What BioStart does

BioStart (legally Bio-Start Limited, NZBN 9429038738401) is a New Zealand biotechnology company founded in 1994 by Dayne Plummer in Morrinsville. The company develops, trials and produces a portfolio of biological farming solutions built on proprietary microbial activator technology — fermentation extracts delivering beneficial enzymes, bacteriocins, signal molecules and secondary metabolites — that activate naturally occurring soil and plant microbes. Its product range spans soil biostimulants (Mycorrcin, Digester), foliar biostimulants (Foliacin), biofertilisers (BioStart N with Azotobacter chroococcum), biofungicides (TripleX with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Bs1b, Karbyon micro-encapsulated potassium bicarbonate), soil health products (Terracin, ThatchBusta, PP9), hay and silage biological additives (SilageKing, MaizeKing, HayKing), and animal health prebiotics (Calf, Ruminant, LactoPlus). Most products carry ACVM registrations and/or BioGro organic certification. BioStart serves two primary segments — commercial horticultural growers (kiwifruit, grapes, berries, avocados, apples, vegetables) and agricultural/livestock farmers (dairy, beef, sheep, contractors) — plus a long-tail lifestyle and home gardener segment via e-commerce. The certified organic sub-range specifically addresses organic growers.

The company operates a sales-led go-to-market with dedicated Agricultural and Horticultural Territory Managers covering distinct regions of New Zealand, parallel Agriculture and Horticulture Sales Managers in Australia, a commercial retail partner network ("Where to buy"), and a direct e-commerce store for consumer pack sizes. International reach includes Italy via a distribution partnership with L. Gobbi s.r.l. Unipersonale. Manufacturing and corporate operations are co-located in Kerepehi/Paeroa, New Zealand. Revenue is generated primarily through unit sales of biological products across crop protection, soil health, plant resilience, and animal productivity categories, supported by an extensive published trial and Bioguide evidence library used for technical selling. BioStart has been a foundation sponsor of the NZ Young Viticulturist of the Year competition since 2006 and operates the Biostart Hortisports Challenge, anchoring its brand within the NZ wine industry.

Name

BioStart

Legal name

Bio-Start Limited

Website

https://biostart.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BioStart is a New Zealand biotechnology company that develops and manufactures biological farming solutions using proprietary microbial activators and fermentation extracts, serving commercial horticultural growers, agricultural and livestock farmers, and lifestyle gardeners across New Zealand, Australia, and Italy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Biologicals (biostimulants, biopesticides, biofertilisers, animal health prebiotics)

NAICS

Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)

SIC

Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Biostimulants & Plant Health Biologicals (Microbial/Non-microbial) (AFABAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bio-based Fertilizers, Soil Amendments & Biostimulants (Digestate-derived, biochar-based inputs) (EUAAAIAH), Organic & Biological Input Retail (Biostimulants, Biopesticides, OMRI) (AFABAJAK)

Keywords

• Biological farming solutions
• Microbial activator technology
• Biofertilisers and biopesticides
• Agricultural biologicals
• Animal health prebiotics

Headquarters

HQ city

Takapuna

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Biological Agricultural Products: BioStart develops, trials and produces a diverse range of biological farming products including biofertilisers, biopesticides, crop protection, soil health, animal health, and hay/silage additives. Products are sold directly through territory managers, via commercial retail/where to buy channels, and through a consumer e-commerce store.
2. Technical Brochures and Trial Data: Extensive library of trial sheets, technical sheets, and benefit sheets published for all products across crop segments, supporting sales through evidence-based marketing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

BioStart develops, trialled, manufactures and sells a portfolio of biological farming inputs including microbial activator soil biostimulants, foliar biostimulants, biofertilisers, biopesticides/biofungicides, soil health products, hay and silage preservatives, and prebiotic animal health products. The portfolio serves commercial agricultural and horticultural growers as well as lifestyle and home garden customers in New Zealand, Australia and via a distributor in Italy.

