September 2021 - 19

BIOCONTROLS
years ago, " Allan said. He added that the
products have evolved to be much more
consistent in their efficacy and use, and
in expectations that the growers realize.
" (Growers) are much more confident
AMY O'SHEA
Biologicals President and Chief Executive
Officer Amy O'Shea. " That's what sets us
apart from some of the others. "
Over the life of the company,
biologicals have enjoyed greater
acceptance.
Although most of the company's
products are either listed by the Organic
Material Review Instituted (OMRI) or
otherwise OK'd for organic production,
Mike Allan, Certis' vice-president of North
America, said that the biological products
are no longer just for organic growers.
Conventional growers are interested and
growers who are transitioning acres to
organic are using biologicals on both types
of farm operations.
" The expectations and understanding
of what biologicals can deliver today
are more fully understood than it was
that (biologicals) can deliver the efficacy
that's needed in an integrated pest
management program, " Allan said. " And
they're far easier to use - they give the
farmers freedom of choice. It gives them
the opportunity to choose with an OMRIlisted
product that has a short REI, a short
restricted entry interval, so the grower can
manage their practices more accurately
and equally. It will only get better. "
Biologicals are also a way for growers
to guard against pathogens developing
resistance to chemical controls, Allan said.
" Resistance is a real issue growers
face every day, " he said. " The fewer and
fewer conventional chemistries that
become available to them leads to the
adoption of biologicals. It breaks up the
pattern of use in the field, which then
reduces the potential for any resistance
to chemistries, but also, when it comes
to biologicals, their mode of action is
far different than what is traditionally
offered with conventional chemistries. "
O'Shea said that part of the value
of biological products is helping
growers to keep pesticide residues
under EPA-set tolerances, which
are sometimes reduced. It also helps
them demonstrate concern for worker
Certis Biologicials products are sold
through a global distribution network and
in collaboration with various technology,
regulatory and sourcing companies in more
than 50 countries.
safety and respond to consumer
preferences for fewer chemical inputs
in agriculture.
" If you look to the future, I think
you'll see biologicals integrated more
and more alongside chemical, synthetic
alternatives, " O'Shea said.
Looking ahead, the company sees
many expansion opportunities.
" What I see for a company like Certis
is the opportunity to continue to expand
within our current core category of
biopesticides into some of the other
adjacent segments like biostimulants
and biofertilizers, " O'Shea said. " I also
see that while we're currently selling in
Product is checked by quality control at
the Certis Biologicals production facility in
Wasco, California.
50 countries, our primary markets are
the United States and Europe. I would
see a further exploration of taking our
current technologies and adding unique
technologies and formulations that
would allow us to get our products to
growers more quickly. "
That expansion could even include
products in the grain crops.
" Our approach previously has been to
cater to the specialty crop market, " Allan
said. " We work through California, the
(Pacific Northwest), Florida, the East
Coast. ... We are realizing, as the industry
is changing, the demand for biologicals in
the row crop segment. " VGN
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VGN | SEPTEMBER 2021 | 19
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September 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2021
