What 1,4GROUP does

1,4GROUP, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned specialty agricultural chemical company headquartered in Meridian, Idaho, that manufactures and supplies dormancy and sprout-inhibiting products for the global potato storage industry. Founded in the early 1990s as PIN/NIP with roots tracing back to founder Darol Forsythe's 1965 work in potato storage ventilation, the company has built a comprehensive portfolio of eight proprietary products covering the full potato storage lifecycle. Core offerings include PIN NIP 98% CIPC (high-purity solid chlorpropham sprout inhibitor), 1,4SIGHT (1,4-dimethylnaphthalene dormancy enhancer), 1,4SEED (seed potato treatment), 1,4Zap (post-harvest sprout elimination), Sprout Torch (organic clove oil), Spud Guard 2 EC (packing shed spray), 1,4SHIP (in-transit aerosol), and the E-FRESH electric fogging application machine. The company holds 28 active trademark registrations and 27 patents protecting its products and proprietary application methods, with regulatory registrations secured in the US (1995), Canada (2011), Mexico (2012), and Europe (2015). The company has cumulatively treated over 1,000,000 cwt of potatoes with 1,4-DMN products worldwide.

The company operates a vertically integrated business model, manufacturing through its wholly-owned subsidiary Skyfall Biologicals in Geismar, Louisiana, and distributing globally via regional subsidiaries including 1,4GROUP Canada, 1,4GROUP Latin America, and DormFresh in Europe. Sales are executed through a trained applicator network spanning 21 US states and 6 Canadian provinces, supplemented by regional sales representatives and technical experts who design customized treatment programs based on potato variety, storage conditions, ventilation, and timing. The customer base consists primarily of commercial potato growers, seed potato producers, organic potato growers, and packers/shippers. Revenue is generated through one-time chemical product sales and hardware sales of application equipment. The company is actively pursuing diversification, evidenced by a 2026 partnership with Purdue University and Entomol Products on a $2 million USDA-funded project to evaluate antiviral fogging technology for poultry biosecurity applications.

Name

1,4GROUP

Legal name

1,4GROUP, Inc.

Website

https://14group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

1,4GROUP is a family-owned specialty agricultural chemical company that manufactures and distributes proprietary dormancy and sprout-inhibiting products for the global potato storage industry, serving commercial growers, seed potato producers, and packers across North America and Europe through a trained applicator network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Potato Storage Chemicals

NAICS

Pesticide and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (32532)

SIC

Agricultural Chemicals (2870)

akta.pro primary industry

Seed Treatment Chemicals (IMAEAEAJ)

Keywords

• Potato sprout inhibitors
• Post-harvest dormancy products
• Agricultural chemical manufacturing
• 1
• 4-dimethylnaphthalene formulations
• Crop storage treatments

Headquarters

HQ city

Meridian

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Agricultural Chemical Product Sales: Sale of proprietary chemical products for potato dormancy and sprout control including PIN NIP 98% CIPC, 1,4SIGHT, 1,4SEED, 1,4Zap, Sprout Torch, Spud Guard 2 EC, and 1,4SHIP. Products are sold through a network of applicators and distributors across North America.
2. Application Equipment Sales: Sale of specialized application equipment including the E-FRESH electric fogging machine for precision chemical application in potato storage facilities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

1,4GROUP manufactures and supplies a complete family of chemical dormancy and sprout-inhibiting treatments used by commercial potato growers, seed potato producers, organic growers, and packers/shippers during post-harvest storage, in-transit shipment, and seed preparation. The portfolio combines Chlorpropham (CIPC) and naturally derived 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene (DMN) products applied through thermal fogging, electric fogging, line spray, and aerosol delivery, supported by the E-FRESH application machine. The company also partners with U.S. universities and USDA-funded programs on adjacent antiviral fogging research.

Product overview

1,4GROUP, Inc. is a leading supplier of dormancy and sprout control products for the potato storage industry. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of eight products: PIN NIP® 98% CIPC (high-purity solid sprout inhibitor), 1,4SIGHT® (dormancy enhancing vapor treatment), 1,4SEED® (seed potato dormancy treatment), 1,4Zap® (sprout elimination product), SPROUT TORCH® (organic clove oil treatment), SPUD GUARD® 2 EC (packing shed CIPC spray), 1,4SHIP® (in-transit aerosol treatment), and E-FRESH® MACHINE (application equipment). These products work together as a complete treatment system covering the entire potato storage lifecycle from harvest through transportation to customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PIN NIP® 98% CIPC: High-purity solid chlorpropham (CIPC) potato sprout inhibitor, the market leader registered since 1995
• 1,4SIGHT®
• 1,4SEED®
• 1,4Zap®
• SPROUT TORCH®
• SPUD GUARD® 2 EC
• 1,4SHIP®
• E-FRESH® MACHINE

