Company Performance Metrics
- Jeong-Woo Shin: CEO & Co-Founder
- Ju-Hyeong Park: COO & Co-FounderPast Role: Chungnam National University, Educational Mentor
PLANTNER develops environmentally friendly polymers that utilizes the controlled-release characteristics of alginate, a polymer derived from seaweed, along with natural controlled-release fertilizers to substitute current chemical products. Concurrently, the company is engaged in research and development as well as local field trials in Korea and
Vietnam. These innovations are directly aimed at promoting low-input sustainable agriculture. The organization is committed to tackling the unsustainable practices prevalent in conventional agriculture through the use of slow-release fertilizers, aspiring to foster eco-friendly advancements rooted in natural materials, beginning with agriculture, which is the cornerstone of the industry. In traditional agricultural settings, the significant loss of chemical fertilizers has resulted in nutrient depletion, leading to soil degradation issues such as acidification. This reduction in soil productivity compels farmers to resort to even greater quantities of chemicals to enhance yields, thereby perpetuating a detrimental cycle of increasing overuse. As a response, coated slow-release fertilizers have been introduced; however, their synthetic polymer coatings have contributed to the buildup of microplastics in the soil, harming the habitats of beneficial microorganisms and generating additional environmental challenges. To mitigate these concerns, ongoing research and development efforts are focused on substituting the conventional coating materials of slow-release fertilizers which are responsible for environmental issues like residual microplastics with alginate, a biodegradable polymer sourced from seaweed.