VIRI is a locally owned and operated agriculture company based in Bozeman, MT. At VIRI we focus on farming microalgae, to make environmentally friendly plant fertilizer. VIRI SOIL fertilizer and amender is made by using a carbon negative process of forming algal biochar, essentially trapping all the carbon sequester through photosynthesis into the fertilizer. At VIRI we pride ourselves on creating and maintaining a sustainable and environmentally conscious process from start to finish.
Microalgae farming is the primary source of biofuel production in the world. Microalge are widely used in pharmaceuticals as supplements and in the food and beverage industry. Research efforts have recently been funded that focus on microalgal ability to amend and fertilize soil. However, little money has been invested to make a commercially available microalgal-based fertilizer. Existing commercial fertilizers on the market are largely synthetic. Studies show that even though synthetic fertilizers have a significant nutritive ability for plants, the negative environmental impact that they cause is tremendous. Synthetic fertilizers are petroleum based and after watering they run into streams and rivers, triggering a number of cascades leading to the destruction of land and aquatic habitats and populations. VIRI offers an organic biofertilizer that has been shown through research to have better nutritive effects when compared to standard, commercial fertilizers while simultaneously eliminating the environmental risks associated with its synthetic counterparts.
Microalgal biochar traps atmospheric CO2 while maintaining high concentrations of Nitrogen(N), Phosphorous (P) and Potassium(K), commonly known as NPK, which are essential plant macronutrients. Furthermore, microalgal biochar contains several micronutrients that are necessary for plants to thrive and flourish. BTC fertilizer maintains a healthy soil which retains moisture better and supplements the plants with more nutrients. BTC fertilizer also doubles as a plant protector. Due to its biochar nature, this fertilizer has been shown to prevent root-rot, mold, mildew, different fungi infections, etc., protecting the plant from natural pathogens. Applying VIRI SOIL fertilizer and Amender helps with soil aeration to create a better, more sustainable environment for plant growth.
Microalgae are the largest carbon dioxide sequesters on earth, reaching up to 400 times more efficiency than land plants and trees. Although data suggests that algae farming can reduce atmospheric carbon and greenhouse gasses, progress towards increase of algal cultivation is lacking. There is a massive need to expand this branch of the agriculture industry, and VIRI is here to do their part. As “algaepreneurs”, VIRI aims to increase microalgae production and develop new, innovative agricultural products, which in turn will lead to better soil for food cultivation, cleaner water and cleaner air. At VIRI we aim to fulfill this need in the market, making this vital product accessible at competitive prices for farmers and produces, while maintaining a fully focused ecological and carbon negative approach.