HGS Bioscience has launched HumiK ONE Slingshot, a granular biological crop solution that combines humic substances with beneficial microbes to improve nutrient efficiency, strengthen soil health and support crop resilience under environmental stress. The launch is the company’s first integrated biological product following its acquisition of Pharmgrade earlier this year. The product brings together HGS Bioscience’s humic technology and Pharmgrade’s microbial inoculant capabilities in a single formulation designed to fit into existing dry-fertilizer programmes.
HumiK ONE Slingshot is designed for use with dry fertilizer applications and can be applied before planting, at planting, during the growing season or after harvest. The product is targeted at crops including potatoes, corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton. Its granular format is designed to integrate directly with existing fertilizer programmes without requiring liquid application systems or additional equipment.
“HumiK ONE Slingshot combines two proven technologies that work together to improve nutrient availability and soil productivity,” said Kelly Tanaka, Chief Science Officer, HGS Bioscience. “By combining humic substances and microbial technologies in a granular formulation, it provides growers with a practical way to increase yield and improve long-term soil health without adding complexity to existing fertility programs.” The product uses HGS Bioscience’s proprietary Extracted Granule Technology to distribute active humic substances and beneficial microorganisms alongside dry fertilizer. According to the company, the formulation can unlock 15–20 per cent more phosphorus and potassium in the soil, improving the availability of these nutrients to crops.
Humic substances can improve soil structure and water-holding capacity while helping retain nutrients in the root zone. They can also support root development and microbial activity and improve crop tolerance to environmental stress. As a component of soil organic matter, humic substances are also associated with longer-term improvements in soil productivity and nutrient retention. The microbial consortium in HumiK ONE Slingshot includes bacteria and fungi designed to support plant growth by making bound phosphorus and potassium more available, fixing atmospheric nitrogen and establishing beneficial microbial communities around plant roots.
The combination is intended to provide multiple biological mechanisms for improving nutrient uptake and crop resilience while allowing growers to retain their existing dry-fertilizer application practices. “Together, these stacked technologies provide multiple modes of action that help growers improve nutrient uptake, reduce crop stress and build more resilient fertility programs,” Tanaka said. “We are excited to bring this to market ahead of the 2027 growing season to help farmers successfully mitigate environmental challenges in the field as they navigate uncertainty with fertilizer prices.”
HumiK ONE Slingshot is available through HGS Bioscience’s authorized distribution network. The launch also represents an early commercial integration of the capabilities brought together through the Pharmgrade acquisition, as biological inputs increasingly become part of broader nutrient-management strategies.
