North Carolina State University Develops Cellulose-based Seed Lubricants

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new class of cellulose-based solid lubricants to keep seeds flowing freely through equipment during planting. Current commercially available lubricants make use of talc or microplastics and can pose threats to farmers, farmland, and pollinators. “There is a growing body of research that suggests microplastics are problematic for both human and environmental health, and we wanted to create a new lubricant that was safe and biodegradable,” says Martin Thuo, co-corresponding author of the paper and a professor of materials science and engineering at NC State. “We ended up with something that is also relatively inexpensive, efficient, and makes use of sustainable, readily available materials.” The new lubricant significantly outperformed current lubricants in trials with corn and soybean, and researchers say it will do even better with smaller seeds and in humid conditions.