Listening to plants: ICL’s innovation challenge to transform fertiliser use

Imagine a future where plants can “tell” us exactly what nutrients they need and when.  
Far from science fiction – it’s a frontier of agricultural innovation that ICL, a global leader in speciality minerals, is exploring. 
 
For nearly a century, the Israeli company has been ahead of the curve in creating solutions to equip the agricultural and industrial sectors to sustainably feed the world. Reducing inefficiencies associated with synthetic fertilisers, in particular leaching, and greenhouse gas emission losses is a key part of its mission.   
 
Learning more about ‘plant communication’ has become central to that goal, ICL’s Open Innovation Lead, Ziv Kohav explains, to better prepare crops, and safeguard global food security.  

“We’re interested in participating in the conversation between plants and microorganisms – in subtle ways to prepare the plant, and its microbiome for future conditions, like drought. It’s about convincing microorganisms to do something that we want them to do.”  
 
How? Ziv explains, “You can actually talk with the microorganisms in the soil because they communicate with each other and the plant through signalling molecules, similar to how humans communicate with each other.”  
 
By leveraging this natural communication system, ICL aims to “put the right signalling molecules in place” to trigger bacteria, fungi, and archaea in the soil to act – helping plants access nutrients and prepare for stress before they even feel it. 
 
This approach of plant signalling has the potential to transform how fertilisers are used. Traditionally, fertilisers are applied broadly, often resulting in wasted resources, and environmental damage, like eutrophication. By decoding these signals, ICL is leading a new wave of precision agriculture, with a keen interest in biostimulants that not only feed crops more efficiently but reduce environmental harm.  
 
ICL’s Enhanced Efficiency Fertiliser Innovation Challenge is now inviting Australian startups and scaleups at their proof-of-concept stage – with a materials or biological focus – to develop, scale and commercialise their solutions under license through ICL’s Open Innovation Space.  
 
“We can collaborate with startup companies, and research groups at very early proof-of-concept stages, support their scale up, their tech readiness for larger trials, and get the product to market – we also offer other investment opportunities from a broader ICL perspective. 
 
“We'd be very happy to collaborate with Australian companies that think along these lines and have ideas or technologies in the area of signalling molecules or prebiotics.” 

Before launching the innovation challenge, ICL undertook a comprehensive unmet needs analysis, identifying where current fertilisers fall short. The key finding? A significant portion of fertilisers simply don’t reach the plants they’re meant to nourish.  

ICL’s innovation challenge features 4 sub-sectors: 

1. Reducing GHG emissions from the denitrification cycle of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers in the soil. 
2. Reducing fertiliser leaching and runoff to prevent nutrient loss and environmental damage, such as water pollution and wasted resources. 
3. Controlling the balance between available and fixed nutrients in the soil for optimal crop growth.
4. Improving plant nutrient uptake to increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

At the heart of the challenge lies a fundamental question, “How can we improve the nutrient use efficiency, and ensure all the fertiliser reaches the plant and is used for its growth?  

“As a direct result, the crop will grow better, and ultimately lead to a reduced area for the plant’s growth. The other focus is helping plants cope with any stress that they're going to meet in their growing cycle,” says Ziv. 

ICL is renowned for its expertise in potash production and innovations like Osmocote – a controlled-release fertiliser for high-value crops. As the exclusive provider of polysulphate from its Boulby, UK mine and other fertilisers from exclusive sources like the mineral-rich Dead Sea, and 23 R&D centres worldwide, ICL is advancing smarter, more efficient agricultural practices. 
 
With 12,500 employees across five continents and revenues exceeding $10 billion, ICL offers more than just funding. Applicants will gain access to ICL’s vast network of production facilities, global market reach, and support through ICL Open, providing a clear pathway to commercialisation. 
 
With global markets for technologies like nitrification inhibitors and slow-release fertilisers worth billions, successful applicants can utilise ICL as a launch pad and trusted partner for the next breakthrough in agritech innovation. 

ICL’s approach to partnerships is about more than just collaboration – it’s about strategic alignment and shared innovation. Its partnership with Pluri Biotech, a cutting-edge 3D cell expansion tech company, is a great example. Together, they’re bringing biotechnological advancements to sustainable agriculture by effectively scaling a new bioactive carrier and biostimulant products. 
 
Tammy Sharon, Pluri Biotech’s Director of Strategy and Business Operations, says, “ICL’s collaboration with Pluri brings significant value by leveraging both companies’ strengths to accelerate product development.” 
 
“ICL’s expertise in specialty minerals and agricultural products, established market access and infrastructure combined with our innovative technology, is fostering advancements in plant nutrition solutions. This collaboration aims to revolutionise biostimulant delivery, and sustainably enhance yield.” 

Through AgriFutures grow^AG., ICL hopes to tap into Australia’s vibrant startup ecosystem, attracting innovators who can bring fresh perspectives and game-changing solutions to the table.  
 
ICL is particularly interested in technologies that can be applied to row crops, Ziv explains, which present the biggest challenge due to their scale and cost sensitivity. 
 
“We believe that in the future, much of the nitrogen fertilisers will be produced on a smaller scale – maybe not at the farm level, but at a regional scale. In places like Australia, with very big farms and wide areas, local hubs could supply fertilisers without the pollution and energy associated with mega plants,” says Ziv. 
 
“I’m hoping our openness to innovation as a large corporation, and willingness to invest in a novel technology is an attractive value proposition for startups to expand and bring their products to market within Australia, and beyond. 
 
“We’re not that exposed to Australian technologies, so we’ll possibly tap into a reservoir of technologies that are new to us.”  
 
Ziv concluded, “We’re on the verge of a radical change of agriculture. Not unlike the change in nitrogen fertilisers at the beginning of the 20th century through the Haber-Bosh process, which helped the global population grow from two to seven billion.  
 
“The impact of new technologies could be huge, much beyond this company, affecting food security and many other aspects of global food production.”