Company Rebrands as Certis Biologicals, Celebrates 20 Years
Against the backdrop of 20 successful years as Certis USA, the company today announced a brand change to Certis Biologicals. The new brand acknowledges the importance of biological-based crop inputs to farmers around the globe and cements the company’s legacy of leadership as manufacturer, supplier and innovator of biological crop protection solutions.
“Certis is the most integrated, full-line provider of biological-based inputs in the agriculture industry,” said Amy O’Shea, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our name needs to reflect our global outlook as well as our wide range of products.”
Certis USA was established in 2001 after Mitsui & Co. acquired Thermo Trilogy. Certis’ legacy companies date back to the 1990s when W.R. Grace pioneered the use of neem technology to create Trilogy, one of the early EPA registrations for neem-based biopesticides.
“At Mitsui & Co., we strongly believe biologicals are an important part in the global food supply chain,” said Hitoshi Kudo, General Manager, Mitsui & Co., Ltd's AgriScience division. “As the leading manufacturer of biological-based agriculture inputs, Certis is poised to innovate and provide biological-based solutions for growers for years to come.”
“Certis is the name that is synonymous with biologicals in agriculture,” O’Shea said of the new brand. “Our customers and channel partners trust us to deliver the proven biological solutions they need, whether they are in the US or across the globe, and our new brand, Certis Biologicals, ensures that our focus is clear.”
Certis has a long history of manufacturing innovation with three global manufacturing sites, two in the U.S. and one Joint Venture in India. That global manufacturing history means that Certis has pioneered many of the technologies that make biologicals easy to use and effective.
“It’s easy to underestimate the complexity of manufacturing living organisms for highly-targeted crop protection,” said Kyle Berry, Director of Manufacturing. “Then, we package them in a shelf-stable format so that they are effective when applied by the grower. This is not easy work but, we have made the investments in people and technology needed to supply the industry with sustainable biologicals.”
“Through collaboration with leading technology companies and our development and innovation program consisting of new fungal and bacterial products, Certis aims to continue strong support with expertise in solid and liquid culture fermentation,” said Jacob Eyal, Vice-President, Global Innovation.
Certis Biologicals supplies the most comprehensive portfolio of biologicals for crop protection in commercial agriculture, garden and greenhouse markets. The company’s legacy products Double Nickel, Deliver, Javelin and Trilogy have continued to thrive and pave the way for innovations including the introduction of LifeGard WG with plant activator technology, which blazed the trail for a new mode of action category--microbial elicitors. A new LifeGard LC formulation is planned for launch in 2021.
Recently, through a partnership with OmniLytics, Certis continued its dedication to innovation with the introduction of bacteriophage technology to combat plant diseases, such as, Fire Blight, Citrus Canker and Tomato Speck and Spot along with providing an effective tool for resistance management. In the 2020 market year, Certis Biologicals launched Homeplate, an OMRI-Listed biological herbicide, BoteGHA an OMRI-Listed bioinsecticide, and received OMRI-Listing for OSO biofungicide. This level of continued portfolio growth signals that their dedication to offering innovative biotechnologies in agriculture will remain a top priority.
“The past two decades have seen tremendous growth and opportunity at Certis. There is much to be celebrated at Certis Biologicals,” said Mike Allan, Vice-President, North America. “This year, we celebrate with everyone who has made our growth and the growth of the entire marketplace possible and to look together toward a future where bio-based solutions allow us to better feed the world and protect the health of our environment.”
The company will conduct several events and activities with customers, employees and its communities throughout the year to celebrate the milestone, in addition to celebratory events focused on achievements that have been made possible thanks to their many partners through the first 20 years. To learn more about Certis Biologicals 20th anniversary and its rich history, click here.
