Innovation: GCU to commercialise nano-fertiliser

Fertiliser developed by GCU registered with US Patent and Trademark Office.

LAHORE: The Government College University, Lahore will commercialise a nano-fertiliser, developed by its researchers, that produces healthy food by conserving nutrients and significantly increases the crop yield, said Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Khaleequr Rahman on Saturday.

Talking to reporters, Rahman said that the United States Patent and Trademark Office had issued a patent letter for the nano-leucite fertiliser. “Now the university’s Directorate of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation has been tasked with setting up contacts with noted national and international fertiliser companies for the future collaboration,” he said.

Rahman said there was a dire need that ingenuous innovations and inventions be transformed into commercial technology. “Such innovative products can help Pakistan develop and emerge on the world map as prosperous nation,” he said. He said that there were a number of economic and health benefits of using the fertiliser.

He said that the fertiliser was developed by a group of scientists, led by Dr Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh, an associate professor of chemistry at the university. The vice chancellor said that keeping in view the global food crisis, it was necessary to increase food production. “Traditional fertilisers have a major disadvantage. At least 50 per cent of nutrient contents is lost due to leaching. They also increase groundwater contamination. Nano-leucite fertiliser is a specialised slow-release nitrogenous fertiliser. It has a minimum nutrient loss due to leaching,” he said.

He said that GCU was playing its role in developing science and technology in the country.

“Two more patents of GCU scientists are under process with the US Patent Office. All universities in Pakistan need to work as incubators of inventions and innovation. The industry needs to transform these inventions and innovations into technology for economic prosperity,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2015.