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The Daily FT met with Bioflim fertiliser Key Researcher and IFS Research Professor Prof. Gamini Seneviratne and Lanka Bio Fertilizers Director Operations Samuditha Kumarasinghe to discuss the research and benefits of Biofilm-T. Following are excerpts of the interview:
By Cheranka Mendis
Q: What exactly is Biofilm?
Prof. Seneviratne: Research on Biofilm started in 2002. When we were doing research we found that the microbes – funga and bacteria – form surface attached communities called Biofilms. In nature also there are such communities but this is at a very low density. What we did was to develop that process to culture such communities in the laboratory. That was the invention.
Q: How long was it researched for?
Prof. Seneviratne: We were engaged in this from 2002. Between then and 2005 we were studying the effectiveness of the communities and properties and potential. During that period we discovered that Biofilms can fix atmospheric nitrogen and that they release a wide-range of organic acids which helps solubilise phosphorus which the plants can then take. Also, it creates growth hormones so the growth rate of plants can increase as well. Those compounds help suppress diseases and pests in agriculture and plantation. These were our main observations at that time.
When we discovered these features we realised Biofilms can be used in agriculture and plantations. Then from 2005 onwards we started testing this with tea cultivation in collaboration with Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka. There we tested this in nursery tea culture and tea estates. The test of this product happened in all tea growing regions of the country – low country, mid country, up country and also Uva highlands. We found out that these bio fertilisers can reduce chemical fertiliser use by 50% MPK.
In addition we are conducting other studies in other crops such as mace, vegetables, rice, etc. There also we found that, especially vegetables, depending on the soil condition you can even completely remove the use of chemical fertilisers. Other places, we can cut down fertiliser by 50%.
Q: Is this concept the first of its kind?
Prof. Seneviratne: This concept is the first in the world. People have been using conventional bio-fertilisers but they are mainly based on single micro-organisms – bacteria or a fungus. We have for the first time developed a system called Biofilms in which you get surface attached communities. We compared these attached communities vs. individual organisms, where we found that these communities are more effective in terms of plant growth and so on than the latter. This bio-fertiliser was then patented as ‘Biofilm’.
Q: How much has been invested for research over the last couple of years?
Prof. Seneviratne: At the beginning Rs. 40-45 million was invested in this. IFS funded the original research and those funds come from the Treasury. We are collaborating with TRI who has spent a considerable amount. We also had funds to conduct laboratory research from the National Research Council; while support has also being extended from the Australian government of some $ 10 million
Q: Is there a particular standard recognition for these works?
Kumarasinghe: At the moment there are no standards for bio-fertilisers in Sri Lanka. However, every batch is certified by IFS and we have our own quality assurance team within the company as well. Through this we ensure that every batch is certified.
Q: Sri Lanka is the highest per hectare of pesticides. How do we combat that?
Kumarasinghe: With the use of this bio-fertiliser microbial diversity in the soil will increase. With that there will be a natural control of pesticides. This will help reduce the amount of pest in any given cultivation. We cannot say 100% reduction as this is primarily to reduce fertiliser.
Nowadays people are using more chemical fertilisers because the soil fertility is less now. To get the same yield they got a couple of years back, they have to use more fertiliser. It is a vicious cycle where they use more and more fertiliser and degrading the soil even further. TRI recommended dosage is around 150 kg per acre, but most smallholders use close to 200 kg for the same area.
Q: Lanka Bio Fertilizers is a sister company of Nature’s Secret. Why did you decide to form such a company?
Kumarasinghe: Nature’s Beauty Creations, our mother company signed an agreement with IFS in 2010 to commercially manufacture the product. We saw the trials over the five year period starting 2005. We saw the positive feedback and results. We looked at the industry and in Sri Lanka we import 188,000 metric tons of chemical fertiliser for the tea industry alone per annum. That is costing the Government some Rs. 17 billion in foreign exchange and 12 billion given as subsidies. We saw the great potential in the market. If we can cut down 50% of that expenditure it will be a saving for the Government as well.
We are producing these in our factory in Hokandara. Investment has been over Rs. 150 million.
Q: How do you hope to market the product?
Kumarasinghe: we are currently selling through tea factories, leaf collectors and tea societies. In addition, we have a system where we deliver goods to anyone’s doorsteps within three working days through an online ordering system.
Biofilm-T comes in 250 ml packs priced at Rs. 600 per bottle. According to TRI recommendations, the cost when used 100% chemical fertiliser is Rs.3900 per acre. But by using Biofilm-T we can cut this down by Rs. 1950 and it using our product will cost them only Rs.1200. They will therefore see a cost saving of Ts.750 per acre for any planter. For us this is more of a national project than a commercial project.
Q: What initiatives have you undertaken to create awareness?
Kumarasinghe: We are conducting seminars through smallholders, societies, Tea Shakthi Fund, Tea Small Holding Development Authority to educate people about the product, soil fertility levels of Sri Lanka and what needs to be done for improvement.
Q: Could you list out some of the benefits of Biofilm-T?
Kumarasinghe: for tea planters, they can reduce fertiliser costs. It will also give an improved yield – 15%-20%. Tea plants will also be more drought resistance. Organic matter in the soil will increase creating positive benefits for the plants. In addition nitrogen and phosphorus solubilisation will be greater with the product as 705 of the chemical fertiliser used today reaches out in the manner of kidney diseases, etc. This solubilisation will help absorb almost all fertiliser you put to plants.
Pix by Sameera Wijesinghe
