Local firm a pioneer in stronger, healthier plants

Daniel Hilger: A Sustainable Approach to Agriculture

Daniel Hilger, a Nebraska farmer, has been dedicated to sustainable agriculture for over half a century. He understands the importance of using humic-based agricultural products on his crops, as they improve soil conditions and result in stronger plants. Hilger believes that healthy plants lead to better-tasting and healthier end products for consumers.

Huma: Enhancing Crop Yields and Quality

Huma, located near McQueen and Guadalupe roads in Gilbert, is a company that specializes in improving crop yields and enhancing the quality of fruits and vegetables. They offer a wide range of products that are sold wholesale to distributors in the United States and 35 other countries. Farmers like Hilger are among their end users.

Huma was founded by Dr. Jordan Smith, a plant physiologist, along with Don Organ and Delworth Stout, 50 years ago. Their journey began with the purchase of a mountain in southwest Idaho in 1973. This mountain contained a unique raw material known as humic substances, which are naturally organic biostimulants derived from decomposed plant and animal matter.

The Secret Behind Huma’s Success: Micro Carbon Technology (MCT)

Huma’s success lies in their proprietary blend called Micro Carbon Technology (MCT). This blend consists of concentrated tiny organic particles extracted from the humates found in the Idaho mine. The use of Huma products with MCT allows for precise delivery of nutrients, resulting in improved crop vigor, quality, and yield.

It is important to note that Huma is the only company that possesses Micro Carbon Technology, which was developed by the founders of the company. They have also assembled a team of top humic researchers to continue their research and development efforts.

The Benefits of Humic Substances

Dr. Richard Lamar, the senior director of research at Huma, explains the numerous benefits of humic substances. These substances enhance the fine roots in plants, allowing them to exploit a larger volume of soil. This leads to increased water-holding capacity and nutrient availability, ultimately resulting in higher yields.

Huma’s products also enhance photosynthetic efficiency, leading to increased plant biomass and productivity. Additionally, humic substances help plants respond better to stress caused by factors such as global warming. By triggering a modified stress response, plants become stronger and more resilient.

Proven Results and Sustainable Practices

Crops grown with Huma products have shown significant benefits. They save approximately 30% of water usage, which is crucial in water-scarce regions like Arizona. These products also increase crop yields by 10-20% and improve the shelf stability of fruits and vegetables. For example, peppers grown with Huma products have been shown to last longer on store shelves and contain higher levels of nutrients.

Huma’s sustainable practices extend beyond their products. They prioritize environmental consciousness by recycling waste materials and reducing unnecessary waste. The company aims to be a global leader in humic products and technologies, providing sustainable and regenerative solutions to the challenges faced by modern agriculture.

The Future of Huma

Huma has recently purchased a building in Tempe, Arizona, with plans to expand their operations. They aim to transfer their blending and packaging processes to this new facility, while maintaining their Gilbert site for product development, quality assurance, and research.

Despite their patented technology and proven results, Huma faces challenges in convincing Arizona farmers to adopt their products. However, with a growing movement towards environmentally conscious agriculture, Huma believes there is great potential for the future.

As Lyndon Smith, the CEO and president of Huma, states, “We want to provide solutions to agriculture as we know it today, addressing the challenges and striving for a more sustainable and regenerative approach. Our products have already made a significant impact, and we are excited to continue making things better.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The article discusses how Huma’s products improve crop yields, enhance the quality of fruits and vegetables, and increase the shelf life of produce, which can contribute to reducing hunger and improving food security.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Huma’s products aim to provide sustainable and regenerative agricultural solutions by reducing the over-application of chemicals and using environmentally friendly alternatives.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – Huma’s products help plants become more resilient to stress caused by climate change, such as drought or excessive rain, by enhancing their root systems and photosynthetic efficiency.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality. – Huma’s products aim to improve soil conditions, increase plant vigor, and enhance nutrient availability, contributing to sustainable food production systems.
• SDG 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. – Huma’s products provide an alternative to conventional fertilizers, which can have negative impacts on the environment, by using organic biostimulants derived from naturally decayed plant and animal matter.
• SDG 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. – Huma’s research team includes scientists who study the benefits of humic substances and work towards improving agricultural practices in response to climate change.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Increased crop yields – The article mentions that crops grown with Huma’s products can see yield increases of between 10 and 20%.
• Water savings – According to the article, crops grown with Huma’s products save approximately 30% of water compared to conventional agriculture practices.
• Enhanced shelf stability – The article states that peppers grown with Huma’s products can last longer on store shelves and in consumers’ fridges, indicating improved shelf stability.
• Improved nutrient content – The article mentions that peppers grown with Huma’s products have higher levels of magnesium and other nutrients compared to conventionally grown peppers.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: gilbertsunnews.com

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