Certis 20th Anniversary

INTRODUCTION

With roots that trace back to the 1980’s and 1990’s, Certis Biologicals has long been the legacy leader of biopesticides and biological solutions for commercial agriculture and the home and garden markets. That leadership was cemented in 2001 when Thermo Trilogy was acquired by Mitsui & Co. one of the largest general trading companies in Japan.

Mitsui & Co. utilizes its unique business engineering capabilities to develop new business models aimed at solving challenges, generating new opportunities and improving existing business processes and portfolios to meet the market’s needs.

Bolstered by its new ownership and the power of the Mitsui & Co. brand, Certis Biologicals became the leader in innovation, manufacturing and marketing of bio-based solutions for both commercial agriculture and the home and garden markets.

Due to our continued growth, we are announcing our transition to Certis Biologicals, a global manufacturer and distributor of biological products that will meet the needs of partners and growers throughout the world.

In 2021, Certis Biologicals celebrates not only the anniversary of this milestone for us, but for the field of biologicals in general, which is experiencing a period of significant growth in markets both domestically and internationally.

With the largest portfolio of solutions for the management of pests, diseases, weeds and resistance issue, Certis Biologicals has the solutions that growers of all types need today. A pioneering pipeline of innovation means we also have the solutions ready for the issues that growers will face tomorrow. Because we export and distribute those products in more than 50 countries around the world, Certis Biologicals can meet grower need quickly.

We are Certis Biologicals: Leading Biopesticides

1946

State-of-the-art Wasco fermentation plant is constructed

Early Days of Wasco
1960

Bt production begins at Wasco facility. The facility would create Thuricide, the first Bt product registered for use in the US.
1984

With the development of Kleentek technology, sugar cane growers have a clean seed process that produces sugarcane free of systemic diseases that impact production.
1996

The formation of Thermo Trilogy  
1996

The acquisition of neem technologies from W.R. Grace, who had previously held the first EPA registration for neem technology
1997

Thermo Trilogy acquired baculovirus products from Biosys 
1997

The acquisition of Bt bioinsecticide products from Novartis 

CAPCA Adviser BT technologies Piece by Mike Dimock
2000

Thermo Trilogy leadership helps form Biological Products Industry Alliance, the leading voice for biologicals
2001

The birth of Certis Biologicals after the acquisition of Thermo Trilogy by Mitsui & Co. 
2002

The birth of  Certis Biologicals after the acquisition of Thermo Trilogy by Mitsui & Co. 
2010

Under an exclusive distribution agreement, Certis Biologicals partners with German-based Neudorff to expand its portfolio to include DES-X insecticidal soap concentrate, Cueva™ liquid copper fungicide concentrate, Seduce® insecticidal bait and Sluggo® slug and snail bait.
2012

Double Nickel and PFR-97 20% WDG granted registration for use in California agriculture 

Double Nickel Interview with Scott Ockey
2017

Certis Biologicals product LifeGard™ WG, the first biological plant activator product in agriculture, is named 2017 Best New Biological Product at the Agrow Awards and received second place for the 2017 Bernard Blum Award for Biocontrol Product of the Year. 

Agrow Awards
2017

Certis Biologicals acquires Butte, Montana-based LAM International, including their state-of-the-art solid fermentation production facility that complements the Certis Biologicals liquid fermentation production facility in Wasco, California.
2018

Through a partnership with OmniLytics, Certis Biologicals introduced the first product utilizing bacteriophages into the agricultural industry, pioneering a new technology for the market to combat resistance issues and solve many pressing agricultural concerns.

CAPCA Adviser Piece on phage technologies
2018

Construction and start-up completed on the new azadirachtin formulation and packaging facility located in Wasco, California. The state-of-the-art system allows Certis Biologicals to produce the highest quality biopesticides. 
2018

Kocide® 3000-O copper fungicide/bactericide receives approval by the U.S. EPA for use in the organic production of vegetables, small fruits, tree crops and vines.  
2019

Certis Biologicals introduces Homeplate®, an OMRI Listed®, non-selective, broad-spectrum, fatty acid, burndown herbicide that works as a foliar contact spray to control a wide variety of weeds.  

Introducing Homeplate
2020

Certis Biologicals products are exported to and distributed in 50 countries across the globe.
2020

Visionary Certis President & CEO Jow-Lih Su, Ph.D. transitions from the leadership position he held for more than 20 years, and Amy O’Shea takes command of Certis Biologicals
2021

Certis Biologicals celebrates a 20-year milestone as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsui & Co.
2021

Certis Biologicals is born with a broader focus to bring biological leadership and solutions to growers in countries across the globe