Washington-based biostimulant startup Tidal Grow AgriScience has already launched a new seed treatment in Canada.
Norm Davy has agriculture in his DNA. Raised on a farm in Treherne, Man., Davy’s early experiences sowed the seeds for a career in which sustainability would be his driving force. Now the president and chief commercial officer of Washington-based Tidal Grow AgriScience, Davy and the company are making waves in the world of biostimulants with a technology upcycled from seafood waste.
“Growing up on the farm and spending the first 20 years of my career in production agriculture across Western and Eastern Canada really shaped my views on sustainable agriculture,” Davy says. “It’s why I got involved in enhanced efficiency fertilizers 20 years ago — bringing some of the first urea inhibitors and nitrification inhibitors to market.”
This foundation led Davy into precision farming, where tools like decision support systems helped farmers align with the “4Rs” of nutrient stewardship: right source, right rate, right time and right place for fertilizers. But it wasn’t just the technical expertise that shaped his journey; his Canadian upbringing also influenced his leadership style. He went to school at the University of Manitoba and University of Guelph.
“I’d describe myself as more of a facilitator,” Davy explains. “I aim to understand diverse perspectives within a system and build long-term, sustainable solutions collaboratively. That approach feels very Canadian to me.”
Now at the helm of Tidal Grow, Davy is championing cutting-edge agricultural solutions set to make waves in both Canada and the U.S.
Tidal Grow is launching four products in Canada in 2025, and recently added Brian Cummings, a seasoned Canadian agricultural veteran, to its team to manage the Canadian business. Its seed treatment, Tidal Grow® GENBOOST offers broad potential across multiple crops, critical to Canadian agriculture.
A Circular Economy in Action
Tidal Grow’s innovations stem from an impressive feat of green chemistry. Its parent company, Tidal Vision, upcycles crustacean exoskeletons (chitin) into chitosan-based products.
“Chitosan is the second-most abundant natural biopolymer on Earth, after cellulose,” Davy says. “It’s a natural polysaccharide found in crustaceans, and we’ve bioengineered it for agricultural applications.”
For Davy, the benefits go beyond the products themselves.
“We’re not just creating bio-based crop inputs; we’re turning waste into a valuable resource. And unlike other manufacturers, who generate up to seven tons of hazardous waste for every ton of chitosan produced, Tidal Vision operates with zero waste. That’s a game-changer.”
“Norm has always been drawn to the novel and the new. Without people like him in our industry — those willing to take risks — it wouldn’t evolve.”
—Trevor Thiessen
Breaking Through Industry Challenges
The precise bioengineering and processing of their chitosan-based solutions sets Tidal Grow apart in a crowded biostimulant market.
“Chitosan is a chemistry, not a living organism like many biologicals,” Davy adds. “This gives our products consistent performance under a variety of environmental conditions, without the challenges of keeping a biological alive in harsh soil conditions.”
This reliability, paired with eco-friendly manufacturing, gives Tidal Grow a competitive edge.
That edge is something Davy is uniquely suited to cultivating, according to colleague and friend Trevor Thiessen, president of Redekop Manufacturing in Saskatoon, Sask. The pair worked together back in the 1990s at Limagrain Canada Seeds in Saskatchewan, which would go on to become part of Monsanto.
“Norm has always been drawn to the novel and the new. Without people like him in our industry — those willing to take risks — it wouldn’t evolve. Pushing boundaries, trying new things — that’s what drives real innovation,” he says. “Norm has that passion.”
Thiessen and Davy share a love for the biologicals and biostimulants market. Thiessen would go on to serve as president of the BioAg Group at Novozymes, which would join with Chr. Hansen to form Novonesis in 2024. He now works in farm equipment manufacturing, and his love for new innovation remains.
“Norm and I share that excitement for new technology. You don’t jump into leading-edge companies unless you have a real drive to bring something different to market. It’s something we always had in common and it’s exciting to watch him keep doing such innovative things in that arena.”
That innovation will be needed more than ever, Davy notes.
“We’re at a tipping point in agriculture. Farmers want to be more productive and profitable, but they also want sustainable solutions. Our innovations, including advancements in nanotechnology and biopolymers, are enabling more targeted and efficient delivery of active ingredients, reducing waste and maximizing results.”
Expansion Powered by USDA Support
Tidal Grow’s vision has earned the company significant backing, including a USDA grant to triple its production capacity.
“Our new facilities in Washington and Texas will help meet growing demand, especially for climate-smart farming practices,” Davy says. “This expansion will allow us to better serve Canadian distributors, retailers, and growers, while continuing to make an environmental impact by removing waste that might otherwise end up in landfills or oceans.”
For Davy, the journey from Canadian farm fields to global agricultural innovation has been as fulfilling as it is transformative.
“This is my seventh startup,” he says. “Five of them have been wildly successful, and this one has the potential to change how we think about sustainability in agriculture. It’s a privilege to be part of that shift.”
As Tidal Grow launches its products in Canada and expands its footprint across North America, Davy remains focused on what matters most: delivering solutions that are good for the planet and great for farmers.
“At the end of the day, it’s about ensuring farmers see both agronomic and economic benefits. That’s how we drive real change.”
