Global Organics® Expands Patent Portfolio
And the role of microalgae in sustainable agriculture
PHOENIX, AZ (October 2016) – Today, the Global Organics Group (GOG) announced a significant expansion of its patent portfolio, demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to innovation and leadership. The company’s US patent portfolio now totals 11 issued patents, with several additional patent applications in the allowed and pending stages. Global Organics patents include revolutionary technology in the plant, animal and human health industries.
“From the beginning, we recognized the importance of developing and then protecting our technology,” said Luke Blotsky, CEO and Managing Partner. “All of our patents focus on our unique approach to reactivating the power of natural, organic and sustainable practices – which are a source of pride to the entire Global Organics team and provide a competitive advantage to our customers.”
Founded in 1972, BioFlora® (www.bioflora.com) was the first division to make up what is now the Global Organics Group. BioFlora was founded by Roger Blotsky and based on the belief that “Nature Knows Best®” as he viewed himself and the company “stewards of the environment”. Through BioFlora, Roger sought to improve the agricultural industry by providing organic and sustainable alternatives to the over-chemicalization of the world’s farmland.
Building on this vision, Global Organics officially received a signed and sealed patent for its exclusive method and composition for treating soil and plants, from Deputy Director Michelle Lee of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This patent, which was first filed in September 2013, relates to the BioFlora divisions’ use of a diverse spectrum of microalgae to reinvigorate plants and soils[1].
The Importance of Microalgae
Long use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has been shown to deplete soil of beneficial microorganisms and can lead to lower soil quality. Plants grown in such soils do not grow at the optimum rate, or gain the appropriate mass to deliver high yields and market value. Additionally, such plants may be at higher risk of infection and have lower immune-type responses to pests and diseases.
The size and activity of soil microbial communities are indicators of soil health, quality and fertility[2]. All of these factors are necessary for agriculture to be sustainable for future generations and today’s food standards and supply.
It has been documented that microalgae perform several important functions for soil ecosystems and can also function as a bio indicator for soil quality[3].
Microalgae are found in nearly all soil environments, from desert sand to the tundra. In these ecosystems, microalgae increase the bioavailability of nutrients such as; nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus to make them more accessible to the plant. Microalgae also provide important polysaccharides, lipids (fatty acids), proteins and hydrocarbons to the soil to add to its structure, as well as enzymes that catalyze important reactions for plant and soil metabolic processes[4].
These benefits underscore the importance of microalgae in farming. What the agricultural industry lacked was a method and finished composition of microalgae that could be used for treating and amending soil.
Determined to find a solution to this problem, the research and development division of GOG, the Integrated Life Science Research Center®, researched and patented this unique method for amending soil. By cultivating an exclusive matrix of microalgae from the following species: Scenedesmus, Chlorella, Chlamydomonas, Nannochloris, Micractinium, and Cosmocladium the ILSRC was able to unlock the powerful biological potential of microalgae.
Though not required, this process is comprised of microalgae that are grown under certified organic conditions, and are found in OMRI certified products available in the BioFlora product line[5]. Products enhanced with this unique microalgae consortium may be applied to agricultural soils throughout the growth cycle of a crop to improve soils, yields, and quality.
About Global Organics Group
Global Organics® Group (GOG) is an international, integrated life sciences company engaged in the development and manufacture of proprietary organic and sustainable plant nutrition agricultural products and natural ionic minerals for Human and Animal Health. For more than 40 years, GOG’s BioFlora® business has been committed to environmental sustainability through its efforts aimed at preserving our ecosystem while providing superior plant nutrition. Global Organics® continued to grow with a mission to enhance human and animal life, the vitality of plants and soils, as well as the restoration of the environment through their Mineral BioSciences® (MBS) division.
Located in Goodyear, Arizona, USA, GOG is able to serve customers both locally and globally with the use of Green Acres, our 1,200-acre research farm, as well as our USDA Permitted Integrated Life Science Research Center® (ILSRC).
For more information about BioFlora®, or to interview Luke Blotsky, please contact David Jay at David@Christieand.co or call 805-969-3744. Visit www.bioflora.com.
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[1] US Patent Number: 9,428,425 B2 / Application Number: 14/033,339
[2] Doran, J.W. and T.B. Parkin. 1994. Defining and Assessing Soil Quality. P. 3-21.
[3] Hastings KL, Smith LE, Lindsey ML et al. Effect of microalgae application on soil algal species diversity, cation exchange capacity and organic matter after herbicide treatments. F1000Research. 2014, 3:281 (doi: 10.12688/f1000research.4016.1)
[4] Goyal SK: Algae and the soil environment. Phykos. 1997; 36: 1–13. Zenova GM, Shtina EA, Dedysh SN, et al.: Ecological relations of algae in biocenoses. Mikrobiologiya. 1995;64(2): 121–133.
[5] http://www.bioflora.com/new-technologies/microalgae/