Encapsulated Earthworm Cocoon (eggs) Viability Studies for Sustainable Soil Management

Our assertion is that intensive tillage methods have destroyed the viability of our croplands over the last one half century. In order to maintain the ability of these lands to grow crops, we have used and over-used chemical fertilizers which pose an ongoing environmental threat to our air and waterways. The benefits of conservation tillage methods are widely known, however the time to successfully transition to such methods can be ill afforded by the majority of our financially strapped farmers. We assert that the reintroduction of earthworms can speed cropland transition to conservation tillage methods and is a key to the long-term health and viability of our land to sustain production year after year. ABI has worked with leading earthworm experts and industrial partners perfecting a method to reintroduce earthworms economically back into our croplands. ABI has a patent and patent-pending method to encapsulate earthworm cocoons so that they may be planted in the spring with that season's crop. Encapsulated earthworm cocoons can be hand-placed into the seed hoppers while loading the planter or pre-placed in a bag of seed by the seed company. The encapsulated cocoons are sized during the encapsulation process to provide a density and size approximately equal to that of the crop seed being planted.