2015 Discovery of the Year: The “Goodbye Chemical Fertilizers” project
04 April 2016
A scientific breakthrough made by a team composed of researchers from the FSAA and FFGG at Université Laval wins the people's choice award “2015 Discovery of the Year” from the magazine Québec Science.
A discovery resulting from research completed by Salma Taktek, a doctoral student in agri-food microbiology at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, provides a natural alternative to phosphorous chemical fertilizers for plant growth. Ms. Taktek received the largest number of votes among the ten discoveries made in 2015 selected by the magazineQuébec Science.
Ms. Taktek received support for her research from professor Hani Antoun from the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, as well as professors J.-André Fortin and Yves Piché from the Faculty of Forestry, Geography and Geomatics. Scientists from the company Premier Tech and Université de Montréal also contributed to the discovery.
Plants require phosphorous in order to grow. Modern agriculture relies on chemical fertilizers to meet this need, which has harmful effects on the environment, specifically for waterways where fertilizers promote the growth of blue-green algae. Ms. Taktek had the idea of associating bacteria capable of dissolving phosphorous naturally occurring in soil with mycorrhiza (mushrooms) already living in symbiosis with plants. This method of natural fertilization helps minimize the use of phosphorous and opens the door to more sustainable agricultural methods that are respectful of the environment. Ms. Taktek will receive the prize on Friday, April 15, during a ceremony that will take place at Université Laval, in the company of the leading researchers and members of the Québec Science team.
Ms. Taktek received support for her research from professor Hani Antoun from the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, as well as professors J.-André Fortin and Yves Piché from the Faculty of Forestry, Geography and Geomatics. Scientists from the company Premier Tech and Université de Montréal also contributed to the discovery.
Plants require phosphorous in order to grow. Modern agriculture relies on chemical fertilizers to meet this need, which has harmful effects on the environment, specifically for waterways where fertilizers promote the growth of blue-green algae. Ms. Taktek had the idea of associating bacteria capable of dissolving phosphorous naturally occurring in soil with mycorrhiza (mushrooms) already living in symbiosis with plants. This method of natural fertilization helps minimize the use of phosphorous and opens the door to more sustainable agricultural methods that are respectful of the environment. Ms. Taktek will receive the prize on Friday, April 15, during a ceremony that will take place at Université Laval, in the company of the leading researchers and members of the Québec Science team.