All about Komens™

What is it?

Komens is a biological nitrogen fixation system built from a powerful partnership of two microbes: Azospirillum brasilense and Pantoea dispersa. 

A. brasilense is a free-living rhizosphere bacterium that fixes nitrogen, supports rooting, and enhances nitrogen uptake. P. dispersa is both free-living and endophytic; it fixes nitrogen and also helps solubilize phosphorus, another essential nutrient. Together, these microbes form a team that improves nutrient cycling, enhances microbial diversity in the rhizosphere, and supports plant vigor, quality, and yield. Komens can be applied via drip, drench, or in-furrow and is compatible with most existing fertility programs.

Why do we make it?

Nitrogen is essential to plant life, but also notoriously difficult for plants to access. Despite making up 78% of the atmosphere, atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) is inert and unusable to plants without microbial help. Plants evolved alongside microbes that could “fix” nitrogen—converting N₂ into usable forms like ammonium (NH₄⁺) or nitrate (NO₃⁻). These relationships, especially in the rhizosphere, form the foundation of nutrient cycling and soil fertility.

The invention of the Haber-Bosch process allowed humans to industrially fix nitrogen, giving rise to synthetic fertilizers and the agricultural revolution. But this shortcut came at a cost: soil degradation, nutrient leaching, algal blooms, and nitrous oxide emissions. Over time, excess nitrogen application has also disrupted beneficial microbial relationships and increased vulnerability to pests and disease. While synthetic nitrogen enabled massive gains in yield, it often disrupted the natural balance that once existed between soil and plant.

Komens was developed to restore that balance. It brings the benefits of microbial nitrogen fixation back into the field—providing nitrogen in a continuous, plant-accessible way throughout the season. Instead of flooding plants with nitrogen that often leaches away, Komens delivers it in step with plant demand, mediated by microbes. This supports healthier vegetative and reproductive growth, protects soil biology, and reduces overall input costs.

What are these organisms doing to help my crop?

The microbes in Komens deliver more than just nitrogen. Azospirillum brasilense fixes atmospheric nitrogen while supporting root development and nutrient uptake. Pantoea dispersa fixes nitrogen as well but also plays a critical role in phosphorus solubilization. Together, they improve nutrient availability, boost microbial activity around roots, and help plants maintain steady growth under varying conditions.

Komens is more than a product—it’s a return to a more resilient system. It’s a nod to the ancient partnerships between plants and microbes that sustained life long before synthetic solutions came along. And it’s a step toward a future where growers can maintain productivity with fewer inputs.