Biofilm: World’s first soil recovery product from Sri Lanka

By Waruni Paranagamage
In ancient times Sri Lanka’s economy depended primarily on its agricultural sector, and this is true even today but has changed its variety of planting crops. Before colonisation, our ancestors were self sufficient with paddy, fruits, vegetables and other crops being cultivated on their own land. However in colonial times the estate plantation sector was introduced by the Europeans.
The changes in crop varieties have also changed cultivation methods, maintenance methods, demands of labour skills and also the fertilisers used. Before these changes happened, rural Sri Lankan farmers used their own environmental-friendly cultivation methods to overcome agricultural issues. But due to the high dependency on chemical fertiliser, the estate sector – especially tea plantations – are today facing poor harvests and poor quality.
Chemical fertiliser has changed soil ingredients and destroyed natural pests that deplete fields but has also affected supportive soil bacteria. Soil deterioration in fields not only affects the tea sector but also other plantation sectors as well. Hence, Sri Lanka has been facing various issues in estate agriculture production and faced environmental issues too.
In order to break away from the mess and right the wrongs practiced for years on end, Sri Lanka’s leading research institute, the Institute of Fundamental Studies (IFS), has now developed a innovative, world’s first product ‘Biofilm’ to replace up to 50% of chemical fertiliser usage in major plantation crops. Nature’s Beauty Creations (NBC) has tied up with IFS to successfully upscale the research to a commercially viable product.
Birth of ‘Biofilm’  
In 2002, the Department of Agriculture, for the first time had recognised that the deterioration of soil quality in plantations has seriously affected harvests. They understood that the reason for the deterioration of the soil is connected with high chemical fertiliser usage in fields. The situation had become quite serious and farmers have had to use increased chemical fertilisers for plant growth and more agrochemicals to protect their crops from pests and diseases. The department has urged researchers to look for the capabilities to enhance the quality of soil for agri sectors.
Research group leader Prof. Gamini Seneviratne from the Institute of Fundamental Studies (IFS), and the founder of ‘Biofilm’, started his research in 2002 and has found that the microbes – fungi and bacteria – form surface attached communities called ‘Biofilm’ which can increase the soil quality. He said: “In nature also there are such communities, but this is at a very low density. What we did was to develop that process to culture such communities in the laboratory. That was the invention.”
The research group had discovered that ‘Biofilm’ can be used in agriculture and plantations. Then from 2005 onwards they had started testing ‘Biofilm’ with tea cultivation in collaboration with Tea Research Institute (TRI) of Sri Lanka. “There we tested this in nursery tea culture and tea estates. The test had identified that bio fertiliser can reduce chemical fertiliser use by 50%,” said Prof. Seneviratne. ‘Biofilm’ serves as a soil protector in the field and can uplift the effectiveness of chemical fertiliser and support the natural decomposition process.

 

‘Biofilm’ for grassroots
Daily FT recently visited Galle and met with some farmers and supervisors of small tea estates that benefited by using ‘Biofilm’. They expressed their satisfaction in using the product which has brought with it significant benefits during the period.
Many of the farmers stated that before they used the product they plucked only 500g of tea leaves from an acre, but now it has increased up to around 800g per acre. They also experienced soft quality and green coloured tea leaves after using Biofilm.
“Tea pluckers greatly welcome the system because it is natural, cheaper than chemical fertiliser, and easy to use. The main benefit is that it rehabilitates the poor soil in the fields,” said Ushan Dammika, Supervisor of Ushan Tea Estate. He added that Biofilm was the best option for tea sector when it faces low supply of chemical fertiliser in the country. They have also used Biofilm without chemical fertiliser as well. “But the cultivation can’t depend on only Biofilm because it is not a kind of fertiliser, but it increases bacteria and insect communities to decompose and increase the soil,” Dammika explained.
Generally, a tea plant needs two to three months to grow after pruning when using chemical fertiliser, but needs only one and half months to grow when using Biofilm.

‘Biofilm’ future with NBC
Nature’s Beauty Creations Company (NBC) signed an agreement with IFS in 2010, to commercially manufacture the product. “Biofilm is our own product. Prof. Gamini Seneviratne has the patent rights for the product and we hope to support our own scientists,” said NBC Advertising & Public Relations Manager Nalin Aluthge.
A Central Bank report reveals that government expenditure on chemical fertiliser imports was $ 238.7 million in 2013. Sri Lanka is now the highest per hectare user of pesticides and the 8th highest user of chemical fertiliser in the world. “We saw the great potential in the market. If we can cut down 50% of that expenditure it will be a saving for the Government as well,” emphasised Aluthge.
Up to now NBC has invested over Rs. 150 million for Biofilm products and they manufacture them in their factory in Hokandara. Biofilm comes in 250 ml packs priced at Rs. 600 per bottle. According to TRI recommendations, the cost when using 100% chemical fertilisers is Rs. 3,900 per acre, but with Biofilm usage plantations can halve this cost.