Sustainable Podcast: Jason McGarrh, VP of Agriculture at Locus FS, on the Value of Biosurfactants
25 June 2026 In this Sustainable podcast episode by AgriBusiness Global, Jason McGarrh, VP of Agriculture at Locus FS, delves into recent innovations in the biosurfactants space, how biosurfactants can address challenges like resistance management, and more.
*This is an edited and partial transcript
AgriBusiness Global: Jason, can you discuss how biosurfactants work and how they fit into an integrated management approach?
Jason McGarrh: The biosurfactants come through fermentation, through either yeast or bacteria, and we’re integrating those technologies into hard chemistries or into traditional surfactants. We’re enhancing what’s already there, so this isn’t a standalone. We’re taking that, and we’re putting it into foliar fertilizers, and we’re using that in stress mitigators.
When we’re thinking about biosurfactants, (we think) ‘what is the problem we’re trying to solve?’
ABG: And in which agricultural applications do biosurfactants tend to provide the greatest value?
McGarrh: We see them in soil-type biosurfactants … to open up the micropores in the soil. As time goes on, you’re going to see them being added into formulations of chemistry, as well as adjuvants because of how it helps cut through the wax on the leaves … so you’re able to get more chemical into the plants or fertility into the soil.
With all the weed resistances and tolerances that are occurring right now, I definitely see a place for biosurfactants in those formulations to extend the technology that’s on the market and to improve efficacy.
ABG: Have you heard or seen any common misconceptions that exist surrounding biosurfactants?
McGarrh: When biosurfactants were really getting started, people had this silver bullet approach and just claimed a whole bunch of different things, and I don’t think the expectations were set the right way. You have got to be careful with what your claims are in this business.
ABG: In addition to managing expectations, is there any other work that companies can do to demystify these products? How can companies really educate growers on the true benefits of biosurfactants?
McGarrh: I would educate people that the use rates are lower. When choosing a company for anything, see if they’ve invested in data. We spend a significant amount of money making sure that what we say is real, and then we do side-by-side demonstrations in the field with farmers.
ABG: Building on that, is there specific evidence or field data that customers are asking for before they decide to adopt a biosurfactant product?
McGarrh: It’s data that really just says, ‘I’m not lying to you,’ and then they want to try it on their own farm.
But I’m really excited for where this business is going. It’s enhancing what we already have, and when you’re looking at chemistry, it takes so much longer to get active ingredients today than what it did 30 to 40 years ago.
ABG: And what are some of the recent innovations that are making biosurfactants more scalable and cost competitive?
McGarrh: I would say the technology around fermentation and economies of scale are really the differentiator. (It’s) larger batch sizes, as well as different bacteria or yeasts that are more efficient.
ABG: Can you expand on how biosurfactants can help address future challenges (and help with) resistance management, climate resilience, and input efficiency?
McGarrh: Yes … In California, when you were to go into a crop under plastic, like strawberries, whenever they’re irrigating and putting fertility and chemicals through the drip, all of that buildup there makes those beds turn to concrete, and when you add biosurfactants to that, it makes it mellow, like potting soil, because it’s helping open up those micropores, it’s allowing water to get into the bed, and then in return, you’re getting more water use efficiency and more efficiency out of your fertility.
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