Disruptive Technology
Disruptive technology, also known as disruptive innovation, was coined by Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen in the 1990s. It refers to a new technology, product, or service that fundamentally changes an industry or market by displacing traditional ways of doing things. Disruptive technologies typically target an underserved segment, offering a simpler, more affordable, or more convenient solution than existing alternatives. A recent side-by-side product test in Africa compared one set of crops treated with fertilizer in standard quantities to another set of crops only treated with Soruba Seed Treatment. The crops that received seed treatment without fertilizer produced as well or better than the fertilized crops. Disruptive technology!
In the Third World, reduced demand for fertilizer, which is already at stratospheric prices, is a gift from God.
In Nicaragua, it costs a farmer $300 to fulfill the basic requirements to grow crops using fertilizer and pesticides. For $12-$15, the farmer can grow his crops with a product that weighs less than a pack of cigarettes.
From a financial perspective, using seed treatment instead of commercial fertilizers cuts costs for growing crops by 99%. The $300 previously spent on fertilizer, weighing a few hundred pounds and necessitating travel and delivery logistics, is no longer necessary for a successful harvest. Not included in the estimated $300 cost of fertilizer is the fuel, time, and energy required to transport the product and fertilize the field.
With the seed treatment, the farmer's crops can withstand heat, drought, and other weather-related stresses. With the time and money saved, he can grow more crops. Increased yields at a reduced cost allow him to have crops for himself and crops to sell, making him commercially viable and increasing economic stability.
Using seed treatment instead of chemical fertilizers will prevent chemicals from harming the soil. The improved soil health makes the lands genuinely sustainable. The reduction of chemical fertilizers reduces chemical fertilizer runoff and environmental pollution. Suddenly, the use of organic material on natural soil becomes very viable. Using organic microorganisms that are good for the earth will have long-term positive impacts on the soil microbiome and ecosystem.
Of course, there will be the usual resistance and skepticism from traditional farming communities. Still, fertilizers are at an all-time high, governments are trying to outlaw nitrogen, and there is a desperate need for food security worldwide. What better time than this to disrupt the current way of farming and growing plants to produce healthier outcomes for people and the planet?