With Guido Ramirez Caceres and Ariel Gohlke #
Since it was founded more than 40 years ago, one of Rizobacter’s most distinguishing characteristics has been a sense of innovation
Established by 4 partners in Argentina’s Pampas region in 1977, company founders would pack up samples in suitcases and crisscross the globe to showcase their products to producers. The company now does business in 45 countries, employs more than 600 people worldwide and has become an industry leader when it comes to delivering sustainable biological solutions to growers.
An Innovative Spirit #
While the size of the company has changed considerably over the years, the spirit that drives it has remained very much the same.
“From the start, we have been adventurous and curious to go and find the clients instead of the clients coming to us. That’s something that is still deeply intertwined with the way our business operates,” says Guido Ramirez Caceres, Business Development and Portfolio Manager for Rizobacter’s International Division.
Rizobacter established a presence in Western Canada in early 2020 when it partnered with BrettYoung to introduce farmers to the benefits offered by their biological products. At the time, that included the launch of two novel inoculant technologies to improve on-seed inoculant performance on soybean, pea, lentil and chickpea crops.
Liquid Inoculant Trailblazers #
A key part of Rizobacter’s success has been developing innovative new products. One of its early successes was the development of liquid inoculants, which proved to be a real game-changer. Rizobacter was the first company to introduce such a product when it was rolled out in Argentina in 1989 and later to the rest of the world.
“We worked really hard to introduce that solution,” says Ariel Gohlke, North American business manager for Rizobacter. “We understood at the time that having a liquid inoculant was the best solution for our customers in this space.”
That success has been followed by many other innovations as Rizobacter remains nimble and continues to respond to the needs of customers quickly and efficiently.
“We try to do our best and be as fast as possible in supporting their needs. I think that’s one of the things that truly makes Rizobacter unique compared to other companies,” Ramirez Caceres explains.
Collaboration is Key #
Even though Rizobacter has set itself apart from the competition, Gohlke and Ramirez Caceres both say one of the key reasons it’s been able to enjoy a high level of success is its willingness to collaborate with companies, universities, and other industry partners to create new products and concepts.
“That cooperative type of business view is really one of our strengths,” Gohlke says. “We work with universities, with start-ups and with distribution people to understand what they need. We are always open to what people are asking for from us.”
“Without collaborations, Rizobacter wouldn’t be in the place it is right now,” says Ramirez Caceres.
Looking to the Future #
Nearly all of Rizobacter’s biologicals continue to be produced at the company’s production facilities in Argentina. However, Ramirez Caceres says the company is open to the idea of bringing production of some of its products to other territories, including North America, if it finds opportunities that align with its core strategies.
“We are not afraid of investing when the business is solid,” says Ramirez Caceres.
Rizobacter has dozens of new biologicals in development and expects to introduce a handful of them to the Canadian market over the next few years. That hardly comes as a surprise, considering the company dedicates more than 30 per cent of its annual profits to research and the development of new products and product lines.
“We have a very strong commitment to introducing new solutions,” Gohlke says.
To learn more about how BrettYoung and Rizobacter can help your fields, contact your BrettYoung Regional Account Manager.
