Biolchim’s way to face divers, growing challenges

Biolchim is a leading company in Italy and in the world in terms of the production and commercialization of special fertilizers, most notably biostimulants.

Every year, AgroPages follows and interviews the product managers of Biolchim to ask them about their new products, R&D and plans to adapt to the rapid developments occurring around the world.

With the chemical pesticide and fertilizer giants getting involved with the biostimulants industry which allegedly is warming this industry, what is the attitude of Biolchim? What kind of cooperation opportunities exist?

Biolchim continues its development path backed by more than 40 years of experience in the sector, robust know-how, and a strong, steadily growing international presence. One of Biolchim’s distinctive traits has always been the openness to collaboration with all stakeholders aimed at bringing new, effective solutions to farmers worldwide. Collaboration is the key to foster innovation in product development and linked processes such as manufacturing, logistics, communication, that benefit all partners. That is why our innovation network, WIN, has grown so much during the last few years.

How can we understand the WIN Platform of Biolchim (is this a digital agriculture platform or an assistance tool of your product development)? By standing with the view of the distributors and growers, how do those who cooperate with Biolchim benefit from the WIN platform?

WIN is an international network of Research and Development structured according to the principles of collaboration, which involves leading universities and research centers as well as commercial partners. Biolchim works with its network in all phases of product development, from ideation to marketing, with two objectives: facilitate knowledge transfer from academic research to industry and reduce the ‘time to market’ of the products. WIN partners test our products worldwide with local agronomic practices and environmental conditions. This benefits farmers who can find new solutions sooner on the market, and it guarantees that our products perform in very different growing contexts.

The awareness about the arrangement of the entire industry chain is rising. What activities does Biolchim engage in to ensure the whole industry chain works seamlessly?

Biolchim has always paid a lot of attention to the industry chain, both upstream, with the selection of raw materials and downstream, towards the growers who use our products. For example, our seaweeds are sustainably harvested from their natural growing environment on the Canadian coasts, our proteins hydrolysates are derived from selected raw materials from other industries according to the principles of a circular economy. Downstream, consumers and retailers pay greater attention to food production practices and food safety. This leads growers to look for effective, safe and more natural solutions to enhance productivity and quality. Biostimulants represent exactly the technology that responds to this demand. Therefore, Biolchim is close to customers, growers as well as producers’ cooperatives and associations to support the integration of the biostimulant technology in fertilization strategies.

In 2020, which markets, globally, witnessed the fastest increase in the sales margin?

In 2020, we had significant growth of both, some new markets and some already established markets, where we are present with subsidiaries. Europe, Asia and South America were the areas with the greater increase. The demand for plant biostimulants and organic fertilisers is growing fast – and we are ready to respond, deliver our products and support growers integrate them into their practice.

With the rapid changes occurring in the world concerning environmental challenges and sustainability, what are Biolchim's plans?

Biolchim has implemented an environmental policy to minimize the impact of its activities and spread greater awareness and commitment to preserving the environment in the medium and long term. All Italy-based companies in the Group have a certified environmental management system that guarantees correct management of all environmental aspects related to production processes. As part of this system, companies monitor specific indicators. Greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption was reduced by about 3% and waste to about 14% in 2019 compared to the previous year. Of the total waste tonnage, more than 60% is sent for physical-chemical treatment and about 12% is recycled.

These are only some of the outcomes of the policy, that very concretely responds to the environmental challenges we are facing.

This interview was originally published in the magazine 2021 Biologicals Special. Biochim is the Silver Sponsor of the issue. 

Click the picture below to download the magazine and find more reports on biologicals.