Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 7632 / SEEDWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER 2016 INSIDERS ADVICE FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS INSIDERS — A NEW ADDITION TO SEED WORLD Here, experts from across the industry will discuss issues that are top of mind, share technical advancements, talk about tips for success and provide perspective on policy. Readers can hone in on areas that are of particular interest and get a snapshot of what’s happening and how it impacts the seed industry. BIOLOGICALS Use Science to Build the Integrity of Biologicals When I think about the biological space as a whole, I see tremendous potential. There’s the increased need for higher yields to meet food demand. The regulatory envi- ronment is more favorable to companies wanting to invest in biological products. Consumers demand higher quality organic produce. And public perception is that bio- logicals are generally better. The stars are aligning for those of us in this space. But before we can gaze at the constel- lation that has taken shape, there’s work to do. Biologicals are living organisms, and when applied to the seed, they create synergies that deliver benefits to the plant as it grows. Traditionally, this is where many get hung up — in being able to explain the benefits. In the past five to 10 years, the advancement of the science has sig- nificantly magnified our understanding of how these living organisms interact with the plant and their environment. We simply know more. As a company dedi- cated to biologicals, we have invested millions of dollars into research and ABM CEO AND CO-FOUNDER Dan@abm1st.com ABM1st.com DAN CUSTIS development. This investment has deepened our under- standing of biologicals, and as such allows us to ensure a product’s benefits to the customer and end user. But because this is such a hot area with so much growth potential, there are a lot of popup companies looking to get in on the action. MarketsandMarkets reports a com- pound annual growth rate of 13 percent from 2014 to 2019, which means that come 2019, the biological seed treatment market will be worth an estimated $560 million. While the numbers vary from report to report, one thing is consistent — growth and opportunity. It’s great to see so many new ideas and so much energy being invested into biologicals. I believe that competition leads to innovation, crushes complacency and leads to more choice for customers. However, I caution and encourage these newcomers to really understand the science and the ins and outs of a product before bringing it to market. We’ve had to fight the old “snake oil” moniker, and we’ve finally been able to break that notion. But one product that fails to deliver on its promise, not only hurts the individual company, but all those involved in the biological space. Don’t sacrifice time and hard work just to get product on the market, only to have a mishap. While that mishap might be your own, it affects us all. In recent years, biological companies have set a high standard and leaders continue to ratchet the bar up. It’s this competitive spirit that accelerates continued innovation and discovery. Use the science to build integrity. I challenge you to build the integrity of your company, of your product, of your people. And build the integrity of the biological space as a whole. Then, and only, then will we, as an industry, reach our maximum potential and really shine bright.