Certis Biologicals: Driving the Next Generation of Ag Solutions through Biologicals

Growing demand for biological products has exploded in recent years due to the increasing importance of balancing productivity, sustainability and environmental awareness in agricultural practices.¹ 

Across the entire value chain, consumers are increasingly seeking greater insight into agricultural practices and are calling for enhanced regenerative and sustainable food production methods. Simultaneously, growers are encountering pests and diseases that have become resistant to traditional chemical treatments used over the years. This growing resistance restricts their options for effective pest control. As a result, growers are turning to naturally sourced biological solutions that provide diverse, targeted mechanisms of action, making them an essential tool for addressing these evolving challenges.²

Certis Biologicals’ Long-Standing Legacy

When it comes to biological crop protection products, Certis Biologicals has long been a key player in this space with a legacy rooted in data and research to back product claims. Certis’ journey in the biological crop protection sector traces back to the introduction of Thuricide, the first Bt product manufactured and sold in the USA, in the late 1950s. Subsequently products like Delfin, Agree, Turex, CoStar, Crymax, Botanigard, Mycotrol, Neemix, Azatin, Amylo-X and Valcure have become global brands of Certis Biologicals and are available in 55 countries across the globe.

Certis’ biological products are supported by decades of data from both laboratory and field-based product development research, including over 10,000 field trials. Our commitment to providing growers with high-performing, data-backed solutions that are effectively applied on thousands of acres each year forms the cornerstone of our business strategy.

Our dedication to demonstrating the reliability of our products allows us to present the widest range of carefully examined and scientifically supported biological crop solutions available in the market today. With a broad range of products, including biofungicides, bioinsecticides, bioherbicides and biobactericides, to address crop health issues, we're dedicated to giving growers the tools they need to maintain global food production. 

Launching New Products

New products are essential as growers face new challenges each year. It is crucial to evolve the landscape of biological products and farming methods with the needs of producers in mind. It is our responsibility as manufacturers to thoroughly research our solutions and demonstrate to growers their effectiveness and impact on productivity and ROI.

For instance, Convergence biofungicide, Certis' first offering for the row crop market, was introduced earlier this year. This innovative approach gives farmers a strong and practical biological instrument to strengthen and defend crops against soilborne bacterial and fungal diseases, and gives them an extra line of defense against difficult-to-control foliar diseases. It is EPA-approved and has undergone field testing with demonstrated efficacy, proving Certis' ongoing commitment to offering growers high-quality products. Another example is the soon to be launched bionematicide under Toltek and Nemaclean brand names.

Combining Innovation with a Legacy of Manufacturing

Certis continuously enhances its innovation capabilities to provide more user-friendly and productive biological products for growers. One of Certis' major advantages over other biological companies is its extensive experience in manufacturing biological products. This expertise allows us to validate our optimization pipelines using cutting-edge biological technology at the pilot and production scale levels. Unlike many other early-stage biological companies, we focus on innovations at the production level, emphasizing the efficacy and stability of our biological products. We also leverage historical data and insights from our previous work, invest in research infrastructure to support ongoing data collection and follow an open development process to expedite the commercialization of new solutions.

From a research and development perspective, a new focus at Certis is developing unique selling points for our products backed by rigorous scientific research on our products to better position ourselves in the increasingly crowded market. Recognizing the future value of this aspect in biological markets, we have strategically invested in cutting-edge science to bring innovative differentiating factors to the forefront.

Research Infrastructure

Certis has invested in facility upgrades, equipment purchases and human resources. The company has expanded its research facilities in Columbia, Maryland, and Wasco, California to accommodate more equipment. The new additions include walk-in growth chambers, chromatography and mass spectrometry equipment, spray dryers, enumeration technology and specialized lab space for instruction. In addition to improving facilities and acquiring more equipment, hiring experienced researchers was a crucial part of the strategy. Certis has invested significantly in assembling a capable team of researchers to guide innovative ideas through our pipeline from the field to the laboratory to the finished product. These enhancements to the research infrastructure provide valuable insights into the practical effectiveness and usability of products, and ultimately, a deeper understanding of their impact on crop health and farm output.

Strategic Collaborations and Innovative Growth

Recognizing the importance of strategic partnerships for global growth, Certis collaborates with like-minded businesses in the sector to harness the combined knowledge of partners and create innovative solutions. An example of this collaboration is Certis' recent acquisition of AgBiome’s Howler and Theia fungicides, as well as several microbiomes from AgBiome’s platform. 

Certis combines its go-to-market research with existing expertise through this open development strategy, allowing it to utilize libraries of microbiomes and expedite the development process. With a collaborative mindset, Certis is seeking new business opportunities and is well-positioned to pioneer the next generation of biological solutions for farmers. Through sustained leadership in the biologicals field, scientific breakthroughs and strategic partnerships, Certis' innovation pipeline showcases an unwavering commitment to driving positive change in biological product developments.

Acknowledgements

Tarang Srivastava, Vice President of Internal Business, Certis Biologicals

Robert Gibson, Global Portfolio Manager, Certis Biologicals

Matilda Mel, Communications and Social Media Manager, Certis Biologicals

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¹ Morning Ag Clips. (2024, February 18). Agricultural biologicals market 2024-2030. Morning Ag Clips. https://www.morningagclips.com/agricultural-biologicals-market-2024-2030/

² Akanmu, A. O., Olowe, O. M., Phiri, A. T., Nirere, D., Odebode, A. J., Karemera Umuhoza, N. J., Asemoloye, M. D., & Babalola, O. O. (2023). Bioresources in Organic Farming: Implications for Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Horticulturae, 9(6), 659. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9060659

This article was originally published in AgroPages magazine 2024 Biologicals Special.

Contact Joyce Wang (joyce@agropages.com) to show your bio-solutions through AgroPages.