At Soil Science NI, we are dedicated to advancing soil health and agricultural productivity through innovative scientific solutions.

All over the world, almost all cultivated soils have lost their fertility. This leads to erosion, compaction and asphyxia. Humus, which is the element within the soil that allows the soil to retain water and nutrients, is often diminished.

SOBAC, based in the South of France, develops environmentally friendly fertilisation techniques based on fast and natural production of Humus. These agronomic solutions were developed in the 1980`s by Marcel Mezy, a Farmer in Aveyron.

They boost the naturally fertilising resources of the soil and significantly reduce, or even eliminate the need for chemical inputs, while maintaining the same yields.

The many benefits of this method extend far beyond the fertility stage. They positively impact the quality of plants, the health of livestock, and consequently the health of consumers.

The agronomic, economic and environmental solitions offered by SOBAC successfully anticipated what would become sustainable development requirements.

They are intended primarily for agriculture but will also work wonders for the general public and local authorities.

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Future Proof your Farm with SOBAC

Sustainability

We strive to promote sustainable farming practices that preserve soil health, enhance biodiversity, and ensure responsible management of natural resources for future generations.

SOBAC`s approach encourages farmers to reduce their reliance on chemical fertilisers by optimising the natural processes within the soil.

The overall concept developed by SOBAC provides real solutions for the sustainability of farms.

There currently exists no other way of producing humus as fast, in as many types of soil and climates. Because the challenge is this..."When humus disappears, humans disappear.".

Innovation

By leveraging cutting-edge research and technology, we aim to provide farmers with innovative solutions that optimize crop yields and improve farming efficiency.

The core philosophy of SOBAC and its distributors revolves around the idea that a healthy soil is the foundation for healthy plants and animals, leading to improved forage quality and overall farm sustainability.

Soil Science

All over the world, almost all cultivated soils have lost their fertility. This leads to erosion, compaction and asphyxia.

Humus, which is the element within the soil that allows the soil to retain water and nutrients, is often diminished.

This means we have to add alot more water and nutrients to enable plants to grow, which tends to be very costly and produces environmentally harmful effects, particularly for air and water.

The technologies invented by SOBAC, allows this humus to be produced and to improve the functioning of the soil, while respecting the environment and even helping combat global warming.

Your bottom line...

Our mission includes educating farmers and stakeholders about best practices in soil management and agriculture, empowering them to make informed decisions.

SOBAC helps farmers to maximise the quality of their products, gain self-sufficiency, and increase their net profit per hectare in what are often difficult economic circumstances.

By enabling farmers to boost their income, SOBAC helps to sustain farms over time, helps farms to recover, and helps attract young farmers essential to maintaining rural economics.

Livestock

In Livestock farming, SOBAC solutions focus on the relationship between soil, plants and animals, to produce high quality forage, beneficial to both animal health and product quality.

Specifically for Beef and Diary farms, SOBAC allows farmers to reduce the volume of meal required for feeding due to the improved quality of their grass feed.

Other advantages for farmers and their cows, is the reduction in mastitis cases, as well as better foot health and improved overall animal health!

Crops

For crops, SOBAC will substantially reduce and in some cases even eliminate the use of fertilisers and pesticides to enhance the nutritive quality of the products, boosting both quality and yield while respecting the environment.

The overall concept developed by SOBAC provides real solutions for the sustainability of farms.

There currently exists no other way of producing humus as fast, in as many types of soil and climates. Because the challenge is this..."When humus disappears, humans disappear.".

For earth to be able to feed its population healthily and adequately, SOBAC is committed to implementing a new form of agriculture that is productive and environmentally friendly, whereby farmers regain their freedom and their pride in being farmers "for the soil, for a long time"

What is SOBAC and how is it used?

In developing his products Bacteriosol and Bacteriolit he only had one idea in mind: To give new life to deteriorated soils, often by the overuse of chemical inputs, so that farmers can regain their autonomy but also their pride by actively participating, at their level, in the protection of the planet.

