BIO-CAT Microbials LLC (Shakopee, Minnesota) and OMNIA Holdings Limited, a South African corporation, have entered into an exclusive agreement as part of their drive to advance biologicals in the global agriculture market

SHAKOPEE, Minn., March 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — BIO-CAT Microbials LLC and OMNIA Limited Liability Company have entered into an exclusive agreement to develop microbial strains to be added to OMNIA’s portfolio of crop science products. The project will focus on accelerating their joint efforts to improve global agriculture as they embark on a commercial collaboration.  OMNIA’s global reach includes Africa, Australia, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Americas.  BIO-CAT Microbials LLC, a biotech firm located in Shakopee, Minnesota, has dedicated a substantial amount of their research and development budget over the past 15 years to this exact cause. Since its establishment in 2004, BIO-CAT Microbials LLC has focused on the identification of unique bacterial strains found naturally in soil, which are frequently depleted due to heavy chemical use.  This effort focuses on inoculating the soil with advantageous bacteria to restore the balance of beneficial microbes in the rhizosphere.  An improved soil-biome can lead to multiple benefits. For example, improved root mass, which will generate more drought-resistant plants and increase nutrient uptake. The combination of these benefits can lead to healthier crops and higher yields.  

“The introduction of biologicals as part of a range of chemical crop treatments is neither new nor controversial,” said Mark Walin, VP of Sales & Marketing for BIO-CAT Microbials LLC. “However, biological augmentation and the long-term movement towards more sustainable solutions must be accelerated.”  Walin went on to say, “It is a rarity when everyone comes up a winner, but in this case, the grower, the consumer, and the environmentalist can all benefit with the proper use of beneficial microbes.”

Chris Schuler, Co-Founder and President of BIO-CAT Microbials LLC, added, “OMNIA’s platform for growth in the agriculture space is second to none, and we believe it is a privilege to partner with them.  We share a common mission and we see a high degree of cultural alignment between our two organizations. This is an amazing collaboration between the two hemispheres.”

About BIO-CAT Microbials LLC: BIO-CAT Microbials LLC, located in Shakopee, Minnesota, was founded in 2004 by BIO-CAT Inc., the specialty enzyme industry leader located in Troy, Virginia. For 15 years, BIO-CAT Microbials LLC has focused on three core life science verticals: human nutrition, animal nutrition, and crop science/nutrition. BIO-CAT Microbials LLC continues to be an innovative global biotech leader that supports customers with advanced microbial solutions. As industry experts, their science-led team specialises in strain development, fermentation, and product development. For more information, please visit www.bcmicrobials.com.

About OMNIA: OMNIA is a diversified chemicals group that supplies chemicals and specialised services and solutions for the agriculture, mining, and chemical application industries. Differentiation is ensured through using innovation combined with intellectual capital, whereby OMNIA adds value for customers at every stage of the supply and service chain. With its vision of leaving a “Better World” the group’s solutions promote the responsible use of chemicals for health, safety, and a lower environmental impact, with an increasing shift towards cleaner technologies. OMNIA’s Agriculture division, comprising of Agriculture South Africa, Agriculture International, and Agriculture Trading, is the market leader in its field in South Africa and Southern Africa. The division produces and trades in granular, liquid, direct application ammonia, and specialty fertilizers for a broad customer base of farmers, co-operatives, and wholesalers throughout South Africa, Southern and East Africa, and to select markets in Australasia, Brazil and Mauritius. The division is recognised as an international player in Agriculture biologicals (Agribio) and water-soluble nutrient markets with an extended product range that is exported to 35 countries globally.

CONTACT: Liza Doswell, edoswell@bio-cat.com, 434-589-4777

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