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A microbial cleanup for glyphosate just earned a patent. Here's why that matters
The U.S. patent is another validation for Ancient Organics Bioscience's mission to clean up glyphosate-contaminated soils through bioremediation.
At the same time, it highlights another option for broad-acre row-crop farmers still relying on glyphosate-based herbicides, which remain the most cost-effective option for weed control.
Why it matters:
Nothing kills weeds quite like glyphosate, but the herbicide and its byproducts also adversely impact soil health, according to Ancient Organics.
About 55% of the native beneficial microorganisms in soils contain the gene glyphosate targets.
Glyphosate suppresses beneficial bacteria and fungi in the native soil microbiome.
It binds to (chelates) key soil nutrients, making them unavailable to plants.
Ancient Organics' product PaleoPower is designed to degrade chemical residues from those glyphosate-based herbicides.
Robin Steele, cofounder and director at Ancient Organics, says this emphasis on soil health and degrading environmental contaminants is a unique strength.
"Most of the biologic companies are focusing on plant health, nitrogen fixation, nitrogen-use efficiency. But without healthy soil you are not going to have healthy crops or healthy food," she tells AgFunderNews.
"Our objective is to provide farmers with organic biological solutions that enable them to produce cleaner foods, with reduced levels of environmental toxins, and healthier foods, with higher nutrient content," notes Steele.
How it works:
A consortium of microbes within PaleoPower produces enzymes that can degrade the chemical bonds of glyphosate, accelerating the herbicide's destruction and setting soil macronutrients free, notes Ancient Organics founder and CEO Raul Cano.
After application of PaleoPower, the glyphosate breaks down, while nutrients it previously bound are released.
The native soil bacterial community can then recover and re-establish itself.
Ancient Organics estimates glyphosate degradation of between 75% and 90% in 90-120 days on average.
Typical application of PaleoPower is once during pre planting and once more after harvest.
Ancient Organics has done a limited commercial release of the PaleoPower in the United States and has registration pending in Canada (expected to go through in 2026).