. Moreover, the Soil Strategy for 2030 and the announcement to propose a Soil Health Law aims to tackle the problem of continuing and aggravating soil degradation in the Europe and presents healthy soil as an important solution for biodiversity and climate crises as well as to prevent fresh- and seawater degradation, but also for other societal challenges such as food security and safety.
The new strategy sets the vision that by 2050 all soils should be healthy and resilient in Europe, which will require decisive changes.
Additional regional actions in the United Kingdom can be cited (2)National Pathways Analysis Dashboard | UN Food Systems Coordination Hub (https://www.unfoodsystemshub.org/member-state-dialogue/national-pathways-analysis-dashboard/es). : in order to meet the net zero carbon emissions target by 2050 and enhance soil health, there is a need to recycle nutrients more in the future. The United Kingdom is modernizing its domestic policy for fertilizer regulation which will be informed by expert analysis of existing policy, alongside up-to-date technical and scientific evidence on fertilizers and nutrient management. It is engaging with sector sounding boards, including industry representatives and other key stakeholders, to ensure its recommendations have practical merit.
Asia
In Asia, Malaysia promotes the adoption of technology, R&D and creative methods to help food producers better manage farm activities, minimize reliance on manual labor, promote natural resource conservation and adapt to climate change effects. These elements will improve the plant and animal stock, as well as the soil. The Republic of Korea will develop technologies to prevent the erosion of highland field topsoil and expand sewage treatment facilities to protect water designated for aquaculture. (3)National Pathways Analysis Dashboard | UN Food Systems Coordination Hub (https://www.unfoodsystemshub.org/member-state-dialogue/national-pathways-analysis-dashboard/es).
Africa
In Africa a large number of initiatives promotes sustainable soil management, as well as water and biodiversity management practices. (4)National Pathways Analysis Dashboard | UN Food Systems Coordination Hub (https://www.unfoodsystemshub.org/member-state-dialogue/national-pathways-analysis-dashboard/es). Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sudan adopt practices to restore, protect and manage natural resources in a sustainable manner: soil conservation and appropriate water harvesting.
Namibia, as a dry location, promotes regenerative agricultural practices and microorganisms build-up to ensure soil fertility, moisture retention and carbon storing, to reverse biodiversity loss, halt bush encroachment, improve pastures and encourage restoration of the ecosystem to unlock ecosystem benefits. For a dry climate, it is commendable that some beneficial microbes have been identified in opening prospects for inoculant technology or biofertilizers which can substitute synthetic nitrogen-based fertilizers. The use of nature-based solutions which are environmentally friendly can greatly support organic farming and contribute to nutritious, safe foods. Due to high variability, these solutions/strategies need to be tailored per agro-ecology and consider environmental variations (soils, water, temperature) for adaptation. (5)National Pathways Analysis Dashboard | UN Food Systems Coordination Hub (https://www.unfoodsystemshub.org/member-state-dialogue/national-pathways-analysis-dashboard/es).
In Algeria, initiatives have been carried out by the Trait d'Union association with a panel of farmers, and technical and research institutes, around direct seeding, in order to maintain soil moisture, sometimes avoid erosion, sequester carbon and thus limit GHG emissions. (6)National Pathways Analysis Dashboard | UN Food Systems Coordination Hub (https://www.unfoodsystemshub.org/member-state-dialogue/national-pathways-analysis-dashboard/es).
Zambia promotes the use of efficient agroforestry and aquaculture techniques, as well as sustainable soil management, crop rotation, integrated fish farming and diversification among small-scale farmers. (7)National Pathways Analysis Dashboard | UN Food Systems Coordination Hub (https://www.unfoodsystemshub.org/member-state-dialogue/national-pathways-analysis-dashboard/es).
Zimbabwe expands the Government of Zimbabwe-led policy action to support adoption of climate-smart and/or conservation agriculture to safeguard food security and nutrition of farmers. Conservation agriculture protects the soil and the environment through ensuring sustainable soil and water management and irrigation, in the different agro-ecological zones. (8)National Pathways Analysis Dashboard | UN Food Systems Coordination Hub (https://www.unfoodsystemshub.org/member-state-dialogue/national-pathways-analysis-dashboard/es).
Top players
Worldwide manufacturers of agricultural machinery leading the domain
Considering the top 50 players in Soil and fertilizer management , industrial actors largely dominate the segment by 97% compared to academic ones. The majority of top players in the industry are primarily from Germany, making up 33% of the total, followed closely by Japan at 23%. A more focused examination of the top 10 players shows that these companies collectively hold ownership of 18% of the international patent families. These top players consist of manufacturers of agricultural machinery such as Deere, CNH Industrial and Kubota, as well as German chemical companies such as BASF and Bayer (Figure 3.3).
Despite a low number of companies from the United States in this top actor (13%), Deere emerges as the main the contributor to patents on soil working. It holds patents covering agricultural machines, including tractors, seeding machines, sprayers and autonomous steering solutions. Deere exhibits a strong and diversified portfolio with worldwide extensions. AGCO and Caterpillar are the other United States-based key players developing machines for soil working, sowing and planting.
