Author: Six Five

As we embark on 2025 we gathered the Biolevel team to reflect on the milestones, lessons, and growth of our business in 2024, and to set their sights on new and exciting opportunities in 2025.

Building Momentum Through Partnerships
Industry engagement was a particular highlight for Biolevel in 2024 with the team attending numerous agricultural shows, field days and conferences to spread the word about our ground-breaking and convenient bionutrition products. 

“At the Southwestern Fertilizer Industry meeting, it became clear that the market is hungry for microbial products that truly fit grower needs – and Biolevel is filling that gap,” said Biolevel Co-founder and President Lutz Glandorf.

CEO Bill Cordingley, who joined the business in 2024, reflected on the broader impact of Biolevel’s partnerships. “From new product launches like GramaxNP and ReGenerator to expanding into Canada and Belgium, our business has made significant strides, while adding talented team members like Iowa Business Development Manger, Josh Seeman, Iowa Sales Intern, Madison Hoover, and Marketing Director, Nathalie Gibson has further strengthened our ability to scale and serve key markets.”

Achieving Results in the Field
Last year was one of remarkable field trial results for Biolevel. “Trials of MaizeNP on sunflower yielded increases of 3.4% and 11.3%, continuing a trend of broadening solutions for new crops,” said Lutz. “For cotton, Biolevel achieved a 9.25X ROI in its first university trial, validating what growers had already observed in their fields.”

Our Kenya Business Development Manager Gabriel Chinembiri saw firsthand the transformative impact of Biolevel’s products: “Maize treated with MaizeNP visibly outperformed traditional practices with healthier growth and higher yields, while in Molo, a cabbage farmer reclaimed land for brassicas with the help of PhosN, achieving results he thought impossible,” he said.

Agility and Innovation
Biolevel’s agility was a strong suit in 2024. “One day I’m introducing Lutz to a person that is interested in learning more about biologicals and Biolevel, two days later I’m meeting with them to see if they want to do a sales internship,” said Josh. “Not a lot of companies can manoeuvre that quickly!” This nimbleness, which resulted in the appointment of intern Maddy, extends to product development and launches. “Helping spread awareness about ReGenerator and its benefits for growers has been a standout experience,” she said. 

Supporting and Growing Together
At Biolevel, collaboration and support define our culture. “In my six months with Biolevel, the one thing that stands out is how deeply supportive everyone is,” said Josh. “Whether you’re an intern or the CEO, every voice matters.” This inclusivity ensures that ideas and strategies are collectively refined to help Biolevel achieve at the highest levels. “Working with dealers and fostering strong relationships has been incredibly rewarding,” said Maddy.

Looking Ahead to 2025
“Biofertilizers are becoming essential in modern farming, helping growers achieve higher yields with fewer synthetic inputs and reducing agriculture’s climate impact. They are a perfect tool for the transition of farming to  more carbon, climate and environmentally sustainable future,” said Bill.

“It’s about returning to the fundamentals of biology: caring for our soil to sustain our planet and food systems for the long term,” said Nathalie. “Biologicals not only improve crop yield and residue management but also contribute to a more sustainable agricultural future. 

“I am looking forward to our winter meetings, which will give us a great platform to reach a wide selection of growers to allow us to tell the Biolevel story of nutrient efficiency, nutrient availability and farm profitability for our growers,” said Josh, who is also looking forward to getting Biolevel products out into new areas and crops, and following up with those farmers to demonstrate to them how Biolevel has impacted their farm.”

Maddy is also looking forward to demonstrating Biolvel’s product efficacy. “I’m eager to continue gathering and analyzing data from ReGenerator, MaizeNP, PhosN, and GramaxNP, and share the results with our clients,” she said.“Biolevel had many breakthroughs in 2024, and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead,” said Bill. “Here’s to a new year of growth, collaboration, and success!”

“Our planet’s survival depends on the precious link between soil and water. Over 95 percent of our food originates from these two fundamental resources. Soil water, vital for nutrient absorption by plants, binds our ecosystems together. This symbiotic relationship is the foundation of our agricultural systems” (World Soil Day | United Nations)

As we mark World Soil Health Day on December 5 this UN Statement gives us much to unpack, pointing to the important questions of how we produce our food, and how the nutritional density of our food is, how producing food can impact the availability and quality of the water we drink, and how important topics are interconnected.

At the center of this question is our soil.

At Biolevel we’re passionate about providing solutions to re-invigorate soil biology, to produce with more efficiency and less environmental impact, and to grow more nutritionally-dense, healthier crops. And we’re committed to supporting farmers who want to protect their soils for subsequent generations.

Primary succession begins when no plant life is present on the landscape, such as after a lava flow or glacial retreat. Over centuries, soil forms and deepens and successive communities of plants grow. Copyright Shutterstock.com

But how did we get to this point? Why is our action needed? To understand an important root cause of today’s struggle with soil health and agricultural productivity we have to understand the natural succession in soil development.

