Growers looking to improve crop performance while managing input costs are being offered a new biological approach designed to help improve nitrogen efficiency during the growing season.
UK agricultural technology company Azotic Technologies has developed Encera, a bacteria-based product it says can support crop nutrition by helping plants access nitrogen naturally from within the plant.
The technology is being promoted at a time when growers continue to assess input strategies, with fertiliser prices and availability remaining key considerations when planning autumn cropping programmes.
Based in Dunnington, near York, Azotic develops biological solutions designed to improve nutrient efficiency. The company says Encera works through a naturally occurring bacterium that provides crops with a consistent supply of nitrogen throughout the season, helping support growth and crop performance.
The approach, known as Systemic Nitrogen Fixation, enables the plant to access nitrogen internally rather than relying solely on traditional applied sources.
CEO at Azotic Technologies, Sander Pabbruwee said growers were increasingly looking for ways to maintain yields while improving the efficiency of their inputs.
“Farmers are under real pressure to produce the same yields with less fertiliser,” he said.
“Our technology helps them do exactly that, by enabling crops to access nitrogen naturally from within the plant itself.”
Encera can be used across a range of crops, including wheat and oilseed rape, making it relevant to growers planning autumn sowing programmes. The company says the product helps deliver nitrogen throughout the growing season, supporting consistent crop development.
The bacteria behind the technology was originally discovered in Brazilian sugarcane and has been developed over more than 20 years of research before being commercialised by Azotic.
North Yorkshire grower Derek Cornforth adopted Encera following an on-farm trial and said the ability to improve nutrient efficiency was becoming increasingly important.
“With fertiliser prices where they are, anything that helps reduce what I need to buy while still delivering a good crop is a real advantage,” he said.
As growers prepare for the autumn drilling season, improving nutrient use efficiency is becoming an increasingly important part of crop management decisions.
While traditional fertiliser applications remain central to achieving yield potential, technologies designed to complement existing nutrient programmes are attracting interest as farmers look for ways to improve resilience and manage production costs.
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North Yorkshire farmer Derek Cornforth has expanded his use of Encera across his winter wheat and oilseed rape area following an on-farm trial.
At East Heslerton Wold Farm near Malton, Derek first trialled the biological nitrogen product in wheat during the 2025 season before extending its use across the farm in 2026.
Trial results included:
Wheat yields increased by up to 1 tonne per hectare in treated tramlines, according to trial results.
Encera is now being used across Derek’s full wheat and oilseed rape acreage.
The product is claimed to provide the equivalent of around 30-40kg N/ha, helping improve nitrogen efficiency.
Early observations during the dry 2026 season have shown encouraging crop performance in treated areas.
Agronomist at ProCam, Danny Hatchett said: “Encera provides the equivalent of approximately 30 to 40kg of nitrogen per hectare, which means it can be used to replace a proportion of conventional fertiliser.”
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