International Zeolite: Partners with academia to validate disruptive commercial agricultural products

Vancouver – International Zeolite Corp. (TSXV: IZ) (OTC Pink: IZCFF) (FSE: ZEON) (the “Company”) is an international distributor and supplier of natural zeolite and zeolite infused products for the environmental, animal husbandry industries and agriculture.

Zeolite is one of nature’s most versatile minerals. With its microporous honeycomb structure, the volcanic mineral acts both as a natural filter used in water and air purification and as an absorbent used by the agricultural industry to modulate water and nutrients.

International zeolite The most recent venture is to create a Canadian and North American market for the Cuban product NEREA, a proprietary and environmentally friendly technology that incorporates nutrients directly into the zeolite. According to Foundation of the University of Havana Research, when used as a substrate or soil amendment in agriculture, NEREA produces higher crop yields and uses less water. NEREA zeoponic technology has been shown to produce 20-30% higher crop yields, higher product quality, use 30% less water, and have lower plant infection by fungi, viruses and microorganisms. NEREA substrates are environmentally friendly and do not produce waste that is harmful to the environment.

The Company has partnered with Niagara College Research & Innovation Division (R&I) to carry out two equally important research projects. A project includes a comprehensive analysis of the greenhouse environment market in Canada to determine the industry where NEREA is best suited. The other involves practical trials to test and validate the technical performance of the product.

“The challenges are to verify that the benefits obtained by Cuba can be reproduced under Canadian conditions ”, explains Ray paquette, CEO, International zeolite, “And determine how to promote the commercial adoption of NEREA-based substrates and soil-based media”.

Once validated, Paquette says the benefit is that growers will have access to innovative technology that dramatically improves the environmental performance of greenhouse, outdoor and nursery production systems while enabling competitive yields and production costs. or improved with existing production systems.

“In addition to potentially contributing to improved plant productivity and hence producer profitability, NEREA differs from conventional greenhouse hydroponic systems in that plants do not access nutrients and water. only when needed, rather than having a continuous cycle of soluble nutrients. This product has significant potential to improve greenhouse and nursery agriculture in the production of vegetables, berries and floriculture, ”adds Paquette.

Researchers in R&I’s Business & Commercialization Solutions (BCS) team rose to the challenge of understanding markets and analyzed areas where the company could potentially focus on commercialization.

Throughout the project, the BCS team conducted extensive research on a number of markets in the Canadian greenhouse industry: horticulture, floriculture, organic production, tropical plants and vertical indoor farms, better known as name of controlled environment agriculture (ACE).

The research experts also provided a detailed breakdown of the substrates industry, including the materials used in the substrates, their various properties and common uses. An analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on these industries was conducted to better understand relevant industry trends.

Market research results suggest that NEREA would be an ideal candidate for growing lettuce and leafy vegetables in the greenhouse hydroponics market, a soil amendment in the horticultural industry, a soil amendment for production in nursery and also as a retail plant or home growing solution.

As food security will become a bigger issue in the years to come due to climate change and the lack of suitable agricultural land, there will be an increased demand for more efficient and environmentally friendly substrates and soil amendments. in greenhouse production.

“Working with the Business and Marketing research team has been both a pleasure and a professionalism,” says Paquette. “The team was great and their market research report is a great guideline. »Linked to NEREA market research report presented by Niagara College Research and the innovation team.

Paquette added, “One of NEREA’s primary goals is the multi-billion dollar organic food and farming business. Canada is now the sixth largest organic consumer market in the world. If you combine United States and Canadian markets, they represent half of the world’s organic consumption.

International zeolite is pleased to announce that the company is now engaged with the Niagara R&I Agriculture and Environmental Technology Innovation Center and with Vineland Research and the Innovation Center to conduct trials with NEREA. These projects were funded by the Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN) and by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). The results of these tests will be communicated once completed.

Contact:

Ray paquette

Phone. : 604.684.3301

Web: www.internationalzeolite.com