FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
22 June, 2026
EL-I Tech™
EL‑I TECH™ OPENS AUS & NZ TRIALS AND COMMERCIAL AVAILABILITY AFTER LANDMARK CROP & PASTURE RESULTS, GLOBAL AWARD RECOGNITION
IN A NUTSHELL:
EL-I Tech™ is the biggest global agricultural breakthrough in 70 years - a biological engine that delivers nitrogen to crops with zero energy drain on the plant. With application rates of just 0.1 kg per hectare (0.1 lb per acre), EL-I Tech can provide the equivalent nitrogen contribution of up to 175 kg of conventional urea per hectare (155 lb per acre) - dramatically reducing the quantity of product required in the field and addressing increasingly strict nitrogen and sustainability expectations, whilst significantly improving biomass and yield.
Designed to work as either a standalone solution or alongside existing fertilizer programs, EL-I Tech enhances and/or replaces conventional products. The result is improved nitrogen efficiency, simplified logistics and up to 1,750× less product to transport, store and handle compared with traditional urea-based approaches.
This isn’t just research, it’s real-world success:
Agraforum New Zealand’s replicated trials with BioN containing EL-I Tech, run across four Mid‑Canterbury dairy farms, showed an average 14% increase in dry matter (2,659 vs 2,326 kg DM/ha), with individual farms achieving gains of up to 26% compared to urea.
Fertikey Australia reported a 10% average yield increase across 22 validated broadacre trials.
Craigmore Sustainable Dairy’s Dion Gordon has been nominated for his innovation in nitrogen replacement, following standout nitrogen‑replacement results using Agraforum BioN containing EL‑I Tech, where a single application matched or exceeded the performance of several urea rounds at nearly half the cost.
Globally, EL-I Tech’s impact was recognized when Tom Mason, Founder and Chairman of Metson World, received the 2026 AgriBusiness Global Visionary Award, citing the technology as mission-critical for modern agronomy.
In pasture systems, EL-I Tech produces 190 kg N per hectare per annum with just 60 g - vs. 413 kg of urea - applied as 10 g EL-I Tech/ha every 2 months, regardless of grazing pattern.
Now, with Australian and New Zealand trials open and the product commercially available, Ag input manufacturers and their clients can join a breakthrough already proven across nearly 250,000 hectares (600, 000 acres) worldwide of which 20 000 hectares were in New Zealand and 1 000 hectares were in Australia . Manufacturers and growers can participate in the trials by signing up at https://el-i.tech, or buy EL‑I Tech immediately through authorised Australian and New Zealand partners, either as a standalone product or fused into formulations.
SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS IN THE RELEASE BELOW:
Plant-Independent Nitrogen Fixation: EL-I Tech™ is the first technology globally to achieve scalable, continuous nitrogen fixation without relying on the host plant.
Massive Cost Savings & Efficiency: With application rates of just 0.1 kg per hectare (0.1 lb per acre), EL-I Tech can provide the equivalent nitrogen contribution of up to 175 kg of conventional urea per hectare (155 lb per acre), dramatically reducing the quantity of product required in the field whilst significantly improving biomass and yield.
Proven Performance: Validated across nearly 250, 000 hectares globally, delivering 75% profit increase in maize, 54% in sunflowers and 35–38% yield increase in citrus.
Triple-Action Benefits: Converts greenhouse gases into plant-available nitrogen, improves soil structure, enhances crop resilience.
Seamless Integration: 100% natural, non-GMO, compatible with existing fertilizer systems - water-soluble, liquid, granular blending and coating, and seed-coat mixes.
Real-World Results: Agraforum NZ and Fertikey AUS have already demonstrated EL-I Tech’s impact in replicated trials and commercial programs, and Craigmore Sustainable Dairy’s Dion Gordon has been award‑nominated for his nitrogen‑replacement results using BioN containing EL‑I Tech. In pasture systems, EL-I Tech produces 190 kg N per hectare per annum with just 60 g - vs. 413 kg of urea.
Global Recognition: Tom Mason from Metson’s AgriBusiness Global Visionary Award highlights EL-I Tech as a category-defining innovation.
Regulatory Alignment: EL‑I Tech™ is commercially available in Australia and New Zealand, and we are actively engaging regulators, researchers, manufacturers, distributors, and growers to ensure further compliance and adoption.
Scalable & Safe: 100% natural, non‑GMO, biologically safe, with a 24‑month shelf life and activation within minutes once in soil.Triple‑Action System: Plant‑independent nitrogen fixation (EL‑I Tech™), phosphorus & potassium liberation (sParK Tech), and hydrocarbon remediation (Carbon Crushers).
Broader Potential: Applications extend beyond cropping into environmental remediation, wastewater, turf, landscaping, and forestry.
