Certis Biologicals Scales Innovation with Purpose: Delivering Proven Biologicals That Work With, Not Against, Conventional Ag

Certis Biologicals regards innovation as more than a buzzword. It’s the backbone of a global strategy built to support growers with effective, sustainable solutions. Eric Luce, Director of Row Crop Portfolio for Certis Biologicals, explains how the company is striving to give North American growers products that work with IPM programs.

ABG: Microbials are the focus of many biological companies. What are some of the challenges microbials bring as far as shelf life and efficacy? What advances are you seeing in the market that will make microbial formulations a better option for growers?

Eric Luce: Biologicals generally fall into two main categories: microbials and biocontrols. While they have long been used successfully in specialty crops, we’re now seeing exciting progress as they expand into row crop markets across North America and beyond. Today, microbials are being applied throughout the growing season — from seed treatments to in-furrow blends and foliar applications — providing growers with multiple opportunities to integrate them into their programs.

What’s especially encouraging is how well these products are now performing alongside conventional chemistries. Thanks to advances in formulation and rigorous physical and quality testing, microbials are proving their ability to withstand tough conditions and remain viable when tank mixed. These improvements go beyond shelf-life, they’re delivering real, measurable efficacy in both organic and conventional systems. As a result, there’s growing confidence in biologicals as a reliable and strategic component of modern crop protection.

ABG: Your company is focused on biologicals, but many growers use IPMs. How does your company work with retailers and growers who want to use synthetic chemicals alongside biologicals?

EL: Biologicals are a natural fit for integrated pest management (IPM) programs, and at Certis, we actively promote using them alongside synthetics to support grower success. This approach enables multiple modes of action (MOAs) within a tank mix, improving field performance and extending the effectiveness of existing synthetic products by helping manage resistance issues associated with long-used chemistries.

Certis products are designed to integrate seamlessly into any IPM strategy, helping to reduce pest populations below the economic threshold (ET) without disrupting beneficial species.

While some companies take a broad approach by blending multiple strains into a single formulation, Certis focuses on targeted performance — selecting one or two proven strains that effectively control the target pest while also supporting soil and plant health.

It’s all about complementing what’s already working and building long-term, sustainable success in the field.

ABG: What are three changes your company has made in the last 10 years to scale up production of biologicals?

EL: One of the biggest drivers of Certis’ long-term success has been our commitment to in-house manufacturing. For more than 23 years, we’ve produced the majority of our biological products in the U.S. — and that commitment remains unchanged.

What has evolved is how we scale production to meet growing demand. First, by keeping manufacturing in-house, we maintain complete control over every stage of the process — from fermentation to packaging. This enables us to apply our deep biological expertise to ensure product quality, compatibility, strain viability, and the shelf-life growers depend on.

Second, we’ve continually improved our manufacturing systems and protocols, optimizing them specifically for biologicals — something that companies relying on third-party manufacturers often struggle to do as effectively.

And third, we’ve made significant investments in expanding our U.S.-based production capacity, adding infrastructure to support our growing North American footprint and ensuring we remain a reliable supplier as demand continues to rise.

ABG: What two mistakes do you see other biological companies making and what should they do instead?

EL: At Certis, we’ve learned that long-term success starts with doing things right from the beginning. One common pitfall in this industry is rushing or skipping the rigorous path to regulatory approval. Every product in Certis’ broad portfolio is EPA-registered, and many are OMRI-listed. Achieving that level of validation requires years of research and data—but it’s essential for demonstrating true efficacy and delivering consistent MOAs that growers can rely on.

Another common mistake is a lack of clarity around product performance. Growers deserve to know exactly what a product can and cannot do. We ensure our distributor partners and grower customers clearly understand how each product works, what outcomes to expect, and how it supports their overall ROI strategy.

That level of transparency builds trust — and long-term loyalty.