Cyanobacteria · Project

On-Site Green Fertilizer Production for Greenhouses Using Sunlight and Air

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Most of the world's nitrogen fertilizer comes from a hugely energy-hungry industrial process that burns natural gas and pumps out CO2. This project took a completely different route — they grow special bacteria (cyanobacteria) that naturally pull nitrogen straight out of the air using sunlight, the same trick that bean plants use, but turbocharged and put inside a controlled system right at the farm. The bacteria produce ammonia, which is then automatically converted into the nitrate fertilizer that plants need. Instead of trucking in bags of industrial fertilizer, a greenhouse can now make its own clean fertilizer on the spot.

By the numbers

120 million metric tons/year

Global nitrogen fertilizer consumption

3-5%

Share of global natural gas supply used by fertilizer industry

1-2%

Share of global energy expenditure from fertilizer production

~10 tons CO2 per ton

CO2 released per ton of nitrogen fertilizer produced

EUR 2,450,875

EU contribution to this project

Double digit

Annual growth rate of organic agriculture

The business problem

What needed solving

The fertilizer industry consumes 3-5% of the world's natural gas and releases about 10 tons of CO2 for every ton of nitrogen fertilizer produced. Greenhouse and farm operators face rising fertilizer costs, supply chain volatility, and growing customer demand for organic produce — yet current organic fertilizers are expensive, unstable, and inadequate for commercial hydroponic growing.

The solution

What was built

An automated on-site bioreactor system where cyanobacteria fix nitrogen from air into ammonia using sunlight, which is then converted to nitrate by specialized bacteria. The project also established a fully functional European office for commercial expansion.

Audience

Who needs this

Hydroponic greenhouse operators looking to cut fertilizer costs or achieve organic certificationAdvanced irrigation farm operators under pressure to reduce carbon footprintAgTech integrators building turnkey greenhouse solutionsOrganic produce brands needing reliable and affordable organic nitrogen sourcesAgricultural cooperatives in regions with expensive or unreliable fertilizer supply

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Commercial Greenhouse Horticulture

SME

Target: Hydroponic greenhouse operators growing tomatoes, lettuce, herbs, or strawberries

If you are a hydroponic greenhouse operator dealing with rising fertilizer costs and pressure to go organic — this project developed an on-site bioreactor system that produces nitrogen fertilizer from air and sunlight. It eliminates dependency on industrial fertilizer supply chains and could allow your produce to qualify for organic certification, opening premium price channels.

Organic Farming and Precision Agriculture

any

Target: Advanced irrigation farms seeking organic certification

If you are a farm operator using advanced irrigation systems and struggling with expensive, unstable organic fertilizers — this project built an automated biological nitrogen fixation unit that produces stable fertilizer on-site. The Haber-Bosch process releases about 10 tons of CO2 per ton of fertilizer; this system uses sunlight instead of natural gas, directly supporting your sustainability claims.

Agricultural Technology and Equipment

mid-size

Target: AgTech companies building turnkey greenhouse solutions

If you are an AgTech integrator assembling complete greenhouse packages for clients — this project created a builder-operator fertilizer module that can be installed at client sites. With global nitrogen fertilizer consumption exceeding 120 million metric tons per year and organic agriculture growing at double-digit rates, adding on-site green fertilizer production differentiates your offering in a crowded market.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this system cost compared to buying conventional fertilizer?

The project data does not provide specific unit costs or price comparisons. The system uses a builder-operator model where GrowPonics constructs the unit at the client site and supports daily operations, suggesting a capital expenditure plus service fee structure. The key savings come from eliminating purchases of industrial nitrogen fertilizer and potentially qualifying produce for organic price premiums.

Can this work at industrial scale for large greenhouse operations?

The system was developed under an EIC SME Instrument Phase 2 grant (EUR 2,450,875), which specifically funds scaling and commercialization activities. The project describes deployment at actual farm and greenhouse sites using a builder-operator model. Based on available project data, the technology targets commercial-scale hydroponic greenhouses and advanced irrigation farms.

What is the IP situation — can I license or buy this technology?

The project was run entirely by GO GREEN FOODTECH LTD, a single-partner SME from Israel. All intellectual property is held by one company. Their business model is builder-operator, meaning they construct and support the system at your site rather than selling or licensing the technology outright.

Does this meet organic certification requirements?

The project objective explicitly states that clients will be able to sell their produce as certified organic in many cases. The system produces nitrogen fertilizer biologically from air and water without synthetic chemicals. However, specific organic certification standards vary by country and certifying body.

How long does it take to install and start producing fertilizer?

Based on available project data, specific installation timelines are not disclosed. The builder-operator model indicates that GrowPonics handles both construction and ongoing operation, suggesting a managed deployment process. The project ran for three years (2020-2023), during which the technology was developed and a European office was established.

How does this integrate with existing greenhouse nutrient delivery systems?

The system is designed specifically for hydroponic greenhouses and advanced irrigation farms. It produces nitrate — the standard nitrogen form used in fertigation systems — through an automated two-step biological process (ammonia fixation followed by bacterial conversion to nitrate). This suggests direct compatibility with existing nutrient delivery infrastructure.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project run entirely by GO GREEN FOODTECH LTD, an Israeli SME. With 100% industry participation and no university or research institute partners, this is clearly a commercially driven venture rather than an academic exercise. The company received EUR 2,450,875 through the EIC SME Instrument Phase 2, a competitive funding line reserved for companies with strong innovation and market potential. The fact that a demo deliverable focused on establishing a European office signals the company is actively pursuing market entry beyond Israel. For a potential business partner, this means you would be dealing directly with the technology owner and operator — no academic intermediaries or complex consortium politics.

GO GREEN FOODTECH LTDCoordinator · IL

How to reach the team

GO GREEN FOODTECH LTD (Israel) — contact through SciTransfer for a qualified introduction

Order a report on this consortium See GO GREEN FOODTECH LTD profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore on-site biological fertilizer production for your greenhouse or farm? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the team behind this technology and help you evaluate fit for your operation.

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