Business Central February 2021

70 | AGRITECH BioStart Working to enhance soil quality Phil Carter, BioStart horticulture territory manager, right, and Richard Pentreath of Ngai Tukairangi Trust and President of the Hawke’s Bay Fruit Growers Association Supporting good health through good nutrition. Proudly supporting Biostart 50 Central Park Dr., Henderson Auckland 0610 09 834 3783 info@imageholdings.co.nz | www.imageholdings.co.nz 12 Iversen Tce., Waltham Christchurch 8011 03 550 0754 Precision Nutrient Formulation Your source and supply partner Providing raw materials and fine chemicals for agriculture, horticulture and animal health since 1987. P (09) 418 0097 E info@interchem.co.nz interchem.co.nz Sue Russell W aikato farmer Dayne Plummer has always had a keen interest in biological farming. With the support of investment partner, Bruce Munro, Dayne established BioStart in the corner of his farm shed 26 years ago with the intention of help- ing farmers with productivity and soil issues by using naturally occurring microbes. As time went on, he was joined by scientists and farm advisors to create a team dedicated to helping New Zealand farmers through mi- crobiology and fermentation technologies. CEO, Dr Jerome Demmer and Head of R&D, Dr Chris Chilcott are responsible for over- seeing the production of the raft of products BioStart now produces. “We started by developing the first prebiot- ic, called BioStart Calf. It was created before prebiotics was understood for gut health, and is given to calves in the first three weeks of life to aid better nutritional uptake from milk and give resilience when their immune system is vulnerable,” says Jerome. Today, the company produces soil microbial activators, silage preservatives, crop protec- tion technologies, animal prebiotics, bio-fer- tilisers, foliar bio-stimulants and biocontrol agents. “Our team are constantly talking to farmers and growers. Those discussions are integral to driving the products we manufacture because products need to be relevant, work in the field and be easy to apply. “Once we establish what the issue is, we identify a potential solution and scientifically trial it with producers so that we can be sure it works reliably.” Jerome explains the link between microbes and plant growth and health: “Plants cannot grow without the help of microbes to absorb nutrients from the soil. There are naturally occurring microbes living in the rootzone, inside the plant and on plant surfaces. Getting the right mix of microbes in the soil is key to increasing productivity or plant health.” Biologically stimulated soil, in turn, creates the ideal conditions for enhanced nutrient uptake by plants, resulting in faster growing, stronger and higher quality outcomes. This is reflected in milk quality, animal health, yield, plant resilience and wine and fruit flavour. The team at BioStart are not advocating for farmers and growers to change radically from their traditional fertiliser regimes but rather to add the BioStart products into their existing systems for further quality benefits, long term soil improvements and to reduce the use of ag chemicals over time. “We hear of great success stories from farmers and growers who have turned the farm around, improving yield, quality, plant and animal health and soil structure.” The company has a team of 15 people with four agricultural territory reps spread around the country and three horticultural territory reps, based in Pukekohe, Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough. A third of the country’s vineyards use Bio- Start soil stimulants and Jerome says it’s en- couraging to see their products gaining a foot in with apple, kiwifruit and avocado growers. In the case of BioStart’s soil biostimulant, Mycorrcin, which is made up of fermentation extracts, it activates soil microbes which in turn enhances root growth and branching, activates mycorrhizal fungi association, improves soil structure, increases calcium and phosphate uptake and in the long term improves soil structure. The biofertilizer Biostart N, on the other hand, contains the live microbe Azotobacter chroococcum which, once established, con- verts atmospheric nitrogen to plant-available ammonium nitrogen. Unlike conventional nitrogen fertilisers, Biostart N integrates nitro- gen fixing bacteria into the soil, which reduces runoff and gives a long term steady supply of nitrogen to the plant for optimal growth. Another farming issue Biostart has taken on is grass grub. BioStart has built on the initial work by AgResearch and Ballance Agri-Nutri- ents, to develop Bioshield Grass Grub Liquid as well as a granule, to reduce damaging grass grub larvae infestations. Bioshield contains a microbe that introduces amber disease to grass grub only, which kills the larvae. As a result of their products being increas- ingly valued by the agricultural and horticul- tural communities, Biostart is now among New Zealand’s 20 top Agritech businesses. “We already export to Australia and Italy. There’s a global interest in regenerative agriculture and the current situation with COVID-19 has really caused consumers and producers world-wide to think about enhanc- ing the power of nature in food production.” As for the future, Jerome says demand has been growing as people are beginning to understand the importance of soil health and how microbes play a part so now it is a matter of ensuring they can meet the demand.