The University of Chicago nicely describes this in this article (What is ecological succession? | University of Chicago News). As eco-systems develop starting with lichens and pioneer species to more mature plant communities, so does the soil develop. Agriculture has benefited from growing initially in mature soils, but soil depletion is now a pressing issue. The cultivation of soil and monoculture, prevent soil from regenerating and maturing.

When we look at farmland which is put into conservation, we can see ecological succession happening: We see grasses as pioneer species, but we also see a wider variety of weeds, the first shrubs and we also have proximity to more mature climax communities like forests where beneficial microbes and fungi can migrate into the formerly disturbed soil. This is not present in rowcrop farming.

Image source: Succession On fallow land, vegetation unfolds in a predictable pattern, with weedy species slowly giving way to longer-lived colonizers, such as canopy trees. Photo: Lisa M. Dellwo via https://www.caryinstitute.org/news-insights/2-minute-science/succession

At Biolevel we work with beneficial soil microbes which are naturally soil occurring, to support pioneer stage environments like cultivated, monocropped agricultural soils to achieve ecological succession. Our products enable important natural nutrient cycling, support the reinvigoration of soil and improve growers’ profitability . 

Helping farmers to complement their work on soil structure and soil chemistry by addressing soil biology is our mission. We offer a practical range of products with ease of use in mind. Learn more about our biological soil solutions on our website or call Josh Seeman +1 904 657 0316 or email him to start your Biolevel biologicals journey. Interested in becoming a Biolevel distributor? Josh would love to talk to you too! 

Global biological nutrition leader gains expanded product registration in Canada

Soil bionutritionist Biolevel has received Canadian Food Inspection Agency registration for its MaizeNP™ (corn) and PhosN™ (soybeans and vegetable crops) products, building on its success with PhosN in the Canadian potato industry. 

This additional product registration means Biolevel now offers a complete bionutrition platform for Canadian corn and soybean growers with products designed for easy application that work seamlessly with existing machinery. 

Both products are available in liquid seed coating and soluble powder form, while MaizeNP also offers a dry talc replacement application option.

“This registration is a game-changer for corn and soybean growers in Canada,” said Bill Cordingley, Biolevel’s CEO. “It provides them with access to proven biological products that increase crop-available Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus and micronutrients, and consistently boost yield potential. We’re proud to play a role in building healthier soils for stronger crops and a more sustainable future for Canadian farmers.”

This is Biolevel’s second Canadian permit, with registration for GramaxNP™ – an innovative liquid seed coating for small grains – expected in Spring 2025.

Biolevel has now achieved registrations and commercial sales across three continents with products available to farmers and distributors in the United States, Canada, Kenya, United Kingdom, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The latter registration enables mutual recognition across other Europe Union member states, streamlining product approvals in the region. 

This expanded availability aligns with Biolevel’s mission; to help farmers play a significant role in making modern farming more profitable and sustainable and reduce the environmental impacts of farming. 

Biolevel Canadian Distribution

Biolevel products can be ordered in Canada via the Sollio and Agromart network. If you’re a farmer or a distributor and want to get in touch, please email Josh Seeman josh@biolevel.net.

Follow Biolevel on LinkedIn, and subscribe to YouTube.

About Biolevel 

Biolevel Ltd. is dedicated to developing and delivering a new generation of biological nutrition products that support the real-world practices of farmers around the globe. Founded by Laurence Berman, Ian Robertson, and Lutz Glandorf, Biolevel was born out of a need for more consistent and convenient bionutrition products that could better withstand the variety of harsh conditions farmers face in the storage, application and use of biological products. After more than 20 years of development, R&D, and validation, Biolevel’s market-leading biologicals for corn, soybeans, potatoes, cereal, wheat, barley, and other crops – MaizeNP™, PhosN™, GramaxNP™, and ReGenerator™ – were commercialized in Europe, North America, and Africa. Biolevel plans to expand the application and distribution of its products to other crops, including cereals, canola, sunflower, tomatoes, and other fruits and vegetables. Follow Biolevel on LinkedIn and YouTube.

About Biolevel products

Biolevel™  products deliver balanced nutrition to specific crops, including the GramaxNP™ (for small grains), MaizeNP™ (for corn), and PhosN™ (for soybeans and vegetable crops). These biofertilizers feature a robust consortium of natural microbes that enhance nutrient uptake while being resilient to various stresses. With a market-leading two-year shelf life and no refrigeration required, they are convenient to use and proven to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in farming.

Media contact: Nathalie Gibson | nathalie.gibson@biolevel.net 

Climate change and population growth are exacerbating Africa’s food security challenges. Prioritizing agricultural innovation that is geared to success is critical to helping African farmers to improve food security and lift their farm incomes.

The Issues

Compounded by the pressures of climate change and population growth, food security is an urgent issue for many regions including Central and South America, and Asia, but nowhere it is more pressing than Africa.

According to the United Nations, 73 million African people are living in the grips of an urgent food crisis, and 129 million more are on the cusp of food insecurity.And, with more than half of the world’s population growth likely to occur in Africa between now and 2050, food security on the continent is both a cause for urgency and an opportunity for agrifoodtech innovation to flourish.

