CINCINNATI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–BiOWiSH Technologies, Inc. today announced the appointment of John Gorsuch, Director of Research and Development, to lead The Fertilizer Institute’s Microbiological Laboratory Methods Task Force.
“The formation of this task force is critically important to our industry,” said Gorsuch. “The task force will contribute to the common goal of holding our industry to higher standards of product quality and truth in advertising, and I am honored to contribute to this important endeavor.”
The Microbiological Laboratory Methods Task Force consists of a team of microbiological subject matter experts (SMEs) from fellow TFI member companies that will work together to propose a new testing framework against which microbial biostimulants will be evaluated. They’ll compile a list of acceptable standard methods for evaluating key quality parameters among a range of microbial products and develop educational resources for industry stakeholders, such as tutorials and a directory of testing laboratories that run acceptable methods.
Because there is currently no standard suite of microbiological methods used to assess label claim agreement for microbial biostimulants, the task force has been created to propose methods that can be used to assess the quality of microbial biostimulants accurately and equitably, and to guide new methods through the process of validation and accreditation in cases where such methods are needed. Results of the task force will be used to support current regulatory efforts while creating a foundation for customer-facing “truth in advertising” efforts on part of individual manufacturers, with a goal of restoring consumer confidence in microbial products and substantiating consistent product performance that meets the customer value proposition across the industry.
Gorsuch is looking for other SMEs to join the task force, saying: “Microbial technologies are formulated with a diverse cast of beneficial microbes. We often find that standard ‘one size fits all’ lab methods are not the best tools for the job when it comes to evaluating the quality of these products. The more perspectives and subject matter expertise we have on this task force, the more widely applicable our testing framework will be to current and next-generation biologicals. This is an exciting step towards raising the bar on quality among microbial biostimulants, gaining consumer confidence and earning back some of the trust that has eroded from our customer base as a result of false claims and poor-quality products.”
Those interested in joining the task force can fill out this survey. For more information about BiOWiSH Technologies, visit biowishtech.com.
About BiOWiSH Technologies
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, BiOWiSH Technologies, Inc. is a global provider of biotechnology solutions for the agriculture, aquaculture, and environmental management industries. As a leader in the agricultural market, we help farmers increase crop production sustainably, safely and cost effectively. Our revolutionary BiOWiSH® Crop Liquid can be coated onto dry fertilizer or mixed with liquid fertilizer to create an enhanced efficiency fertilizer that optimizes yield potential, expresses plant vigor and improves soil productivity across a broad range of operating conditions, climates and environments. By unifying nature and science, BiOWiSH reinvents the way food is grown. For more information, visit biowishtech.com.
About The Fertilizer Institute
The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is the leading voice of the nation’s fertilizer industry. Tracing its roots back to 1883, TFI’s membership includes fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers and trading firms. TFI’s full-time staff, based in Washington, D.C., serves its members through legislative, educational, technical, economic information and public communication programs. Find more information about TFI online at TFI.org and follow us on Twitter at @Fertilizer_Inst. Learn more about TFI’s nutrient stewardship initiatives at nutrientstewardship.org and on Twitter at @4rnutrients.
