NewLeaf Symbiotics — a Missouri-based non-GMO biotech company that researches and commercializes beneficial plant bacteria and is a leading player in the rapidly-expanding agricultural biologicals space — announced the appointment of Mike McFatrich as vice president for business strategy and development.
McFatrich joins the company from BASF where he was global director for the seed solutions business. He will be based at NewLeaf’s BRDG Park offices in St. Louis.
“Mike brings extensive experience to NewLeaf Symbiotics. He has worked in the agrochemical industry for more than 20 years, prior to which he had significant experience in the seed industry in both product development and commercial roles,” says NewLeaf CEO Tom Laurita.
NewLeaf is at the leading edge of developing biologics as a crop performance enhancement technology, says McFatrich, adding the company is well positioned to bring to market a portfolio of products that will deliver on the promise that plant health and nutritional biological products have begun to provide. NewLeaf’s Prescriptive BiologicsTM platform will offer unique solutions for the crop protection market, he says.
“I’ve been fortunate to work in both crop production and crop protection, and understand how biologics can complement traditional crop protection tools and augment the genetics of a crop plant to optimize the inherent yield potential. I believe NewLeaf has brought together key values of innovation, customer focus, collaboration and sustainability which will provide the grower, and those who service the grower, with the opportunity to deliver food, fiber and fuel to the world’s growing population in an environmentally prudent way.”
