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TwinN, a new soil conditioning product for farmers has been approved for use by the UK’s two largest organic certification bodies, Organic Farmers & Growers and the Soil Association.

TwinN is a freeze-dried biological alternative to traditional nitrogen fertilisers for use as a complete or partial replacement for chemical nitrogen.

Naturally occurring microbes extracted from plants are cultivated in a laboratory and freeze-dried using pioneering technology to form TwinN. This process ensures the microbes are preserved at their optimum potency ready for use.

TwinN works by converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that is easily available to plants. The micro-organisms are multi-functional working both within the plant and around the root zone. TwinN has a lower cost than its chemical equivalent and can reduce input costs while maintaining comparable crop yields.

A single vial of TwinN mixed with water is sufficient to cover an area of 5 hectares. TwinN is available from selected distributors in three pack sizes, 5, 10 and 20 hectares priced from £20 per hectare.

TwinN has been certified by the Soil Association and Organic Farmers & Growers (OF& G) for use on organic farms: farmers simply need to apply to the certification body for a derogation in order to use it. At present only nitrogen sourced from bacteria and farming manure is permitted for use on organic farms. Katie Owens, a certification officer for OF&G says “TwinN is a useful product for organic farms that don’t have enough on-farm manure or are unable to source it.”

The green credentials of TwinN are clear. Its production does not impact on the environment unlike chemically sourced nitrogen that uses fossil fuel in its manufacture. First and foremost it is a soil improver and will be of great benefit to anyone wanting to reduce their use of chemical nitrogen and those committed to sustainable agriculture.

TwinN will help conventional farmers in the process of organic conversion by building fertility in depleted soil without the need to take an area out of production.

TwinN does not have to be transported by road but is sent through the post. Once applied there is minimal leaching from the soil.

All types of farms and crops can benefit from using TwinN in place of, or in conjunction with reduced applications of chemical nitrogen. TwinN has been used on wheat, barley, maize, grass, clover leys, fruit and vegetables with great success. Chris Wilton of Mapleton International comments: “Everywhere I have advised TwinN to be applied this season being on a wide range of crops and varying soil and application conditions the product has performed beyond my expectations, to my clients’ great satisfaction”.

TwinN has been used successfully on over 50,000 hectares of crops in Australia and Africa for the last two years and is now commercially available in the UK, Europe and North America.