Plantner

Company profile

Plantner company profile

PLANTNER is developing eco-friendly polymers based on the controlled-release properties of alginate, a seaweed-extracted polymer, and natural controlled-release fertilizers to replace existing chemical substances, and is simultaneously conducting research and development and local field trials in Korea and Vietnam. These products directly contribute to the realization of low-input sustainable agriculture. We seek to address the unsustainable state of current conventional agriculture through slow-release fertilizers and aims to bring about eco-friendly innovation, centered on natural materials, starting from agriculture, the very foundation of the industry. In conventional agricultural environments, the high loss rate of chemical fertilizers has led to the loss of nutrients, causing soil degradation issues such as acidification. This decline in soil productivity forces farmers to use even more chemicals to boost yields, creating a vicious cycle of escalating overuse. As an alternative, coated slow-release fertilizers emerged, but their synthetic polymer coatings have contributed to the accumulation of microplastics in the soil, damaging the habitat of beneficial microorganisms and creating new environmental problems. To address these issues, research and development are underway to replace the conventional coating materials of slow-release fertilizers —which cause environmental problems like residual microplastics—with alginate, a biodegradable polymer derived from seaweed. Through collaboration with various research institutions, the aim is to secure Korea’s first extraction and material processing technology for alginate, ensuring both cost and quality competitiveness. In the process of commercializing this as a slow-release fertilizer, partnerships have been established with leading national universities in Korea and Vietnam, fostering joint R&D and on-site verification. Field tests in Yeosu, South Korea, and An Giang Province, Vietnam, have demonstrated improvements in key profitability metrics for farmers, such as increased sugar content (Brix levels) and larger grain size, while also building trust within these communities. Additionally, customized fertilizers tailored to specific crops are being developed, accounting for varying nutrient requirements, composition ratios, and growth cycles. Through pilot cultivation in major production regions, these fertilizers are gaining recognition as regionally trusted, crop-specific solutions with verified effectiveness.