Washington-based Tidal Grow AgriScience has received regulatory approval to sell its biofertiliser, Spectra, in California, providing specialty crop growers in the state with another option to address various plant diseases and pest problems.
Spectra is a biotech-derived chitosan — a chemical compound with applications across the ag, supplement, and wine industries — from chitin sourced from upcycled crustaceans, like crab and shrimp, the company shared in a press release. The biofertiliser activates the crop’s natural immune system to improve nutrient uptake and root function, and can help control almond blossom blight, shot hole, and powdery mildew.
Tidal Grow extracts and manufactures bioengineered biopolymers through a green and zero-waste approach at its Washington state facility, where the agtech company also produces seafood hydrolysate liquid fertilizer called Oceanic, Trey Cutts, VP of commercial agriculture science at Tidal Grow, told AgTechNavigator.
“We are now developing molecules that are bringing the level of efficacy that more traditional active ingredients are in the market. So, we are able to do new molecule discovery, but we also have the advantage that we are bio-based, meaning we are non-toxic, so it is benign to the environment. There is no re-entry period for applicators. There is no pre-harvest interval, which is huge for California specialty crops,” Cutts elaborated.
Wildfires, tariffs impact California’s wine industry
Tidal Grow receiving state regulatory approval for Spectra in California was the last piece in the puzzle, with the fertilizer now available at ag retailers in all 50 U.S. states, Cutts noted. This comes as many California crops are facing major strains due to various economic factors, including trade tensions with China and higher crop input costs, he added.
California is the U.S.’s number one producer of grapes, with warmer temperatures due to climate change impacting crop yields and quality and putting workers’ health at risk, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated.
Climate change will also spur more frequent and severe wildfires, EPA added. A wildfire broke out on Aug. 21 in Napa County, California, a major producer of wine grapes, which was not contained as of publication.
“The wine industry is taking a big hit. ... In times like this, growers have to be laser sharp with their efficiencies on the field, making sure that every dollar they spend gets them a return on investment,” Cutts elaborated.