Product overview

BioStart is a New Zealand biotechnology company offering a comprehensive biological farming solutions portfolio focused on microbial activators and fermentation extracts. The product range includes soil biostimulants (Mycorrcin, Organic Mycorrcin, Digester, Organic Digester, Biostart N), foliar biostimulants (Foliacin, Organic Foliacin), biofungicides/biopesticides (TripleX, Karbyon, BioShield), soil health products (ThatchBusta, Terracin, Terracin Renew, PP9), animal feed additives (SilageKing, Organic SilageKing, MaizeKing, HayKing, Organic HayKing), and animal health products (Calf, Ruminant, LactoPlus). The technology uses beneficial enzymes, bacteriocins, signal molecules, and secondary metabolites from microbial fermentation to deliver rapid results in crop protection, soil health, plant resilience, and animal productivity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BioShield: Certified organic biocontrol for grass grub control
• SilageKing
• MaizeKing
• HayKing
• Mycorrcin
• Foliacin
• Digester
• TripleX
• Karbyon
• Terracin
• Biostart N
• ThatchBusta
• Calf
• Ruminant
• LactoPlus
• Hortisports

Products and services

• Mycorrcin Soil microbial activator that improves soil health by activating beneficial soil microbes and mycorrhizal fungi, and stimulates Induced Systemic Resistance (ISR) in plants. Used by commercial horticulture and agriculture growers.
• Organic Mycorrcin Certified organic (BioGro) version of Mycorrcin soil microbial activator for use in organic farming systems.
• Foliacin Foliar spray containing elicitor compounds that induce Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) in plants for improved plant health and resilience. Used by commercial growers.
• Organic Foliacin Certified organic (BioGro) version of Foliacin for foliar application in organic farming systems.
• Digester Soil microbial stimulator that activates beneficial saprophytic microbes for faster decomposition of plant material, crop trash and thatch, supporting nutrient recycling.
• Organic Digester Certified organic version of Digester for decomposition in organic farming systems.
• Biostart N Certified organic biofertiliser containing free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Azotobacter chroococcum) that converts atmospheric nitrogen to plant-available ammonium, available in bacterium and cyst life stages for survival in harsh conditions.
• TripleX Organic biocontrol agent containing Bacillus amyloliquefaciens BS1b for controlling Botrytis, Sooty Mould and Sclerotinia in grapes, kiwifruit, avocados and vegetables; ACVM registered P8137.
• Karbyon Certified organic fungicide using micro-encapsulated potassium bicarbonate for prevention and treatment of powdery mildew and sooty mould on multiple crops; ACVM-registered (P8557) and BioGro-certified (4436).
• BioShield Certified organic biocontrol agent containing naturally occurring New Zealand soil bacterium for control of New Zealand grass grub larvae in pasture.
• ThatchBusta Activates microbes to convert browntop thatch into humus, promoting ryegrass and clover growth in pasture and turf applications.
• Terracin Soil rebalancing product with two modes of action to improve root health, including suppression of Armillaria in kiwifruit orchards; ACVM-registered.
• Terracin Renew Renewed formulation of the Terracin soil rebalancing product for root health improvement.
• PP9 Soil inoculation product for enhancing soil microbiology, listed within BioStart's certified organic range.
• SilageKing Natural silage additive containing ensiling bacteria for well-preserved, high-quality feed; widely used by New Zealand agricultural contractors.
• Organic SilageKing Certified organic version of SilageKing for organic farming systems.
• MaizeKing Biological silage additive with natural ensiling bacteria specifically formulated for high-quality maize silage preservation.
• HayKing Biological hay preservative containing spoilage microbe inhibitors for mould control and maintaining feed quality at higher moisture levels.
• Organic HayKing Certified organic version of HayKing for organic hay preservation.
• Biostart Calf Prebiotic feed additive for calf scours and early-life health, containing fermentation extracts, oligosaccharides, rennet and plant extracts.
• Ruminant Prebiotic digestion enhancer for improving rumen function during periods of animal stress including weaning, mating, calving and feed changes.
• LactoPlus Rumen modifier product designed to increase milk solids in dairy cattle; demonstrated 3-5% milk solids increase in independent Southland trial 2004/2005.

Quantifiable outcome

• TripleX reduced Sclerotinia incidence by 45% in Bay of Plenty kiwifruit orchards
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• FruitFed BlenheimminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024FruitFed Blenheim created the Geoff Warmouth Cup in 2024 to honor Geoff Warmouth who developed and ran the Hortisports Challenge for many years. The cup is awarded annually to the Marlborough Regional Hortisports winner.
• Accolade WinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Accolade Wines partnered with BioStart for a three-year trial (2018/19-2020/21) of Mycorrcin and Foliacin on a Pinot Noir block at Mud House Vineyard in Wairau Valley, Marlborough. Trial conducted with Bragato Research Institute for microvinification and Dr Tanya Ruters for biochemical analysis.
• NZ WinegrowerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006BioStart has been a foundation sponsor of the NZ Young Viticulturist of the Year competition since 2006. The competition is run by NZ Winegrowers and identifies emerging viticulture talent.
• L. Gobbi s.r.l. UnipersonalecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorL. Gobbi s.r.l. Unipersonale serves as BioStart's distribution partner in Italy. They have an office at Via Vallecalda 33 and a warehouse at Via Vallecalda 110, Campo Ligure (GE), Italy. They can be reached at +39 010 920 395 and their website is lgobbi.it.
• SeekacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeeka, a major kiwifruit grower and packhouse operator, partnered with BioStart for trials of Mycorrcin in Bay of Plenty (New Zealand) and Victoria, Australia. Seeka managers conducted kiwifruit orchard trials from 2020-2022 resulting in increased yield and reduced rejects.
• Bragato Research InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBragato Research Institute conducted microvinification of trial wines from the Accolade Wines/BioStart three-year Pinot Noir trial programme.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Italpollina / Hello Nature: Italpollina/Hello Nature produces biostimulants, biofertilizers, and microbial products for agriculture globally. Directly comparable to BioStart's biostimulant and biofertilizer range with similar distributor-led international model.
• Symborg: Symborg develops microbial biostimulants and biocontrol solutions for agriculture. Comparable positioning to BioStart as a specialized biological input company with a microbial focus.
• BioWorks: BioWorks provides biological pest control and plant nutrition products including biofungicides and biostimulants. Highly comparable niche biological-input peer serving horticulture and specialty crops.
• Acadian Plant Health: Acadian Plant Health is a biostimulant manufacturer using seaweed and microbial extracts for crop health. Comparable to BioStart's Mycorrcin/Foliacin biostimulant category and trial-led commercial model.
• Certis Biologicals: Certis Biologicals is a dedicated biocontrol company offering biofungicides and biopesticides (e.g., Bacillus-based products). Overlaps with BioStart's TripleX, Karbyon, and BioShield biocontrol range.
• Marrone Bio Innovations (Bioceres Crop Solutions): Bioceres/Marrone Bio Innovations is a publicly-traded biological inputs company producing biofungicides, biostimulants, and biopesticides. Closely comparable product mix to BioStart's biocontrol and soil health portfolio.
• Lallemand Plant Care: Lallemand Plant Care develops microbial-based biocontrol and biostimulant products for horticulture and agriculture globally. Directly comparable to BioStart's microbial activator and fermentation-extract portfolio across soil and plant health.

Regional players

• AgBiTech: AgBiTech is an Australian-based biological inputs company focused on insect biocontrol and biopesticides. Regional peer operating in BioStart's Australian market with comparable biological positioning.
• Gro-Chem: Gro-Chem is a New Zealand agricultural inputs company supplying fertilizers, biostimulants, and crop protection products. Closest NZ-headquartered peer competing in overlapping horticulture and pastoral segments.

Broad incumbents

• Novonesis (formerly Novozymes): Novonesis is a global enzyme and microbial platform company with a major agricultural biologicals business. A much larger incumbent in microbial activators and fermentation-derived inputs overlapping BioStart's core technology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/biostartnz

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BioStart