Certis Biologicals Springboards From 2 Decades of Focused Expertise

Leaning into its two decades of experience in biopesticides for agriculture, Certis Biologicals is entering a new phase for the company with an expanded geographic footprint, a robust pipeline of new products, and a greater focus for row crop agriculture. 

This year marks the company’s 20th anniversary as well as a rebrand from Certis USA to Certis Biologicals. Through its legacy companies, Certis traces its historic roots back more than 70 years. 

Amy O’Shea president and CEO of Certis Biologicals says, “Certis Biologicals has an amazing history and legacy. This is a continuation and evolution of Certis Biologicals moving into the next phase and bringing in new talents.” 

The company has 66 product registrations with 16 active ingredients in the U.S. and over 200 registrations world-wide.  Global sales in more than 50 countries from Canada, European Union, Asia, Mexico, Brazil and Latin American countries. The company groups its technology platforms into six divisions: bacterial-based technologies, fungi-based products, virus technologies, bacteriophage technologies, biochemicals and neem seed extracts. Company leaders say they can boast to having the broadest portfolio of biopesticides and robust lineup of Bacillus-based products. 

“We want to reaffirm our commitment to biologicals,” O’Shea says. “And over the past year our organization has started to evolve quite a bit. We believe we have an opportunity with the increased excitement around biologicals as farmers are looking for options to reduce synthetics or add in biologicals.”

In the next five years, the company has seven product launches in its pipeline—ranging from insect control, nematode control and disease control. Currently, the company has 12 products registered for use on row crops, and the leaders see row crop acres—conventional and organic—as a huge growth market. 

“We’ve always had products for row crops, but haven’t always put the resources behind them,” O’Shea says. “We’ve mainly stuck more to the organic row crop acres. In part it’s a comfort zone, and in part we physically didn’t have sales and technical people in the right geography. So first and foremost—we have added sales reps and technical support positions from Texas to Minnesota—throughout the Midwest. We believe we have to put the support around the education and products.” 

Mike Allan, vice president of North America at Certis Biologicals says the company’s focus and core competencies around supporting biological products in the marketplace remains a cornerstone to growing the business. 

“What is so impressive is that Certis has been dedicated to biologicals its entire existence. The ground swell of biologicals has been building for many years, and growers are seeking bio-based solutions,” he says. “Our team has solutions within our portfolio of products that can straddle both worlds---conventional and organic.” 

With an elevated interest in biological crop protection products, O’Shea says it’s an exciting time in this sector of the industry. 

“A rising tide lifts all boats,” she says. “With companies having either new interest or a renewed interest in this market, it just means the number and value and quality of solutions available to growers to address the issues they face will increase.” 

O’Shea joined Certis just over a year ago after having most recently being at FMC Corporation. One key differentiator for Certis in an increasingly crowded marketplace is the focus on manufacturing expertise and the depth of our portfolio,” O’Shea says.

“Certis pioneered this marketplace; Certis knows this market,” she says. “We know how to produce quality products and we know how to insert biologicals as an essential part of an integrated pest management program. And it’s not an either/or situation. Biologicals can often be used right alongside synthetic chemistries.” 

O’Shea confirms the company will continue to pursue business partnerships to expand the footprint of biological products citing a crop protection product in the corn belt today that has Certis’ primary AI integrated in it. 

The cornerstone benefits of biologicals are adding to the momentum for increased product use: short re-entry intervals, no residues, resistance management and effective control. 

“Biologicals can provide flexibility to work around cultural practices and harvest crews,” Allan says. “It gives farmers the freedom of choice. And today, growers don’t have a lot of that because they have so many constraints. Biologicals can help relieve many of these problems, which further contributes to their use and adoption.” 

O’Shea says retailers can help provide a lot of education on biologicals, and farmers who may have previously not understood their fit in their disease and pest programs should look at them again. 
The leaders say there’s a wide-open door to integrate synthetic and biological products. 

"There’s a concern that biologicals are so expensive. Or they don’t work in row crops. And that’s not true. They may be different, but they would be surprised there are many of our products that can be used with and alongside synthetic chemistries,” says O’Shea. 

Allan also points out the compatibility of many biologicals in a tank mix. 

“Many of our products can be combined in a tank mix or in rotation to broaden the spectrum of control and enhances the resistance management practices that are so critical for conventional chemistries,” Allan says. “Often because the biological’s mode of action is different than conventional chemistries the ability for resistance to develop breaks down when they are used together in a conventional spray program. Combining biologicals with conventionals, which will further increase the commercial and technical viability of chemistries while also reducing overall rates per acre.”

Rather than citing a specific acreage goal, the leaders say they are applying a different measuring stick in growing the business. 

“Our approach to the market is generating the right partnerships, the right combination of products, innovative technologies and rolling that up with education,” Allan says. “We know we’re succeeding when growers have confidence in the products we deliver to them. We understand that adoption is creating a lifetime partner who can rely on us for quality products.”

3 Products Exemplifying Certis’ Strategy to Expand Biologicals

Oso
Oso is a biofungicide for use on potatoes, citrus and more. This product is a partnership where Certis is  the exclusive distributor, after Oso received OMRI listing and NOP approval for use in/on organic crops , product volumes went up significantly practically overnight. Mike Allan says that’s a great case of grower demand for effective biological products that can help them within the framework of their organic production practices. 

“What’s unique about Oso is that along with its preventative disease control it also has curative properties,” he says.

CYD-X
CYD-X was the first of its kind of beneficial virus product to be introduced to the pome fruit market. 

“We took great efforts to educate growers on the proper timing of use,” Allan says. “And now offer a variety of choices with several virus-based technologies; we’re the go-to because growers have confidence in how we will help them effectively use and apply these products.” 

Homeplate
Homeplate is a non-selective bio-herbicide and can also be used for burndown applications. 

“It’s a product that is so flexible in terms of where it can be used and in what crops,” Allan says. “It works so efficiently and can be applied in conjunction with glyphosate and glufosinate to reduced rates per acre. We’ve done trials with Homeplate and conventional products at reduced rates to prove a faster burndown–sometimes by hours than what they’d normally see,” Allan says. 

Sustainability As Part of The Story  

A driving trend behind the increased attention to biological products is the journey many farmers, retailers and suppliers are undertaking to understand and define sustainability in the marketplace. 

“For retailers, I’d like them to understand that we want to be a resource for them. We want to be a company they can turn to as they navigate solutions and options for their growers,” says Certis Biologicals CEO Amy O’Shea. “There are a lot of questions out there. We can be a source of information. We can be a source of education and experience.”

To further support efforts in agriculture, Certis Biologicals has signed on as a supporter of America’s Conservation Ag Movement, a Farm Journal Trust in Food initiative.  

“I’m proud that Certis is the only company that is fully dedicated to biologicals and engaged in the Farm Journal Foundation’s initiative. We appreciate the comradery and the interaction with the companies who are also dedicated to the same purpose. And we feel strongly as being able to stand company wide and industry wide together,” Mike Allan says.

While sustainability may be a buzz word for some, Allan points out that it has always underpinned Certis’ business much like it is a part of how farmers are called to be stewards of their land. 

“Sustainability is something that is such a growing momentum and buzz word for so many industries. Sustainability for Certis is something we’ve always been a part of and it will continue to be a focus for us,” Allan says.