FULL PRESS RELEASE:
EL-I Tech™, the first technology globally to achieve plant-independent nitrogen fixation at scale, represents the most significant agricultural advancement in decades. It offers a strategic opportunity for input manufacturers seeking to strengthen fertilizer portfolios, improve nitrogen efficiency, address increasingly strict nitrogen and sustainability expectations, and deliver measurable, market-shifting value to growers.
Australian and New Zealand trials are now underway, giving early adopters the chance to evaluate a technology already proven across nearly 250,000 hectares (600, 000 acres) under real-world farming conditions. Manufacturers and growers can participate in the trials by signing up at https://el-i.tech - or buy EL‑I Tech immediately through authorised Australian and New Zealand partners, either as a standalone product or fused into formulations - depending on their needs and readiness.
Developed by a biotechnology company with 25 years of innovation expertise, EL-I Tech is powered by a perfected symbiosis between autotrophs and diazotrophs. This unique microbial partnership enables continuous, plant-independent nitrogen fixation with zero energy drain on the plant. For manufacturers, this provides a reliable, science-backed biological engine that enhances the performance of existing fertilizer products while also functioning as a highly effective standalone solution.
With application rates of just 0.1 kg per hectare (0.1 lb per acre), EL-I Tech can provide the equivalent nitrogen contribution of up to 175 kg of conventional urea per hectare (155 lb per acre), dramatically reducing the quantity of product required in the field whilst significantly improving biomass and yield.
Designed to work as either a standalone solution or alongside existing fertilizer programs, EL-I Tech enhances and/or replaces conventional products. The result is improved nitrogen efficiency, stabilized input programs, reduced risk for both manufacturers and growers, simplified logistics and up to 1,750× less product to transport, store and handle compared with traditional urea-based approaches.
Performance results include:
- 75% profit increase in maize (corn)
- 54% profit increase in sunflowers
- 35–38% yield increase in citrus
- 13% yield increase in potatoes
- 30% biomass increase and 10% chlorophyll increase in wheat
- 100% nitrogen satisfaction in hydroponic blueberries
- A 300-hectare dryland wheat trial producing 4.5t/ha vs. the regional average of 2t/ha
The science is backed by real-world results in AUS & NZ, with Agraforum New Zealand’s replicated trials with BioN containing EL-I Tech, run across four Mid‑Canterbury dairy farms, showing an average 14% increase in dry matter (2,659 vs 2,326 kg DM/ha), with individual farms achieving gains of up to 26% compared to urea. These results prove EL-I Tech can deliver cheaper, more reliable pasture growth for New Zealand farmers.
In Australia, Fertikey has integrated EL-I Tech into its biological fertilizer programs, reporting +10% average yield increases across 22 validated trials, with nearly 20,000 kg of biological nitrogen contributed and consistent results across maize, wheat, soybeans, and potatoes. Fertikey’s adoption of EL-I Tech positions it at the forefront of Australia’s biofert revolution - delivering higher nitrogen efficiency, reduced emissions, and lower input costs for broadacre farmers.
The global impact of EL-I Tech was underscored when Tom Mason, Chairman of Metson World, received the 2026 AgriBusiness Global Visionary Award for leadership in crop inputs and biological innovation. Mason highlighted EL-I Tech as mission-critical for modern agronomy, validating its role not only in AUS/NZ trials but also in shaping the future of sustainable nitrogen management worldwide.
Award‑nominated dairy farmer Dion Gordon proved the power of Agraforum BioN containing EL‑I Tech, achieving pasture growth equal to or better than multiple urea rounds with a single application and at significantly lower cost. EL-I Tech produces 190 kg N per pasture hectare per annum with just 60 g - vs. 413 kg of urea - applied as 10 g EL-I Tech/ha every 2 months, regardless of grazing pattern.
These outcomes translate into stronger product differentiation, higher customer retention and greater portfolio resilience in a market increasingly shaped by nitrogen volatility, tightening environmental regulations in Australia and New Zealand, as well as demand for sustainable, high-performance solutions.
Beyond yield, EL-I Tech converts greenhouse gases into plant-available nitrogen, improves soil structure, and enhances crop resilience. Its triple-action biological performance includes:
- Plant-independent nitrogen fixation (EL-I Tech™)
- Phosphorus and potassium liberation (sParK Tech)
- Hydrocarbon remediation (Carbon Crushers)
The technology is 100% natural, non-GMO, biologically safe and poses no risk to soil microbiology, crops, humans, or animals. It is engineered for scalability, with extremely low application volumes, a 24-month shelf life in dormant form, and activation within minutes once in the soil.
EL-I Tech integrates seamlessly into existing fertilizer systems and can be used as a nitrogen enhancer, extender, or replacement - including liquid integration, granular blending and coating, water-soluble integration, compost enrichment, wettable powders, and seed-coat mixes. No new equipment is required, and manufacturers retain full compatibility with UAN, urea, ammonium systems and precision-ag programs.
