Federico Guaraldi, Sales Director, Saviolife
Tell us a little about the history of SAVIOLIFE /MAURO SAVIOLA GROUP in manufacturing slow release urea? The Mauro Saviola Group has integrated vertically in 1973 based on the strong need to self-produce glues and resins for the particleboard upstream which is the core business of our Group of companies. Afterwards the chemical part has evolved beyond its role of Italian leading adhesives manufacturer when in 2001, a brand new technology for production of liquid and granular Nitrogen methylene–urea slow release fertilizer with an innovative manufacturing process was installed, as a consequence of an important investment in the Italian factory located in Viadana (Mantua) with the scope to diversify in alternative sectors. After few years, the slow release fertilizer business of our Group conquered the European market and expanded quickly to North America becoming one of the world’s largest player in the sector of Methylene-urea specialty slow release nitrogen fertilizers with a global presence both in the Turf & Ornamental (T&O) sector and Agriculture (AG). The continuous growth in this industry and the strong commitment of our shareholders has driven to create the 4th legal entity of the Group at beginning of 2019: SAVIOLIFE srl , the life science company , fully dedicated and focused to further develop this sector. SAVIOLIFE® integrated completely the two products lines SAZOLENE® (slow release Nitrogen) and SAVIOTAN® (a vegetal extract suitable for a wide series of application) , which represent the two pillars of the new company, targeting ambitious development for the next 5 years, with relevant investment to support the internal growth.
Your products : Sazolene® and Saviotan® - talk us through the range (liquid and granular), explaining how it they work. Sazolene is a brand name that includes unique and innovative slow release Nitrogen available in liquid and granular formulations. The slow release of nitrogen is obtained by a new patented technology, that enable to condensate units of urea in polymers ( chains ) with different degree of reaction ensuring various solubility and releasing time, suitable for different application, from short cycle to permanent crops. The granular formulations ( named SAZOLENE 39G) are retained in the soil profile with a predicted nitrogen release, ensuring delivery of this primary nutrient in synchrony with plant demand and able to avoid lost in underground water and ammonia volatilization, feeding the plants with a much better cost-efficacy balance. The liquid formulations ( named SAZOLENE SC ) are suitable for soil, drip and foliar application. The features of our true slow release nitrogen solution are unique: have the lowest Salt Index of any other liquid nitrogen without phytotoxicity or burning potential and quick absorption thanks a complex series of organic nitrogen molecules with low molecular weight to ensure receive nitrogen across the cell membrane in 24-48 hours, where it is translocated for storage, metabolism and use with a long lasting effect of about 4 weeks. In both cases, granular and liquid SAZOLENE, works in a very simple and smart way: using the natural fertility and the interaction with soil bacteria and plant leaves enzymes. SAZOLENE products are not using coating substances responsible of undesired microplastic residues in the environment or chemical biocides to inhibit urease or nitrification enzymes, responsible in nature for the natural degradation process of urea and other nitrogen types in available units for plant nutrition. In this way methylene urea products are a sustainable resource for the whole industry. SAVIOTAN, is a brand name that includes innovative vegetal extracts with high concentration of polyphenols available in liquid and granular formulations. The unique quality and concentration of the product is obtained by a patented technology that use no chemical solvent and an extraction technology that grant a 100% biological product with the maximum purity. In both cases , granular and liquid SAVIOTAN, are offered for several different market application like feed, food, tanning, oenology, pharma and of course agriculture, thanks to the antioxidant and biostimulant properties of the extract. SAVIOLIFE is developing a series of new products to offer in the agriculture and T&O [Turf & Ornamental] markets, to provide micronutrients chelation, starting effect to increase seed germination, biostimulating activity in post transplantation and control of vegetables stress for horticultural crops and several other sustainable and eco-friendly products through a dedicated and continuous R&D program.
Where do you manufacture your products? SAVIOLIFE facilities are located in Viadana (MN) Italy and in Genk (Belgium) for SAZOLENE products and in Radicofani (SI) Italy for SAVIOTAN. Large, innovative and advanced factories are the beating heart of SAVIOLIFE from where, every year, we deliver in the global markets innovative products designed to reduce the environmental impact of fertilizers enhancing farming practices and offering a real value for end users and the entire distribution chain.
You buy urea for production. Does it matter if it is prilled or granular urea? Urea is the major raw material used in our several factories for different production processes. It is melted into a solution and for this reason is not important if prilled or granular (mainly depend from the price) and afterwards used in different synthesis and process to get final products, including methylene-urea slow release nitrogen. The Mauro Saviola Group is probably the main Italian urea importer having reached up to 250,000 tonnes/year for all sites.
What are the end-use sectors for Sazolene? which markets are for liquid and for granular? For example, I understand durum wheat in Europe is a large consumer of slow-release urea, UF and methylene urea products. The ornamental plant sector - is that an important market? Sazolene 39G is an ingredient for manufacturing ready-to-use fertilizers, to provide slow release nitrogen in the final product. Thanks to the different sizes available and the dust free round granules, Sazolene is a preferred component in the production of high quality bulk blend fertilizers because is a unique slow release source that can assure slow release, without nitrogen loss or dumping in case of crush of particles during mixing, shipping or handling; for this reason it can be used also for compacted or granulated manufacturing process. A gradual release of nitrogen is still assured, without nitrogen loss or dumping. Sazolene SC has even more dynamic application range. It can be sprayed on leaves of cereals, vegetables, fruit trees and vineyards giving to the plants a shot of very high efficient Nitrogen that allows for growth constantly without vegetative excesses. Amenities and ornamentals sector definitively can benefit application of liquid SAZOLENE SC during some crucial phases avoiding Nitrogen deficiencies. Thanks to high compatibility can be used as well to manufacture NP, NK and NPK solution in fertilizers program or to prevent nitrogen deficiencies. SAZOLENE, granular and liquid, have a wide range of applications. Is a very flexible source of smart nitrogen which all crops can benefit thanks to the various releasing times available: can be used on food crops, horticulture and fruits and for turf, flowers, landscaping and ornamental plants including new seedlings. The Turf and Ornamental sector is our core market but agriculture/food market is recording a global continuous expansion over time for specialty / slow release products because the global necessity of inputs and farming practices to protect the environment.
What countries do you export your products to? Saviolife’s presence is global: from North America to Asia Pacific. Of course, Europe is our domestic market, but today we are very dedicated to expand our presence in several markets like LATAM, Middle East, Africa and other markets that represent a strategical development for the next future. We’re extending the registration of our products in many of these markets and looking for new partnerships and strategic alliances. How do you see the future of slow-release fertilizers? Are there any trends you have noticed in recent years? The more food demand and, consequently, the lack of arable lands impose more efficient farming practices and inputs to produce more with less. Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers, precision farming, biostimulants, 4R practices are the hottest topics discussed in our industry in the last decade. Environment care and protection is a must for the fertilizer industry today and Saviolife’s commitment is to provide innovative fertilizers to improve the quality and development of ornamentals and food crops, reduce maintenance and production cost and reduce or eliminate the impact on the ecosystem. We in Saviolife observe that the demand of slow release nitrogen is constantly growing across the globe. More knowledge about the system of action of the products, more formulations available and more demand of sustainable technologies, are actually increasing the geographies where our products are required. ●
