Michael Brownbridge joins biocontrol company

BioWorks’ latest hire should be no stranger to those in the greenhouse sector.

Dr. Michael Brownbridge has joined the biocontrol solutions company as their biological program manager, specializing in disease management for high-value, horticultural greenhouse and field crops across Canada and the U.S.

Working with the BioWorks technical team, Brownbridge will be helping growers find the right disease management solutions for their operations.

“It’s putting information and tools directly into the hands of practitioners and helping them to get these products to work within their systems,” he says, “providing the types of solutions that they need.”

He’ll also be playing a key role in bringing new products to market, targeting new and changing diseases, and providing support to other team members across the company.

“Everywhere you look these todays, there’s resistance issues not only in pests but also in diseases, so it’s a wide-open field in terms of bringing these biological and other management tools into the marketplace,” says Brownbridge. A known proponent of using biocontrol in a systems approach, he stresses the importance of maintaining existing products as well, figuring out how and where they can best interact with all the other components of the production system.

“Often times there’s good synergy between biologicals and chemicals in a well-managed program,” he explains. “So you’re looking to still achieve the goals of reducing chemical inputs and increasing biological inputs; sometimes you may have to use both within a program to get a crop through to maturity and gain the benefits you’re looking for.”

Formerly the director of horticultural research production systems at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Brownbridge not only brings years of experience but a drive to bridge the gaps between research and application.

“I’m really excited,” he says. “I’ve known BioWorks and the people there for a long time, and I am excited for where they’re headed. It’s a fantastic time to be part of it.”

By Greta Chiu