N2 Applied

Based in Norway, N2 Applied has developed a patented technology to convert liquid manure (slurry) into a nitrogen-rich fertilizer product called “Nitrogen Enriched Organic fertilizer” (NEO). To produce NEO, the company feeds liquid waste into its machine, “N2 Unit,” which reacts with air and electricity to produce the nitrogen-enriched liquid fertilizer. The reaction process also “locks in” waste emissions such as ammonia and methane in the liquid waste, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. The N2 Unit is the size of a container and can be easily installed on the farm next to livestock or manure storage.

The company claims that the N2 Unit doubles the nitrogen content in the fertilizer, reduces on-farm carbon footprint by 30% per year, and improves crop yield by 40% compared to regular manure. NEO is an alternative to chemical fertilizer and can be applied to crops using existing farm equipment. The technology is also applicable in agriculture, livestock farming, and biogas production for fertilizer production, waste management, and treatment of byproducts from biogas production, respectively.

As of June 2022, the company had not successfully commercialized its technology, but operates branches internationally in the Netherlands and the UK.

Key customers and partnerships

N2 Applied has also conducted multiple trials and pilot projects across Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the UK, and the Netherlands, partnering with blue-chip agri-food brands to test its technology. For example, the company’s technology was used at Danish dairy giant Arla’s “innovate farm” in the UK in October 2021 to produce and test fertilizer made from cow slurry. Results showed that ammonia emissions reduced by 90% compared to untreated slurry when applied to winter wheat crops.

In October 2021, the company also stated that it had received interest for its N2 Unit from the Scandinavian region, the UK, and the US and was looking to partner with companies to commercialize its solution.

Funding and financials

In October 2021, the company received EUR 15 million (~USD 17.3 million) in investment grants from the European Innovation Council (EIC). Prior to that, in September 2021, N2 Applied raised NOK 83 million (~USD 9.8 million), led by the company’s CEO Carl Hansson, to commercialize its technology.