Reformix looks to Revolutionise Agriculture with Eco-Friendly Fertilizers Synthesised from Mining By-Products

Modern agriculture is under pressure.

Amorphous silica powder extracted from mining by-products

Input costs remain elevated. Climate volatility is increasing production risk. At the same time, regulators, supply chains and consumers are demanding lower-carbon, more sustainable food systems.

The current fertiliser model - heavily dependent on synthetic nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) - is increasingly misaligned with both economic and environmental realities.

At Reformix, we saw an opportunity to rethink that model.

Through years of research and product development in amorphous silica materials derived from mining by-products, we identified a pathway to translate our materials science expertise beyond construction and into agriculture. That work led to the launch of Net Zero Ag Solutions Pty Ltd (NZA); a subsidiary focused on developing sustainable, silica-based fertilisers sourced locally in Western Australia. This is not a pivot. It is an extension of core capability: transforming industrial by-products into high-value, performance-driven commercial products.

The Problem with Conventional Fertilisers & Agriculture

Agriculture today faces three intersecting pressures:

1. Economic Volatility:

   Fertiliser prices remain structurally elevated due to geopolitical instability, energy-intensive production processes and global supply constraints. Even as short-term peaks ease, long-term input cost volatility compresses farm margins and increases financial risk. Growers are increasingly seeking solutions that improve nutrient use efficiency and deliver measurable return on investment.
   

2. Environmental & Emissions Pressure

   The production and use of synthetic fertilisers, particularly nitrogen-based products, is profoundly energy-intensive. Globally, fertiliser systems account for roughly 5% of greenhouse gas emissions. In Australia, agriculture represents nearly 20% of national emissions. Nitrous oxide emissions from fertiliser application are a primary contributor. Regulators, supply chains and export markets are now structurally incentivising decarbonisation. Inputs that reduce emissions intensity while maintaining yield are no longer optional; they are becoming essential.
   

3. Agronomic Resilience

   Climate change is intensifying drought, heat stress, salinity, frost and pest pressure. Traditional NPK-centric fertilisation strategies often support growth, but do not necessarily improve intrinsic crop resilience. This creates a widening gap between yield potential and yield stability.

   

From Material Science & Chemical Engineering to Agriculture

Reformix’s core expertise lies in:

• Advanced materials characterisation.

• Thermochemical and compositional modelling.

• Industrial process and product optimisation.

• Converting underutilised by-products into engineered products.

Through our work in geopolymer systems and aluminosilicate materials, we developed deep technical understanding of amorphous silica - its structure, reactivity and interaction with complex systems.

The question then became:

Could this same material science foundation we've curated as experts in the construction and industrial chemistry fields also create value in agriculture?

The answer was yes.

250μm view field Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Comparison between amorphous silica (AS) samples and qualitative crystallites. Reformix ©.

The Net Zero Ag Solution

NZA’s silica-based products, including Amsil and FlowSil, are derived from locally sourced amorphous silica mining by-products and engineered for agricultural applications. They deliver value across three dimensions:

1. Economic Value

   Adoption ultimately depends on measurable return. Field trials and international research indicate:

   1. 10–25% yield improvements across multiple crop types due to enhanced silicon uptake

   2. Improved fruit firmness, brix and shelf life

   3. 20–30% reductions in NPK usage through improved nutrient retention and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)

   4. Improved water-use efficiency (WUE), reducing irrigation costs

      For growers, this translates to margin expansion, not just sustainability claims.
      

2. Agronomic Value

   Silicon plays a critical role in strengthening plant cell walls and enhancing stress tolerance. Observed benefits include:

   1. Increased resistance to fungal pathogens and insect pressure

   2. Reduced reliance on chemical pesticides

   3. Improved soil microbial activity and aggregate stability

   4. Greater tolerance to drought, frost, salinity and heat stress

      Rather than replacing core nutrients, silica enhances the system in which they operate.
      

3. Environmental & Carbon Value

   Improved nitrogen efficiency reduces nitrous oxide emissions, one of the most potent agricultural greenhouse gases. Research suggests:

   1. Up to 30% reduction in fertiliser-related embodied emissions

   2. Potential increases of 0.9–1.1 tonnes of soil carbon per hectare per year

   3. Reduced nutrient leaching and runoff

   These outcomes align with emerging Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) methodologies and provide potential additional revenue streams for growers through soil carbon and emissions-reduction frameworks. Importantly, products derived from naturally occurring amorphous silica are well positioned to qualify under Australian Certified Organic (ACO) standards, supporting regenerative and premium market access.
   

The site of one of our first amorphous silica trials in the Western Australian Wheatbelt!

A Broader Industrial Ecology Opportunity

This initiative represents something larger than a new product line.

It demonstrates how:

• Mining by-products can become agricultural inputs

• Materials science can inform biological systems

• Industrial waste streams can underpin regenerative value chains
  

Reformix was founded on the principle that industrial by-products are not waste, but simply raw materials made to poor specifications.

Net Zero Ag Solutions extends that principle into agriculture.

By applying rigorous characterisation, modelling and formulation expertise, we are building products that are economically viable, agronomically beneficial and environmentally aligned. The transition to low-carbon agriculture will not be driven by ideology. It will be driven by inputs that improve profitability and resilience at the same time.

Looking Ahead

As climate pressure intensifies and supply chains decarbonise, the market for climate-smart agricultural inputs will continue to expand.

Our focus remains clear:

• Scientific validation

• Field performance

• Commercial scalability

Industrial by-products are abundant. The challenge, and opportunity, is engineering them correctly.