b'A Circular Economy in Action Were at a tipping point in agriculture. Farmers want to Tidal Grows innovations stem from an impressive feat of greenbe more productive and profi table, but they also want sustain-chemistry. Its parent company, Tidal Vision, upcycles crusta- able solutions. Our innovations, including advancements in cean exoskeletons (chitin) into chitosan-based products.nanotechnology and biopolymers, are enabling more targeted Chitosan is the second-most abundant natural biopolymerand efficient delivery of active ingredients, reducing waste and on Earth, after cellulose, Davy says. Its a natural polysac- maximizing results.charide found in crustaceans, and weve bioengineered it for agricultural applications. Expansion Powered by USDA SupportFor Davy, the benefi ts go beyond the products themselves.Tidal Grows vision has earned the company signifi cant back-Were not just creating bio-based crop inputs; were turninging, including a USDA grant to triple its production capacity. waste into a valuable resource. And unlike other manufacturers,Our new facilities in Washington and Texas will help meet who generate up to seven tons of hazardous waste for every tongrowing demand, especially for climate-smart farming prac-of chitosan produced, Tidal Vision operates with zero waste.tices, Davy says. This expansion will allow us to better serve Thats a game-changer. Canadian distributors, retailers, and growers, while continu-ing to make an environmental impact by removing waste that Breaking Through Industry Challenges might otherwise end up in landfi lls or oceans.The precise bioengineering and processing of their chitosan- based solutions sets Tidal Grow apart in a crowded biostimu-lant 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,NORM HAS ALWAYS BEEN DRAWN TO THE NOVEL without the challenges of keeping a biological alive in harsh soil conditions. AND THE NEW. WITHOUT PEOPLE LIKE HIM IN OUR This reliability, paired with eco-friendly manufacturing, gives Tidal Grow a competitive edge.INDUSTRYTHOSE WILLING TO TAKE RISKSThat edge is something Davy is uniquely suited to culti-vating, according to colleague and friend Trevor Thiessen,IT WOULDNT EVOLVE. president of Redekop Manufacturing in Saskatoon, Sask. TheTrevor Thiessenpair 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 industrythose willing to take risksit wouldnt evolve. Pushing boundaries, trying new thingsthats what drives real innovation, he says.For Davy, the journey from Canadian farm fi elds to Norm has that passion. global agricultural innovation has been as fulfi lling as it is Thiessen and Davy share a love for the biologicals andtransformative. biostimulants market. Thiessen would go on to serve as presi- This is my seventh startup, he says. Five of them have dent of the BioAg Group at Novozymes, which would join with been wildly successful, and this one has the potential to change Chr. Hansen to form Novonesis in 2024. He now works inhow we think about sustainability in agriculture. Its a privilege farm equipment manufacturing, and his love for new innova- to be part of that shift.tion remains. As Tidal Grow launches its products in Canada and Norm and I share that excitement for new technology. Youexpands its footprint across North America, Davy remains dont jump into leading-edge companies unless you have a realfocused on what matters most: delivering solutions that are drive to bring something diff erent to market. Its somethinggood for the planet and great for farmers. we always had in common and its exciting to watch him keepAt the end of the day, its about ensuring farmers see both doing such innovative things in that arena. agronomic and economic benefi ts. Thats how we drive real That innovation will be needed more than ever, Davy notes. change. MARCH 2025SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA 21'