While nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium remain the primary nutrients of concern for farmers, silicon is becoming an increasingly important crop input, with Stanford University spin-out Mafix aiming to produce it economically at scale.
The Seattle-based agtech start-up developed a mineral conversion process that enhances silicate rock weathering, Jade Marcus, CEO and cofounder of Mafix, told AgNavigator. Mafix uses cement kilns to make inert silicate rocks weather over time—as fast as a growing season—allowing nutrients to be released into the soil.