On October 2019, Sri Lanka in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme embraced the Colombo Declaration under the title Nitrogen for Life, adopted by 15 member states, to create roadmaps that will halve nitrogen waste by 2030.
This was further reaffirmed when Sri Lanka with the support of the International Nitrogen Management System (INMS) proposed the ‘Resolution on Sustainable Nitrogen Management’ at the fifth UN Environment Assembly last year, to champion the cause for sustainable nitrogen use on Planet Earth.
The global economy–wide nitrogen use is highly inefficient, with extremely large proportion of it being lost to the environment. The current mismanagement and overuse of nitrogen has led to various negative effects on land, water, biodiversity, human health and air, all leading to worsening climate change impacts.
Baur & Co. (Pvt) Ltd, also known as Baurs, a name synonymous with the agriculture industry of Sri Lanka, took the lead initiative in 2018 to pioneer super urea, a nitrogen dual stabilizer to reduce both ammonia volatilization and nitrification of nitrogen fertilizers in the soil. These stabilizers improve the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer application, minimize nitrogen losses, and enhance crop yield while reducing environmental impact.
Ever since then, Baurs together with renowned agriculturists and academia from the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya and the Department of Agriculture Sri Lanka has been conducting pilot testing on crops with the super urea, and following the success of the effectiveness of nitrogen stabilizers which are also influenced by factors such as soil type, climate, and crop type, Baurs has recently announced that it will now engage in commercial sales of super urea.
The super urea keeps more nitrogen in a form that can be utilized by plants and possess nitrification inhibitors which retains more nitrogen in the ammonium form for a longer period. This can enhance nitrogen use efficiency and reduce the risk of nitrogen leaching. This can help farmers optimize the use of nitrogen fertilizers, reduce environmental impact, and promote sustainable farming practices.
Following the country’s decision to ban chemical fertilisers and pesticides in 2021, Baurs has today established a center of excellence together with diverse stakeholders with the support of leading research institutions and academia, and is regarded as a renowned scientific expert in the field organic and sustainable agriculture to Sri Lanka.
Baurs has one of the most advanced, high-tech fertilizer mixing facilities in the whole of Southeast Asia. Recently, Baurs’ laboratory services also took the first step towards achieving the ISO certification for organic fertilizer. The company’s relentless efforts in encouraging sustainable farming practices, improving crop yields and growth, ensuring healthier food for the community, and mitigating adverse ecological impact to both the farmers and society at large, goes without saying.