A New Era of Fertility Management: Tidal Grow’s alignN Hits the Field
September 29, 2025 The past few years have been an exciting time for tech nerds, especially so for those in the agricultural industry. The Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence leave many giddy with the potential these tools offer. Equally as exciting (though not as likely to grab headlines) are the advances in application and formulation.
For example, Tidal Grow AgriScience, a division of Tidal Vision Products Inc. announced the launch of its intelligent leaf delivery technology. According to the company’s press release, agligN is: “Formulated precisely for broadacre crops, like corn, wheat, cotton, and canola, alignN 18-0-0 delivers encapsulated urea nitrogen directly onto and into the leaf, where it is absorbed for maximum uptake and metabolism.”
CropLife® Media Group checked in with Trey Cutts, Vice President of Commercial AgriScience at Tidal Grow AgriScience, to learn more about alignN and how it can benefit the ag community.
CropLife Media Group: alignN is described as “intelligent leaf delivery” can you define what that means, and how it differs from other foliar applied products?
Trey Cutts: alignN 18-0-0 delivers encapsulated urea nitrogen, powered by align Technology, when and where your crops need it most — directly on and into the leaf. It’s different than other foliar nitrogen products because the positively charged encapsulated nitrogen enters the leaf through the stomata and cuticles of the leaf — maximizing absorption and minimizing the plant energy required to get it there. Other foliar nitrogen products either aren’t designed to fully maximize leaf delivery or require the plant to expend excess energy to move the nitrogen where it’s needed.
Tidal Grow’s aligN technology.
CLMG: Can you talk about the science behind alignN and how you tested it in real-world situations?
TC: alignN has been precisely formulated to help solve real on-farm challenges for growers. The idea is to protect precious fertilizer investments with a simple nitrogen management tool that gives growers optionality and flexibility in their fertility programs. After a multi-year product development process, alignN is being thoroughly tested this year in large-scale grower trials, over 9,500 corn acres, and we are seeing around 70%-win rates via NDRE, alongside larger brace roots, thicker stalks, increased leaf surface area, limited leaf firing, bigger ears, less tip-back, and overall improved plant health. Initial harvest results are confirming that all these key crop performance indicators are leading to improved yield.
CLMG: How does the product ensure that crops are nourished “exactly when and where needed”?
TC: alignN, powered by align Technology, has a positive charge that penetrates the stomata and cuticles of the leaf — enhancing adhesion and retention of the nitrogen on the plant leaf. The positive charge facilitates and promotes the movement of alignN particles to leaf tissues more effectively leading to better absorption and utilization of the nutrients they carry. Finally, the positively charged ultra-small particles are more likely to interact with negatively charged plant cell walls and membranes, facilitating their transport across these barriers and into the plant cells.
CLMG: How does Tidal Grow work with retailers to promote the use of biological products?
TC: alignN is demonstrating to be a solid tank mix partner that can easily fit into existing crop input strategies. To be clear, alignN is a non-living, encapsulated fertilizer product and is not a biological product.
CLMG: How much education is required to ensure (as much as possible) success in battling pests?
TC: Given that alignN is an encapsulated urea nitrogen product, we do not make any pest control claims. However, it can easily be applied with standard herbicide and fungicide applications during the season and is not antagonistic to pest control efficacy.
CLMG: Why is getting the most out of growers’ nitrogen programs so important?
TC: Nitrogen is a critical nutrient for growing crops like corn, wheat, and cotton. Couple increasing costs with around 30% of nitrogen being lost, forcing many growers to overapply in hopes it makes it to the plant, this precious fertilizer investment can now make or break the profitability of a crop. alignN instantly offers their investments to be better utilized with the product being applied where crops need it most: directly on and into the leaf, thus minimizing waste through translocation.
Tidal Grow’s alignN intelligent leaf application on corn.
CLMG: The company works to: “create cutting-edge crop inputs that enable growers to be responsible stewards of the land while simultaneously driving profitability, higher yields, and improved soil and plant health for a healthier population and planet.”
Given that sentiment, can you talk about the role soil health plays in Tidal Grow’s relationship with retailers – specifically how you work with them to promote soil health with their customers?
TC: Soil health is a key priority at Tidal Grow, especially when talking about our seafood hydrolysate products. These products are proving improved soil health, quality and functionality by complementing existing fertility and regenerative practices. As this question relates to alignN, this intelligent delivery of effective nitrogen bypasses the soil and root system immediately supporting soil health initiatives with reduced leaching and run-off.
CLMG: What else do we need to know about the alignN technology?
TC: While intelligent, we want retailers and growers to know that this technology is incredibly simple to integrate into existing fertility programs. For example, it gives them the option to delay an expense and decide to invest in nitrogen when the crop really needs it. It also gives growers the flexibility to adapt their fertility management practices and better manage on-farm logistics.
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