Products and services

• PIN NIP® 98% CIPC High-purity solid Chlorpropham (CIPC) sprout inhibitor for post-harvest potato storage, applied via thermal fogging and reduced-airflow systems to deliver higher residues at lower application temperatures than liquid CIPC.
• 1,4SIGHT® In-storage vapor treatment using 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene (DMN), a naturally occurring plant substance, that penetrates potato skin, restores dormancy, lowers respiration rate, and reduces shrink and pressure bruising.
• 1,4SEED® In-storage treatment that establishes temporary and fully reversible dormancy in seed potatoes, with a flexible application window up to 30 days before planting and reduced apical dominance effects.
• 1,4Zap® Post-harvest storage treatment that safely and effectively eliminates emerging peeps and sprouts, rapidly turning them brown and black for quick cleanup in commercial potato storages.
• SPROUT TORCH® Organic sprout control product using 100% clove oil and approved under the Washington State Department of Agriculture Organic Food Program; burns peeps and sprouts at the surface for organic potato operations.
• SPUD GUARD® 2 EC Highly water-soluble CIPC emulsifiable-concentrate line spray designed for packing-shed application; emulsifies quickly with cold water for high residue uptake on washed potatoes and extended dormancy.
• 1,4SHIP® Ready-to-use aerosol dormancy enhancer that treats fresh potatoes in shipping vehicles to delay peeps and sprouts during distribution; the active DMN ingredient is identical to a naturally occurring plant substance and is EPA-exempt from tolerance requirements.
• E-FRESH® MACHINE State-of-the-art electric-powered application fogging machine using a Micro Swirl Nozzle design to deliver higher product residues while eliminating open flames, reducing CO2 release into storage, and enhancing worker safety and potato quality.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000,000 cwt of potatoes treated with 1,4-DMN products
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Purdue UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026Purdue University received a $2 million USDA grant with 1,4GROUP as research partner to evaluate novel antiviral fogging technology using hydrogenated catmint oil (HCO) against high pathogenic avian influenza in poultry facilities. The project tests antiviral effects, safety, and efficacy of HCO for reducing viral spread and enhancing biosecurity.
• Entomol Products LLCflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026Partner in the $2 million USDA-funded research project to test antiviral fogging technology against avian influenza. Collaboration involves evaluating hydrogenated catmint oil technology for poultry biosecurity applications.
• Skyfall BiologicalscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerChemical manufacturing subsidiary located in Geismar, Louisiana. Established to meet growing global demands for 1,4GROUP products, significantly increasing production capacity and improving efficiency while maintaining American roots.
• DormFreshcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean subsidiary handling 1,4GROUP product distribution in Europe. Entered European market in 2014 with 1,4SIGHT registration, resulting in significant demand increase.
• 1,4GROUP CanadacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian subsidiary managing product distribution and sales in Canada. Part of global 1,4GROUP network.
• 1,4GROUP Latin AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLatin American subsidiary managing product distribution and sales in the region. Part of global 1,4GROUP network.
• University of South Wales (Australia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConducted proof-of-concept research demonstrating hydrogenated catmint oil's ability to disrupt influenza viruses at low concentrations, prior to the USDA-funded project.
• Colorado State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research partner engaged in ongoing studies and testing for new technology and products for the potato storage industry.
• North Dakota State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research partner engaged in ongoing studies and testing for new technology and products for the potato storage industry.
• Penn State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research partner engaged in ongoing studies and testing for new technology and products for the potato storage industry.
• University of MaineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research partner engaged in ongoing studies and testing for new technology and products for the potato storage industry.
• Washington State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research partner engaged in ongoing studies and testing for new technology and products for the potato storage industry.
• Michigan State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research partner engaged in ongoing studies and testing for new technology and products for the potato storage industry.
• Oregon State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research partner engaged in ongoing studies and testing for new technology and products for the potato storage industry.
• University of IdahominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research partner engaged in ongoing studies and testing for new technology and products for the potato storage industry.
• University of WisconsinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research partner engaged in ongoing studies and testing for new technology and products for the potato storage industry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Valent BioSciences:
• Biobest Group: Belgian biological crop protection and pollination specialist. Not a direct sprout-control competitor, but adjacent in specialty/biological crop inputs; relevant as a comparable niche specialist and as a prior employer of 1,4GROUP's Global Commercial Director.

Direct peers

• AgroFresh Solutions: Public specialty post-harvest company (NASDAQ: AGFS-equivalent) commercializing 1-MCP (SmartFresh) and other freshness-extension technologies for fruits and vegetables. Operates with a similar model of proprietary chemistry + service, and a comparable regulated-chemical regulatory pathway.
• Certis USA: Biopesticide and specialty crop protection company offering biological and conventional alternatives for specialty crops including potatoes. Competes in adjacent sprout control and post-harvest segments and represents a likely incumbent or new entrant into potato dormancy chemistry.
• Restrain Company (Natural Resources Institute): UK-headquartered company providing ethylene-based potato sprout suppression as a direct alternative to CIPC and a partial substitute for 1,4-DMN. Targets the same potato storage customer base and competes head-to-head with 1,4SIGHT in European and emerging markets.
• JBT Marel / Pace International: Specialty post-harvest chemical supplier owned by JBT Marel, offering coatings, sanitizers, and decay-control products for fresh produce including potatoes. Directly comparable product positioning and customer base, with Tim Clarke (1,4GROUP's new CFO) having led finance there.

Broad incumbents

• Nufarm Limited: Australian-listed global crop protection company with broad potato product portfolio. Substantially larger and broader portfolio; relevant incumbent competitor and potential acquirer for specialty potato chemistry assets like 1,4GROUP's.
• AMVAC Chemical Corporation: US specialty crop protection manufacturer with significant presence in potato markets (e.g., Counter insecticide/nematicide). Larger and more diversified than 1,4GROUP but competes in the same potato grower's chemical input budget and could expand into sprout control.
• BASF Agricultural Solutions: Global agricultural chemicals leader with extensive potato crop portfolio and significant R&D budget. Massive scale, broad portfolio, and existing relationships with potato growers make BASF a plausible entrant or strategic acquirer for post-harvest dormancy technologies.
• UPL Limited: India-headquartered global agrochemical major with extensive specialty crop and post-harvest offerings. Operates at a different scale but competes in the same crop-input budget and could pursue 1,4GROUP's niche as part of a post-CIPC market capture strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 1,4GROUP