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BioWorks, a Victor, NY-based company that provides growers with biological control and plant nutrition products, began 26 years ago when the company licensed a patented technology from Cornell University.
That technology was the foundation for its RootShield product family, which now includes RootShield PLUS+ in granular and wettable powder formulations. These products prevent a broad spectrum of root diseases and promote healthy root systems.
BioWorks is a private, independent company, with its two owners also employees with no outside investors.
Jeffrey Luke, Director of Marketing, BioWorks
“We are extremely focused on serving our customers in ways others can’t or aren’t willing to,” said Jeffrey Luke, the company’s director of marketing. “That is an exciting journey to be on and we are looking forward to being on it for the next 100 years.”
In the very early years, BioWorks targeted products into the row crop market, but soon shifted its focus to protected horticulture crops driven by customer demand and acceptance.
BioWorks’ core purpose is to “Grow our Team, Serve Others and Save our Earth.”
“We accomplish these by building an organization committed to personal and professional development, by giving back to our community and industry in meaningful ways and by only offering biological control products that reduce or eliminate the need for traditional chemical pesticides and fertilizers,” Luke said.
Most of the company’s products are OMRI listed or certified by WSDA.
RootShield Product Family Examples, BioWorks
“Our products are safe, proven and effective and backed by a team of technical experts and advisors ready to ensure our customers know how to use our products specific to the crops they are growing and the type of operation they are running,” Luke said.
Over the years, BioWorks has made big strides in the organic marketplace, understanding the ongoing demand for safe, organic produce requires the use of environmentally safe products to control plant pests, diseases and improving plant health.
“This is what makes a company like BioWorks important,” Luke said. “But what really makes us feel important is that we are an organization committed to our core purpose—that is why we exist.”
Its efforts in living up to the philosophy can be seen in the innovations it has made through the years and evolution of products.
“We have focused on conducting in-the-field research on fruits and vegetables adding new, organic products with broad labels to include more crops, including fresh produce so growers can use our products on their crops,” Luke said. “We have also added technical support team members and advisors to better serve customers with the education, training and support needed to successfully use biological products—for the specific crops they are growing and the type of operation they are running.”
BioWorks plans to expand technical service and customer support in 2020
One of the challenges the company is faces is the need to continually update its knowledge and product portfolio so it can help growers meet all of their growing and operational needs.
“Launching a new product can be a lengthy process with many federal and state regulatory requirements that need to be addressed,” Luke said. “With a growing market, there are always opportunities. What we find as a great opportunity is the ongoing effort to understand our customers better so we can continue to bring them products and services that matter to what they are doing today, and what they will be doing tomorrow.”
In 2020, BioWorks have a number of key strategies for growth, with one important one being expanding technical service and advice to ensure it can answer questions when customers really need them.
This is just the latest example of how it continues to grow its team, serve others and do its part to save the Earth.
