Growth Following Nature’s Example

MALTaflor is headquartered in Andernach, northwest of Koblenz. The company stands for innovation that supports down-to-earthness. They do not consider their fertiliser to be an additive, but rather an opportunity to activate the soil and generate growth. Today, Dr. Mario Protzmann is 63 years old. He founded MALTaflor 30 years ago and has been the creative mind behind the company ever since. He talks about the special features of his growth granulates.

“My career can be summarized in a few words,” Dr. Mario Protzmann tells with a smile. “I grew up and went to school in the urban hinterland of Frankfurt am Main, and then proceeded to study agronomy at the University of Gießen, where I also did my PhD. I took on my first job in Andernach, where I still live today.”

Dr. Mario Protzmann was hired as purchasing agent for raw materials by the former malt factory Weissheimer Malzfabrik. “During this job – I worked there for five years – I realised that malting produces products that could not only be used in beer production but were also perfect for supporting plant growth. An idea was born, and so I started MALTaflor in 1994.”

But what exactly is so special about the MALTaflor products that are offered in six different variants? Dr. Mario Protzmann explains: “Our granulate contains all the nutritional power of young germinating seeds. We build on the effectiveness of naturally formed substances, without any animal-based components. Our unique and patented in-house technology uses the development process of germinated malt seeds and vitalises plants with its vital substances.” The use cases are diverse and range from agriculture, commercial horticulture and tree nurseries to tree planting and tree care in urban areas. The growth granulates are also perfect for worn out lawns.

There are two more facts Dr. Mario Protzmann wants to highlight about MALTaflor: “First of all, our products are completely odourless. They are therefore perfectly suited for use in cities – for example on urban green areas – and landscape gardeners can also use them for jobs in private gardens.” The second aspect concerns the current development of the climate. “When plants are treated with our granulates, they are proven to become more stress resistant. They can survive dry spells as well as heavy rainfalls. The green areas are therefore well equipped for the future.”

MALTaflor is one of the exhibitors at the joint stand of the International StartUp Area. This area is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and can be found in Hall 3C. NürnbergMesse offers companies in the International StartUp Area special conditions for participating in GaLaBau, the leading International Trade Fair for Urban Green and Open Spaces (www.galabau-messe.com/en). The fair takes place from 11 – 14 September 2024.