Great Northern Products is rapidly expanding to meet the agricultural needs of USA and South American farming communities through the distribution of chitosan products under the brand name TM Chitosan. Great Northern Products is distributing liquid, gel, and powdered variations of this valuable agricultural asset to fertilizer and plant health product formulators as well as directly to commercial agricultural operations.
The company explains that chitosan is a derivative of chitin, one of the most abundant substances found on the planet. "Cellulose, a more familiar polymer, takes first place in abundance. Although chitosan is quite literally everywhere, most of the chitosan in use at any volume is produced from deproteinizing and demineralizing the crustacean shells created by the food industry. Like most industrial processes, Chinese chitosan sources and extraction sites yield the greatest volume but also the greatest inconsistencies, leading product development and purchasing management to scramble for consistent high-quality chitosan with the appropriate level of product support. Great Northern Products works exclusively with chitosan sourced from South America, Canada, and Europe."
"Chitosan is an excellent agricultural resource for the harsh growing conditions faced by farmers. Recently, there have been drought conditions and high temperatures. There are global soil health issues because of the over-application of fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides over decades. The crops in unbalanced soil will be less susceptible to disease and grow more vigorously in adverse conditions when treated with chitosan. Chitosan increases nutrient uptake by plants, which means more efficient use of fertilizers and improved overall health of crops. The presence of chitosan encourages beneficial microbes, such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, which can improve soil fertility and structure."
Chitosan has been proven to increase yields of crops like wheat, corn, pepper, tomato, and soybean by up to 20%. Chitosan even acts as a protective barrier on plant surfaces by forming a film that prevents fungal growth and disease-causing organisms. This property has led to the advancement of chitosan products that extend post-harvest shelf life.
One recent study, The Multifunctional Role of Chitosan in Horticultural Crops; A Review, corroborates: "Chitosan is a naturally occurring compound and is commercially produced from seafood shells. It has been utilized in the induction of the defense system in both pre and post-harvest fruits and vegetables against fungi, bacteria, viruses, and other abiotic stresses. In addition to that, chitosan effectively improves the physiological properties of plants and also enhances the shelf life of post-harvest produce. Moreover, chitosan treatment regulates several genes in plants, particularly the activation of plant defense signaling pathways. That includes the elicitation of phytoalexins and pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins. Besides that, chitosan has been employed in the soil as a plant nutrient and has shown great efficacy in combination with other industrial fertilizers without affecting the soil's beneficial microbes. Furthermore, it helps reduce fertilizer losses due to its coating ability, which is important in keeping the environmental pollution under check."
There are 3,801 published studies in the NIH (National Library of Medicine: National Center for Biotechnology Information) that highlight the benefits of chitosan in agriculture. Click here for the studies. "Chitosan is a unique, multi-purpose, proven solution for any agricultural business looking to reduce costs, increase crop yields, and decrease potential issues," the company adds.
For more information:
Great Northern Products 
www.northernproducts.com