BOSSES behind a £2bn North Yorkshire fertiliser mine are pushing ahead with talks over new contracts after saying fresh tests show its product will help deliver better harvests and save costs.

Sirius Minerals, which is overseeing the York Potash Project, near Whitby, has carried out studies in the US and Brazil over soybean and corn growth.

It says the work shows polyhalite is a significantly effective fertiliser compared to rival products, with soybean growth up 16 per cent and corn yields rising three per cent.

Chris Fraser, Sirius’ managing director and chief executive, said: “These trials display the potential for polyhalite to provide an increased financial return from higher yields and demonstrate important savings.”

The company was supported by Texas A&M University, the University of Sao Paulo and North Dakota State University.

The York Potash Project will be the UK’s first potash mine in 40 years, and was approved by the North York Moors National Park Authority earlier this summer.

Sirius says it will create more than 1,000 direct jobs by tapping into the world’s largest and highest grade of the fertiliser polyhalite.

Building work on the mine could start later this year.

The company already has agreements in to supply polyhalite, including a deal with China’s Yunnan TCT Yong-Zhe, which has an understanding to take one million tonnes of the fertiliser a year.

However, bosses are looking to secure further sales, and The Northern Echo reported last month how talks are taking place with worldwide customers.

The firm said: “Discussions are ongoing with a range of partners all around the world, and we expect further progress to be made with polyhalite agreements.”