Collaboration to focus on characterizing biocontrol organisms

Edmonton, AB – The Alberta Research Council and International BioRecovery of North Vancouver have signed an agreement the research council’s scientists will characterize the nature of International BioRecovery’s biologically active soil fertility product. The partners say the collaboration has the potential to revolutionize the way household waste is managed.

Traditional composting can take as long as three months. International BioRecovery’s environmental process converts organic waste into an environmentally progressive soil fertilizer within four days. As an added benefit, the process acts as a biocontrol agent, suppressing plant disease, according to Dr Prem Kharbanda, plant pathologist with the Alberta Research Council.

Under the agreement, Dr Kharbanda will lead a team of researchers to identify and characterize the organisms responsible for the biocontrol action, and work to isolate its active metabolites. “We believe there is commercial potential in being able to transform organic waste into a biocontrol product that effectively fertilizes soil and controls plant disease," he says.

Dr Kharbanda is known for his work on developing disease-suppressive biocontrol products, and for his considerable knowledge in the registration and patent process for new product development. His team also brings to the project experience in plant pathology, microbiology, molecular biotechnology, pharmaceutical chemistry, and metabolite chemistry.

International Bio Recovery Corporation, through its proprietary environmental technology, processes organic material from municipal solid waste, agricultural manures and surplus organics from food production into environmentally progressive soil fertility products.