SOBAC now operates in over 12 countries and entered the Irish market ten years ago in 2012.

SOBAC works for the health of soil.

A living soil is a healthy soil, and its humus content is the primary sign of that. While decades of chemicals, erosion and adverse weather have degraded soils all over the country, SOBAC’s products Bacteriolit and Bacteriosol have proved that it is possible to give soils back their fertility by boosting their humus content.

In livestock farming, SOBAC’s solutions focus on the relationship between soil, plants, and animals, to produce high-quality forage, beneficial to both animal health and product quality.

The overall concept provides real solutions for the sustainability of farms. SOBAC is one of the only companies helping farmers to produce humus as fast, in all types of soils and in all weather conditions.

SOBAC is committed to implementing a new form of agriculture that is productive and environmentally friendly, whereby farmers regain their freedom and their pride in being farmers for the soil, for a long time.

Bactériolit

Bacteriolit is the first product that Sobac developed it is a selection of microorganisms. It can be added to the bedding of animals to reduce ammonia, reduce smells and toxins. It can be used in slurry tanks and dry bedding of cattle also.

It is very effective at breaking down organic matter and composting straw. It also creates humus in the soil and unlocks the potential of your soil.

Bactériolit is a 100% natural composting additive recognised by the French Administration as CMO (Complex of micro-organisms) for composting without turning over manure and to obtain a marketable organic amendment compliant with NFU 44-051 standard and not subject to the Land Application Plan. It quickly activates the biological transformation of manure and slurry into humus and improves their efficiency, notably by reorganising the forms of nitrogen that they contain.

Bacteriosol

Bacteriosol is a granulated soil amendment can be spread in a normal fertiliser spreader. The application rate is 40kg/ac if you are under three livestock units (LU) to the hectare or 50kg if you are over 3LU to the hectare.

It creates humus in your soil and unlocks the potential of your soil. When you use Bacteriosol you reduce your chemical nitrogen usage by 30% and eliminate the use of chemical phosphorus and potassium.

Bactériosol technology is based on the action of certain micro-organisms spontaneously arising from Marcel Mézy Technologies.

It recycles the mineral elements not absorbed by the plants and rapidly increases the humus content of the soil. It boosts soil fertility by allowing the soil to release its natural nutritive potential, and restores all the necessary elements for good plant growth.

With Bactériosol, inputs can be sharply reduced, profit margins improved, and self-sufficiency and yields increased. This one-of-a-kind technology focuses on “life” and beneficially impacts soil health and life.

Humus formation improves soil structure and soil fertility. It has many consequences, in particular :

Optimises fertilisation management
Nutritional qualities of production
Increased resistance to drought and disease
Better rooting (deeper and denser) and thereby plant uptake of nutrients
Improved soil structure: more aerated and porous
Increased resistance to water stress
Erosion reduction
Balances the natural pH of the soil

Grassland Farmer of the year reduces fertiliser usage with SOBAC

In recent years, more and more farmers are focusing on the overall health of their soil, worm population and root depth; essentially, bringing their soil back to life.

Soil is comprised primarily of organic matter, rock particles, air, water and micro-life. A healthy soil will help the uptake of nutrients into the plant and animals will have access to better quality forage.

Noel O’Toole is a third-generation Dairy Farmer based in east Galway milking 180 cows on 45ha. Noel has been using Sobac products on his land for the last four years.

Noel uses both Sobac’s products, Bacteriolit and Bacteriosol, on his land. Bacteriolit is added to the slurry and spread on the grazing platform and Bacteriosol pellets are spread with a fertiliser spreader on the out farms.

Following the use of Sobac’s products, Noel has managed to stop using phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) fertiliser while maintaining his indexes.

His soil structure has improved along with root depth, leading to increased worm activity and soil health, which has resulted in a 40% reduction of nitrogen requirements on his land.