eqo.x^® Release Technology

ICL’s eqo.x® is an award winning, fully biodegradable release technology that sets a new standard for controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs). CRFs play an important role in modern agriculture by synchronizing nutrient availability with crop demand, improving efficiency, and reducing environmental losses.

We are introducing eqo.x release technology to our Agrocote® and Agromaster® controlled release fertilizers, delivering the same reliable performance growers expect, but with the added benefit that the coating degrades fully to CO₂ and water once the nutrients are released. This means no lasting residue in the soil and a stronger fit with the sustainability goals of modern agriculture.

How does eqo.x® work?

Each granule of fertilizer is coated with a layer that regulates the timing and rate of nutrient release. Soil water penetrates the coating, dissolves the nutrients, and then releases them gradually into the soil solution. The release rate is driven by soil temperature—slower at cooler temperatures when crop growth is limited, faster in warmer conditions when demand is higher.

Once the nutrients have been released, the coating biodegrades completely, leaving nothing behind in the soil.

What are the benefits of eqo.x® release technology?

The eqo.x® release technology provides growers with several important advantages:

• Fully biodegradable coating technology, supporting sustainable farming practices
• Consistent and predictable, temperature-driven nutrient release to match plant needs
• Available in longevities from 1–2 to 5–6 months (at an average soil temperature of 21°C)
• Certified under the EU Fertilizing Products Regulation, which will require full and faster biodegradability from 2028

Does eqo.x® comply with the European Fertilizer Products Regulation?

Our eqo.x® release technology has already received official certification under the EU Fertilizing Products Regulation, setting a new benchmark for compliance and innovation. The new EU standards requiring full and faster biodegradability are set to become mandatory in 2028, and with eqo.x, ICL has not only met that challenge early but has done so with a coating that retains the performance that growers expect from ICL products.

Recognition and Awards

The innovation behind eqo.x has also been acknowledged internationally, receiving the Gold Globee Award for Sustainable Agriculture Innovation in 2024 and the Platinum Titan Business Award for Sustainability in 2025. These awards reflect ICL’s commitment to sustainability, product integrity, and helping growers navigate the future of compliant, high-efficiency fertilization.

A Step Forward for Sustainable Fertilization

By combining the proven benefits of controlled-release fertilizers with a coating that fully biodegrades, eqo.x® provides growers with a tool that supports productivity and environmental responsibility. It represents an important step forward in helping agriculture meet the challenge of producing more food while reducing environmental impact.