CNH Industrial is the only actor from the United Kingdom with this ranking. Formerly Fiat industrial, CNH covers agricultural machines for tillage, seeding, planting and fertilizer distributors, as well as sensors for soil monitoring. Despite a high number of patents with worldwide extensions in diversified aeras, CNH Industrial’s portfolio is less impactful with a lower number of non-self forward citations compared to Deere.
Kubota is part of a list of Japanese manufacturers of engines and agricultural machines covering the field, including Yanmar, Honda Motor, Iseki and Toyota Motor. They all focus their development on a large set of solutions dedicated to the automated steering of tractors and automated guidance using satellites. If Kubota, Yanmar and Iseki mostly innovates into seedling and transplanting machines, Honda shows a large patent portfolio dedicated to mowers, and Toyota Motor to electric power-driven machines. Asian top companies majorly protect their innovations within Asian jurisdictions (China, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea), the United States and Europe, with additional few extensions in national phases.
Amazonen-Werke H Dreyer is a manufacturer of agricultural machines from Germany. This company has huge expertise in seeding and fertilizing apparatus, notably liquid sprayers with a diversified portfolio on these areas. Major German companies in this field have already developed technologies for autonomous steering of agricultural machines. One of them, Horsch Holding, shares the same profile to a lesser extent. Other German top companies, (including CLAAS, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Lemken, Horsch, Pottinger, Rauch Landmaschinenfabrik and Zeppelin Stiftung) show an extensive portfolio dedicated to lifting solutions as well as seeding and planting. German top companies largely favor United States and Europe protection compared to Asia (China, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea).
BASF and Bayer are two German chemical and agrochemical companies. BASF shows an extensive expertise in fertilizer and additive formulation supporting crop growth. Together with Bayer, BASF is also a leader in biocides (pesticides, insecticides, fungicides), crop preservatives and plant growth regulators.
Within the non-industrial players, only Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences emerges as a unique leader, with patents dedicated to the formulation of fertilizers, some of them containing agricultural microorganisms enhancing nitrogen fixation, and distribution devices.
Emerging technologies: autonomous guidance and fertilizer formulations
Autonomous guidance and fertilizer formulations leading technology trends in Soil and fertilizer management, driven by major agricultural and chemical companies
Global ranking of International Patent Classification (IPC) subclasses was achieved regarding the total number of international patent families. The variation in number of documents over 2017 to 2021 was computed to identify emerging technologies (Figure 3.4).
Innovations in Soil and fertilizer management can be classified in two main categories encompassing high volumes of international patent families:
The first one is related to agriculture in general, including soil working (A01B), Horticulture (A01G), Planting (A01C), harvesting (A01D), and Biocides (A01N).
The second domain highly represented by innovation volume is the one related to fertilizers, including mixtures (C05G), organic (C05F) and inorganic (C05D) ones.
According to the selection criteria described above, 16 fast-growing IPC subclasses (CAGR2017–2021 > 15%), corresponding to high tech applications, were chosen for in-depth analysis. For statistical relevancy, we choose to only consider subclasses encompassing up to 100 international patent families.
Two main trends can be extracted from this list of IPC subclasses:
Autonomous guidance of agricultural machines, using image recognition technics (G06V), image processing (G01B, G05B, G06N, G06T) and information communication technologies (G06Q, H04W)
Fertilizer formulations (C01C, C04B, C07C, C08G), comprising microorganisms (C12N, C12R).
Top players show a clear segregation regarding groups of IPC subclasses (Figure 3.5):
Deere, CNH Industrial, Climate, Kubota, AGCO, CLAAS, Yanmar Holdings are all well-known agricultural machinery and equipment manufacturers, and they mostly filed patents related to autonomous guidance of agricultural machines.
BASF, Locus Solutions IPCo and Yara International are companies in the chemical and fertilizer sectors. They are key players having a high impact on fertilizer formulation.
Publication Number: DE102023103252
Applicant: Escarda Technologies GmbH
Application Date: 10.02.2023
This patent related to a laser-based weed control module with image recognition technology. A laser-based weed control module for agricultural areas uses image recognition, laser technology and AI to selectively target and eliminate weed plants while preserving useful plants. The technology offers an environmentally friendly and chemical-free approach to weed control, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness. The technology provides a simple, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly weed control solution.
Deep dive: bacteria
Bacteria is the vital component of microorganism-enriched fertilizers
Semantic analysis of the top redundant concepts in the Orbit database has isolated “Bacteria” as a notion of interest. Thanks to their ability to convert nitrogen gas to ammonia, bacteria can not only provide nutrients that plants need, but also help regenerate soil to ultimately enhance yield and quality of agricultural products (Figure 3.8).
Notably Bacillus subtilis is the most popular microbial fertilizer in market, boosting plant growth in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner: (1) It enhances the uptake of essential nutrients by plants, for example by solubilizing phosphorus; (2) It also produces antimicrobial compounds that can help suppress soil-borne pathogens and reduce the risk of plant diseases; (3) It produces enzymes that help break down organic matter in the soil, resulting in improved soil structure and increased water retention, leading for better root development. Currently, there are 137 international patent families involving Bacillus subtilis. This number far exceeds that of other types of bacteria.
