“We need to tackle the same hurdles our growers face”

"Growers often have a host of questions when it comes to microbial products—what crops they work best on, how to optimize application rates, and how they interact with other inputs," explains Danielle Rose, Founder and CEO of Ceragen. "By running trials at a commercial scale, we can provide growers with data that is directly relevant to their operations."

Ceragen, a biotechnology company specializing in beneficial microbes for hydroponic fruit and vegetable production, has taken a significant step forward in its research and development efforts. The company recently inaugurated a two-acre commercial demonstration greenhouse in Ontario, Canada, aimed at refining microbial inoculants to better serve hydroponic growers.

Real-world trials for real-world solutions
The new facility is already playing a key role in Ceragen's ongoing research, particularly in optimizing application rates for its flagship product, ACCelerate. The company is also evaluating the product's efficacy on a new variety of cherry tomatoes.

"One of the most exciting aspects of this trial is assessing how our product mitigates the effects of environmental stress on plants," Danielle notes. "Our ACC deaminase-producing microbes, like the Pseudomonas fluorescens in ACCelerate, function almost like an anti-anxiety treatment for plants, helping them maintain steady yields even in challenging conditions. In many cases, we see control plants suffering a dip in production after a stress event, while inoculated plants continue to thrive."

Challenges included going commercial
Establishing a fully operational greenhouse—particularly one that had remained idle for several years—was no small feat for Ceragen.

"It's one thing to run trials at external facilities, but managing an in-house commercial-scale greenhouse presents an entirely new set of challenges. This experience is invaluable because it puts us in the growers' shoes. By tackling the same operational hurdles they face, we gain deeper insight into their needs and how our solutions can fit seamlessly into their systems."

Ceragen's hands-on approach ensures that product development remains practical and closely aligned with the realities of hydroponic farming. "Every day in this greenhouse reinforces our commitment to developing microbial solutions that truly make a difference," Danielle adds.

Expanding the research scope
Ceragen intends to expand its research to include new crops such as strawberries and cucumbers. The company already has a lettuce-specific inoculant available in the U.S. market and is committed to broadening its portfolio.

"Hydroponic greenhouses are the future of sustainable fruit and vegetable production in Canada and beyond. Our goal is not only to develop innovative microbial products but also to provide educational resources and tools that help growers understand and harness the microbiome within their systems to maximize yields."

For more information:
Ceragen
Andrew Blume,
andrew.blume@ceragengrow.com
www.ceragengrow.com