In addition, the technology also shows immense potential in environmental remediation, wastewater remediation, turf and landscaping, as well as forestry.
EL‑I Tech™ is commercially available in Australia and New Zealand, and we are actively engaging regulators, researchers, manufacturers, distributors, and growers to ensure further compliance and adoption. Comprehensive scientific data, safety documentation and independent analyses are available on the EL-I.tech website.
To contact the EL-I Tech team, and for more information, case studies, partnership opportunities, and access to exclusive AUS & NZL trials, visit: El-I.Tech and follow them on X and LinkedIn.
You can also follow the team: Gerhard Vermaak (Inventor) on X and LinkedIn, Paul Vermaak (Operations) on X and LinkedIn, and Isolde Viljoen (Lead Scientist) on X and LinkedIn
|ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
WHY EL-I TECH™ IS PERFECTLY TIMED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND MARKETS
Agriculture in Australia and New Zealand is undergoing one of the most complex transitions in modern history. Input costs remain volatile, nitrogen programs are under regulatory pressure, and growers are being asked to produce more with fewer passes, fewer people, and tighter margins.
In Australia, fertilizer prices have surged in recent years due to global supply chain shocks, while government incentives are pushing adoption of sustainable inputs. Farmers are seeking stable, cost-effective nitrogen solutions that reduce reliance on imports and improve soil health.
In New Zealand, environmental regulations around nitrogen leaching and greenhouse gas emissions are tightening, particularly in dairy and arable sectors. Farmers need biological alternatives that deliver proven yield and cost benefits while meeting sustainability targets.
EL-I Tech is uniquely positioned to meet these demands, offering real-world validated performance, regulatory alignment, and seamless integration into existing systems.
WHAT MAKES THE EL-I TECH™ WEBSITE AN AGRI GAME CHANGER
The EL-I Tech website gives agriculture input manufacturers and other agriculture professionals a clear, intuitive entry point into a fully digital, scientifically solid and user-friendly field-trial ecosystem.
They can onboard in minutes through secure invitations, access a mobile-first dashboard that joins them in the field, and follow step-by-step, protocol-driven trial workflows that remove all guesswork - from planning, to preparation, to planting to harvest and documentation.
Every action - from mapping control and treatment strips to uploading soil analyses, Sap results and field photos - is effortlessly captured, GPS-verified and stored in one place, creating a clean, credible evidence trail.
At harvest, the platform automatically calculates yield and protein differences, presents results in a visual dashboard and ensures every data point is scientifically validated.
For Agri Input Manufacturers (AIMs), the Mission Control dashboard provides real-time visibility across all trials, farmer management tools, data-verification workflows and portfolio-level performance metrics that strengthen sales, regulatory submissions and commercial confidence.
Together, this system secures EL-I Tech as a category-defining partner: a seamless blend of patented nitrogen-fixing biologicals, rigorous scientific protocols and a sleek digital system that proves efficacy at scale.
With integrated ordering, inventory management, dual-region data sovereignty and clear explanation of the science, results and partnership model, the platform makes it effortless for manufacturers to onboard farmers, run credible trials and build an expanding evidence base that drives adoption.
EL-I Tech’s system also includes satellite-based NDVI/NDRE verification, voice-note field capture, historical trial data warehousing and market localization. These capabilities reinforce the long-term vision: a global, independently verified, data-rich ecosystem that proves biological performance from the ground and from space - making every season more profitable, more transparent and more scientifically robust for partners across the agricultural value chain.
With this system’s continued evolution, a growing list of patent granted countries and steady global expansion, EL-I Tech is the future of agriculture, TODAY.
ABOUT CUSTOM CHEMISTRY AND EL-I TECH™
Custom Chemistry, a South African biotechnology company specializing in the practical application of microorganisms, has developed what many analysts consider the most significant agricultural breakthrough in 70 years. Its technologies are already in extensive use across Southern Africa and are now expanding globally. The company is the only licensed EL-I Tech manufacturer in the world and ensures a reliable supply of high-quality active ingredients on behalf of EL-I Tech.
Nitrogen fertilizer remains the primary driver of high-yield agriculture worldwide. EL-I Tech’s patented technology leverages a unique patented symbiosis between diazotrophs and autotrophic organisms to fix significant, crop-available nitrogen at levels previously unattainable through biological means.
This technology is supported by rigorous scientific validation, independent analyst reviews, and large-scale commercial performance. The future of agriculture is here, and it’s available through Custom Chemistry.
ABOUT GERHARD VERMAAK
Gerhard Vermaak has spent most of the past decade advancing the practical application of microorganisms across waste management, hygiene, bioremediation, and agriculture. His developments include full ranges of bioremediation products, cleaning solutions, and biological soil remedies.
His technologies are widely used across Southern Africa and are now entering global markets.