It should also take the guesswork out of farming and get away from the standardised approach of big fertiliser companies.
Professor Brian Wilkinson, from Massey University, met Burr and Palamountains Nutrition managing director John Palamountain in Wanganui to talk about the business. The three envisage 12 to 15 sales representatives offering their services to clients nationwide.
Palamountain says his family-owned company already makes feed supplements tailored to individual farms. It has products specifically for dairy cows, racehorses and companion animals.
The QPM approach to feeding soil, plants and animals can do more than make animals healthier and more profitable, they say. It also has the potential to reduce nitrogen leaching into waterways. The aim would be to apply only as much nitrogen as is needed - and waste as little as possible.
Landcare Research scientists are enthusiastic about the idea, the three men say, because nitrogen leaching is one of the main barriers to intensifying land use.
Palamountains Nutrition manufactures a feed supplement sold in 60 countries.