10137224Sprout SmartActiveGrant for R&DInnovate UKAgriculture occupies about 50% of habitable land, facing immense pressure to increase crop yields to feed a growing global population of over 7.8 billion. Climate change and inefficient use of agrochemicals, such as fertilizers, exacerbate these challenges, with less than 1% of applied fertilizers reaching their intended targets. This inefficiency contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. In the UK, 1.24 million tonnes of fertilizers are used annually. Synthetic fertilizers are essential for maintaining crop yields and quality, but rising energy costs and over-fertilization degrade soil quality and strain farmers' margins. There is an urgent need for sustainable and cost-effective solutions to enhance fertilizer efficiency and reduce environmental impacts. SproutSmart aims to revolutionize nutrient management in agriculture by developing an innovative fertilizer encapsulated in coaxial nanofibers. This technology promises to reduce fertilizer usage by up to 50%, significantly lowering costs for farmers and minimizing environmental pollution. The project involves key partnerships with Impact, Edinburgh Napier University, and Croda. By targeting 2% of the UK's arable and horticultural sectors, SproutSmart aims to achieve significant market penetration and environmental benefits, projecting potential annual revenue of £18.6 million by 2030\.