Yara expands research capabilities in biological crop solutions

Farmers today must not only maintain but increase productivity, improve nutrient use efficiency, and adapt to more frequent climate stress. These pressures are driving growing interest in biological crop solutions that complement crop nutrition offers, helping crops perform at their full potential and become more resilient to climate change.

Demand for biologicals has increased fivefold over the past 20 years. To support this growing demand, Yara has expanded the laboratory facilities at its Hanninghof Research Centre in Dülmen, Germany, a site globally recognized for its expertise in plant nutrition and environmental agronomic research. The expansion represents a strategic investment in the scientific capabilities needed to develop, validate, and scale the next generation of biologicals integrated within crop nutrition solutions.

Biologicals and crop nutrition

Biologicals are an important pillar of Yara’s growth strategy and include two key segments within the crop nutrition portfolio:

• Specialty nutrition (YaraVita): secondary nutrients, macronutrients, and micronutrients that target specific growth stages and plant needs;

• Biostimulants (YaraAmplix): solutions that improve nutrient use efficiency, support soil and root health, and help crops better tolerate environmental stress.

Biologicals do not replace fertilizers. They work alongside them, supporting crops by enhancing nutrient use efficiency, amplifying crop potential and increasing tolerance to stress, which results in higher marketable yields. Plant nutrition can be compared to human nutrition. While fertilizers are the food for plants, biologicals act like vitamins that help them thrive, not just survive.

As the biologicals category expands, so does the need for deeper scientific understanding. Biological ingredients, such as microorganisms and biomolecules, interact with plants, soils, and nutrients in complex ways. Robust research and rigorous validation are therefore essential to ensure reliable performance before products reach growers.

A strategic expansion

The previous laboratory and analytical setup could no longer keep pace with the increasing scope and complexity of the research work.

“The expansion at Hanninghof site strengthens our ability to grow in biologicals by building on our core crop nutrition competence. It reflects our commitment to expanding our offerings for a more resilient crop production,” says Rejane Souza, SVP Global Innovation at Yara.

With the new facilities in place, Yara can more effectively conduct microbial development, bio-formulation work, and advanced biomolecular analytics. These capabilities allow researchers to study beneficial microorganisms and biological ingredients, develop product prototypes, and prepare them for testing and trials.

New capabilities supporting research

The upgraded facilities include dedicated spaces equipped with modern technology that support:

• Microbial cultivation and isolation;

• Formulation of microbial and non-living biological (bioactive) ingredients into test-ready prototypes;

• Advanced biomolecular analytics that improve precision, consistency, and data quality.

These improvements give researchers greater control and more tools over the development process while reducing reliance on external partners. They also ensure that Yara’s own quality standards guide every stage of product development, safeguarding also intellectual proprietary developments.

“The outcome of our work has always been defined by the quality and practical impact driven by our scientific standards. With these new facilities, the new human resources and expertise is now matched by the infrastructure required to improve speed, quality, and reliability,” says Dr. Luis Torres, VP Agronomy and R&D at Yara.

What this means for growers and the value chain

For farmers, stronger and rigorous scientific foundations translate into more reliable solutions in the field. For distributors, it provides confidence in a rapidly growing new product category and business that requires strong proof of performance. For partners across the food value chain, this investment demonstrates Yara’s commitment to supporting more resilient and sustainable food production. 

The success of the next generation of product offerings beyond crop nutrition will depend not only on new products, but also on the science behind them. The expansion of the Hanninghof Research Centre strengthens these foundations and supports Yara’s mission to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet.