Certis USA
Certis USA (Certis Biologicals) is a Columbia, Maryland-based biotech company that develops and manufactures biological crop protection products, including biofungicides, bionematicides, and plant activators, for conventional and organic growers across 50+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersColumbia, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Certis USA does
Certis USA L.L.C., operating commercially as Certis Biologicals, is a U.S.-based biotechnology company founded in 2001 and headquartered in Columbia, Maryland. It develops, manufactures, and distributes biological crop protection products, including biofungicides (Howler EVO, Double Nickel LC, Convergence), bionematicides (NemaClean), biological plant activators (LifeGard WG), and biochemical copper-based fungicides (Kocide 3000-O). Core technology is built on proprietary microbial strains (e.g., Purpureocillium lilacinum PL11, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens D747, Pseudomonas chlororaphis AFS009, Bacillus mycoides isolate J) that deliver multi-modal action, including competitive exclusion, antibiosis, induced systemic resistance, and plant immune activation. The company operates three dedicated production plants, two fermentation facilities and one plant extraction facility for neem-based products, and holds the broadest OMRI Listed biological product portfolio in the industry.
Certis USA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Certis USA
- Legal name
- Certis USA L.L.C.
- Website
- https://certisbio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Certis USA (Certis Biologicals) is a Columbia, Maryland-based biotech company that develops and manufactures biological crop protection products, including biofungicides, bionematicides, and plant activators, for conventional and organic growers across 50+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Certis USA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biological Crop Protection / Biopesticides
- NAICS
- Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (325320), Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (32532)
- SIC
- Agricultural Chemicals (2870), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- OMRI-Listed Crop Protection (Botanical & Mineral Pesticides) (AFABAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Organic & Biological Input Retail (Biostimulants, Biopesticides, OMRI) (AFABAJAK), Biosecurity, Pest & Disease Control for CEA (IPM, Screening, Sanitation) (AFAAAHAK)
Keywords
Where Certis USA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Certis USA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Biological Crop Protection Products: Certis Biologicals generates revenue through the sale of biological pesticides including biofungicides, bioinsecticides, bionematicides, bioherbicides, and plant health-promoting products to agricultural growers, greenhouse operators, and home/garden markets.
- International Product Distribution: Revenue generated through partnerships like Certis-Belchim for European market registrations and Certis Agro Mexico for regional distribution in Mexico, expanding product availability across more than 50 countries.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Contact sales for pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Certis USA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Certis USA develops, manufactures, and distributes biological crop protection products including biofungicides, bioinsecticides, bionematicides, bioherbicides, and biochemical copper-based products for agricultural, turf, greenhouse, home, and garden markets. The company leverages proprietary microorganisms, plant extracts, and naturally-derived active ingredients formulated into OMRI listed and residue-exempt products. Products are produced at three dedicated manufacturing facilities (two fermentation plants and one neem plant extraction facility) and sold to growers in over 50 countries.
Product overview
Certis Biologicals offers a broad portfolio of biological crop protection solutions for organic and conventional production. The product lineup includes biofungicides (Howler EVO, Double Nickel LC, Convergence), biological plant activators (LifeGard WG), bionematicides (NemaClean), and biochemical copper-based products (Kocide 3000-O). The company owns and operates three dedicated production plants—two for fermentation and one for plant extraction of neem-based products. Products serve agriculture, turf, greenhouse, home and garden markets globally, with formulations targeting various pests, diseases, and crops. Most products are OMRI Listed and Residue Exempt, supporting both organic and integrated pest management programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NemaClean A high-performing bionematicide that targets plant-parasitic nematodes at all life stages. Formulated with Purpureocillium lilacinum strain PL11 as a wettable powder for soil application, used by specialty crop growers managing nematode pressure in citrus, grapes, tree nuts, fruits, vegetables, and berries.
- LifeGard WG A biological plant activator that manages foliar diseases in fruit and vegetable cropping systems by triggering the plant's natural defenses through induced resistance. Contains Bacillus mycoides isolate J (BmJ) and provides protection against Fire Blight, Powdery Mildew, Downy Mildew, Cercospora, and Potato Virus Y.
- Kocide 3000-O A technologically advanced copper fungicide/bactericide utilizing BioActive technology to deliver maximum concentration of biologically active copper ions while preserving plant safety. Contains Copper Hydroxide 46.1% and enables more disease control per pound of copper with lower metallic copper use rates.
- Howler EVO A biofungicide that harnesses the plant microbiome with multiple modes of action providing preventive, long-lasting activity on broad-spectrum soilborne and foliar diseases. Contains Pseudomonas chlororaphis strain AFS009 and uses four modes of action: antifungal compounds, enzymes, siderophores, and systemic acquired resistance.
- Double Nickel LC A broad-spectrum preventive biofungicide for control or suppression of fungal and bacterial plant diseases. Contains Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain D747, offering five modes of action including competitive exclusion, antibiosis, induced systemic resistance, systemic acquired resistance, and growth promotion. Proven efficacy against more than 90 diseases in over 74 crops across 700+ lab and field trials.
- Convergence A biofungicide/bactericide that kills harmful fungal and bacterial diseases by colonizing the rhizosphere, forming a protective barrier that outcompetes and displaces pathogens.
Quantifiable outcome
- NemaClean demonstrated decreased nematode populations and improved crop yield in sweet potato field trials
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Certis USA
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Certis USA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Certis USA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Certis Agro MexicocoreCertis Agro Mexico is a dedicated platform designed to serve Mexico's agriculture industry with localized information, product access, and grower support. The new website at certisagro.com.mx provides in-depth information on biofungicides, biopesticides, and bionematicides available in the Mexican market.
- Certis-BelchimcoreCertis-Belchim, a subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., Ltd., created in 2022 through the merger of Certis Europe and Belchim Crop Protection, serves as the strategic partnership for European market development. Certis-Belchim facilitated the first EU authorization of NemaClean in the Netherlands, with regulatory assessments ongoing in Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Greece, Bulgaria, and Denmark.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Certis USA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bayer Crop Science: Bayer is a global agrochemical incumbent with an expanding biologicals portfolio (including through Biagro and recent acquisitions) that competes with Certis across the same row and specialty crop customers but at far greater scale and with bundled synthetic-biological offerings.
- Syngenta Biologicals: Syngenta operates a global crop protection portfolio with a growing biologicals segment (including products from the former Abbott bioreach and recent acquisitions), competing with Certis on biopesticides and biocontrol across all major geographies.
- BASF Agricultural Solutions: BASF is a global agrochemical leader with biological crop protection products and partnerships (including with Novozymes), competing with Certis in biofungicides and bioinsecticides for row and specialty crops while leveraging far larger R&D and distribution capabilities.
Emerging players
- AgBiome: AgBiome is a U.S.-based biologicals startup developing microbial crop protection products from its proprietary GENESIS discovery platform, with products like Howler and Theia directly competing in Certis's biofungicide category across specialty and row crops.
- Vestaron: Vestaron develops peptide-based biopesticides for specialty and row crops, representing a next-generation biologicals platform that competes with Certis's microbial products on novel modes of action and resistance management value propositions.
Direct peers
- BioWorks: BioWorks is a North American biological crop protection company offering biofungicides, bioinsecticides, and biostimulants targeted at greenhouse, nursery, and specialty crop growers, competing with Certis in the same OMRI-listed segments and overlapping customer base.
- Koppert Biological Systems: Koppert Biological Systems is a global leader in biological crop protection and pollination, offering biopesticides, beneficial insects, and microbial products that directly overlap with Certis's biofungicide and bioinsecticide lines across greenhouse and open-field horticulture worldwide.
- Marrone Bio Innovations: Marrone Bio Innovations is the most direct U.S. biopesticides competitor, explicitly identified alongside Certis as the top two players in the U.S. market, offering biofungicides, bioinsecticides, and bionematicides to specialty crop growers with comparable OMRI-listed product strategies.
- Valent BioSciences: Valent BioSciences is a major biorational crop protection company developing microbial and biochemical products for agriculture, public health, and forestry; it competes directly with Certis in biofungicides, bioinsecticides, and plant growth regulators and serves similar global row and specialty crop markets.
Regional players
- Bioceres Crop Solutions: Bioceres is a Latin American agricultural biologics and seed company focused on biological crop protection and stress-tolerance technologies, comparable to Certis in biological product development but primarily serving South American row crop markets where Certis is less established.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Certis USA social profiles
Digital presenceCertis USA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Certis USA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Certis USA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Certis USA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Certis USA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Certis USA
What does Certis USA do?
Certis USA develops, manufactures, and distributes biological crop protection products including biofungicides, bioinsecticides, bionematicides, bioherbicides, and biochemical copper-based products for agricultural, turf, greenhouse, home, and garden markets. The company leverages proprietary microorganisms, plant extracts, and naturally-derived active ingredients formulated into OMRI listed and residue-exempt products. Products are produced at three dedicated manufacturing facilities (two fermentation plants and one neem plant extraction facility) and sold to growers in over 50 countries.
Is Certis USA a public or private company?
Certis USA is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Certis USA founded?
Certis USA was founded in 2001. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Certis USA based?
Certis USA is headquartered in Columbia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Certis USA make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Biological Crop Protection Products are the primary driver. The others are international Product Distribution.
Who are Certis USA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bayer Crop Science, Syngenta Biologicals and BASF Agricultural Solutions. Emerging players are AgBiome and Vestaron. Direct peers are BioWorks, Koppert Biological Systems, Marrone Bio Innovations and Valent BioSciences. Bioceres Crop Solutions is listed as a regional player.
Does Certis USA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Certis USA.
What industry is Certis USA in?
Certis USA's product category is Biological Crop Protection / Biopesticides. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFABAKAA, OMRI-Listed Crop Protection (Botanical & Mineral Pesticides), with a secondary code of AFABAJAK, Organic & Biological Input Retail (Biostimulants, Biopesticides, OMRI). Its NAICS code is 325320 and its SIC code is 2870.