In relative terms, the cost of food is high for Africans who pay an average 30 to 40 per cent more for food than other countries with a similar GDP, and rely heavily  on food imported from outside the continent. Such reliance drives up food prices, while the Covid Pandemic has highlighted the risks from disruptions in global supply chain logistics and steeply increased freight costs.

For all that, agriculture plays an outsized role in most African economies. Its contribution to GDP is high and agriculture employs a large percentage of the workforce, mostly on smallholder family farms lacking access to inputs and technology.

Additionally, African farmers face rising temperatures and sea levels, changing rainfall patterns, and more frequent extreme weather and climate events. The World Meteorological Association suggested in its 2019 report: Climate Change and Africa that these conditions could lead to yield reductions in major crops of between five and 21 per cent.. 

Biolevel’s Co-Founder Laurence Berman says that their products have the potential to prove the benefits of its products beyond the traditional crops of Europe and North America.  

“From the outset, Biolevel has focused on establishing a presence in Kenya, an innovative, export-driven market with a sophisticated agricultural sector,” says Biolevel co-founder Laurence Berman. “Kenya’s strong agricultural tradition and rigorous product assessments make it a respected leader across Africa. As a mission-driven business, Biolevel is committed to partnering with smallholder farmers in the region, making our innovative biological solutions available to support sustainable agriculture in this and other emerging markets. By collaborating with Kenyan farmers, we aim to provide them with a meaningful return on investment through improved yields while showcasing Biolevel’s potential impact within a region that sets high standards for agricultural excellence.”

Five keys to successful agricultural innovation for African crop growers

Key To Successful InnovationHow Biolevel Products Measure Up
1.  Improved logistics Agriculture in Africa relies heavily on transportation for both inputs and finished goods. While geography is partly responsible for lack of infrastructure and isn’t easily overcome, one solution is to develop products that are more easily transported (low volume/low mass) and use innovative delivery methods.Biolevel’s biological products are applied at 250g/ha compared with conventional bulk fertilizers with use rates of over 100 kg/ha which makes them low volume/low mass.These are easily transported and distributed by pioneering ‘last mile’ delivery start-ups when typical smallholder farms only require the equivalent volume of a chocolate bar each growing season.This is one way Biolevel can provide equal access to all geographies and work towards the goal of equity.
2.  Prioritization of safety Africa is home to some of the world’s most important wildlife and natural habitats, with close proximity between smallholder farms, communities and wildlife reserves. Product safety is critical in any market, but never more so than where the risk of accidental misuse is high, and the risk of commingling with food supply more likely. For example, where treated seed could be accidentally diverted into the food supply.Biolevel products consist of Biosafety Level 1 type microbes which means these products have never been found to be harmful to animals, plants or people.
3.  Ease of use Any new soil health enhancement/nutrient management/crop management solutions must be easy to use by smallholder farmers, fitting into their systems and agronomic practices, and not require any specialist equipment or farm productivity tools, which may be costly, and not readily available.Biolevel products including MaizeNP, PhosN, GramaxNP and ReGenerator are easily applied in multiple ways by farmers and do not require specialized machinery. Biolevel has  been partnering with the Aga Khan Development Network in Kenya to demonstrate how to use products in local conditions, and these projects are also being used to share best practices and methods for crop yield improvement with a large number of other smallholder farmers.
4.  Sustainability Industrialization and the degradation of land due to increased use of agricultural inputs, are  challenging China’s quest for high yield crops, protect drinking water from agricultural run-off, and feed their growing population. Implementing sustainable agricultural practices in Africa so it avoids the pitfalls experienced by China is critical for the African people, and for the continent’s natural habitats.Biolevel products allow these often conflicting goals of increasing yield and sustainability to converge, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, limiting  water pollution and runoff/contamination, and streamlining supply chains.
5.  Profitability Any on-farm innovation must be profitable for the end-user; the farmer. Every dollar spent on biological agricultural inputs must return several more dollars’ worth of additional yield, while the initial investment in the biologicals must be affordable. Traditional bulky and heavy fertilizers are often a key cost -driver for farmers.Biolevel’s low application rate of 250g/ha helps keep the delivered cost affordable for growers, while its demonstration plots in Kenya have highlighted significant yield improvements on potatoes and corn. For example, potato yields increased from 7-8 t/ha on typical smallholder farms to 12 t/ha. Trials in corn were similarly successful.

Biolevel’s Kenya Business Development Manager, Gabriel Chinembiri, says that irrespective of geography, “So soil analysis recommendations shouldn’t just focus on adding more fertilizers or higher P blends. Instead, they should aim to enhance nitrogen movement and phosphorus solubilization for better plant availability,” says Gabriel. “Biolevel’s biofertilizers improve nutrient accessibility, boosting pest and disease resistance as well as yields, by prioritizing soil biology”.

For more information about Biolevel’s work in Kenya or our products please contact Gabriel Chinembiri +254 718 178866 or via email.