The bacteria belonging to the second tier in terms of the number of related patents include Bacillus megaterium (54 international patent families), Streptomyces (54 international patent families), Azospirillum (47 international patent families), and Paenibacillus (45 international patent families).
Bacillus megaterium, a beneficial soil bacterium, has the remarkable ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, solubilize phosphorus and produce plant growth-promoting hormones. This microbial fertilizer can significantly improve soil fertility, leading to an increase in crop yields and enhanced plant health. With its multiple benefits for soil and plant health, Bacillus megaterium stands out as a valuable tool for sustainable agriculture practices.
Streptomyces is renowned for its capacity to synthesize a diverse array of bioactive compounds with beneficial effects on plants. These compounds play a crucial role in promoting plant growth and bolstering defense mechanisms against harmful pathogens. As a microbial fertilizer, Streptomyces has been shown to significantly enhance nutrient absorption, enhance soil quality by improving its structure and boost plants' resistance to various diseases, making it a valuable tool for sustainable agriculture.
Azospirillum, a nitrogen-fixing bacterium, has the capability to improve the growth of nitrogen-demanding crops. Serving as a microbial fertilizer, Azospirillum has been shown to boost nitrogen availability in the soil, enhance plant nutrient absorption and stimulate root growth. These benefits make Azospirillum a valuable tool for farmers looking to optimize crop production and improve overall plant health.
Paenibacillus is a versatile soil bacterium that can promote plant growth, suppress plant pathogens and improve soil fertility. As a microbial fertilizer, Paenibacillus can increase nutrient availability, enhance plant resilience and boost crop productivity.
In addition to the above-named bacteria:
Pseudomonas fluorescens is a beneficial soil bacterium that can suppress plant diseases, degrade organic pollutants and improve nutrient cycling. Pseudomonas fluorescens can enhance plant health, increase soil fertility and promote sustainable agriculture practices.
Arthrobacter, a soil bacterium, has the capability to break down organic matter, enhance soil structure and improve nutrient cycling. Serving as a microbial fertilizer, Arthrobacter has been shown to boost nutrient availability while also promoting soil health and supporting plant growth.
Pseudomonas putida is a versatile soil bacterium that can degrade toxic compounds, promote plant growth and enhance nutrient cycling. Pseudomonas putida can improve soil quality, increase crop yields and support sustainable agriculture practices.
Bradyrhizobium, a nitrogen-fixing bacterium, establishes symbiotic relationships with leguminous plants, ultimately benefiting agriculture in a sustainable way.
Bacillus cereus is a soil bacterium that can promote plant growth, suppress plant pathogens and improve soil fertility. As a microbial fertilizer, Bacillus cereus can enhance nutrient uptake, increase resistance to diseases and support sustainable agriculture practices.
Andes AG, Inc. leverages innovative microbial technology, employing genetically engineered microorganisms to symbiotically interact with plants to sequester carbon and other nutrients in the soil, thereby improving agricultural productivity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These microorganisms effectively remove CO₂ from the atmosphere and convert it into soil minerals. The carefully designed and selected microorganisms grow around crop seeds (such as corn and wheat), working symbiotically with plant roots to convert CO₂ into bicarbonate and carbonate. By applying these microorganisms to soil along with seeds, Andes’ technology transforms agricultural fields into carbon sinks while supporting food production. The accumulation of minerals in the soil also offers several benefits, including improved drainage, increased nutrient content, reduced plant diseases and stabilized soil organic matter. (9)Green Technology Book: Solutions for climate change mitigation, WIPO (www.wipo.int/green-technology-book-mitigation/en/).
The related patent WO2022/087289 describes methods and compositions utilizing microorganisms associated with plant seeds to produce bicarbonate, carbonate or other minerals. This patent provides detailed methods for introducing microorganisms into plant seeds, selecting specific microorganisms to promote CO₂ fixation and mineralization. These microorganisms can be located between the coating and cell layers of plant seeds, playing a role during seed germination and plant growth. The patent also emphasizes the stability of these microorganisms under various environmental conditions and their compatibility with traditional agricultural distribution chains, making them highly efficient and practical for real-world applications.
Another patent, US20230322641, involves the use of the Microprime™ seed treatment method to introduce microorganisms into plant seeds. This method involves contacting seeds with a solution containing specific bacteria and incubating them under appropriate conditions to successfully incorporate the bacteria into the seeds, particularly between the seed coat and the embryo. These microorganisms effectively sequester CO₂ during plant growth, converting it into beneficial carbonates and minerals, thereby enhancing soil carbon storage capacity.
Through these patents and technologies, Andes not only provides environmentally friendly and sustainable solutions for agricultural production but also optimizes CO₂ fixation and conversion, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. These innovations significantly improve soil quality, promote healthy plant growth and offer farmers efficient and eco-friendly agricultural techniques.