Harvest Quest

What Harvest Quest does

Harvest Quest, LLC is a privately held biotechnology company founded in 2008 and headquartered in Okahumpka, Florida, that develops proprietary microbial inoculants and a composting methodology branded MSAP® (Modified Static Aerobic Pile). The company's core product is a custom-blended microbial inoculant containing 2.6 billion microorganisms per teaspoon, with consortia tailored to specific feedstocks including food waste, manure, biosolids, and hydrocarbons. The MSAP method reverses conventional composting physics by heating the pile from outside-in rather than core-out, enabling a 60-day cure time with only two mechanical turns compared to 6+ months under traditional methods. The inoculant and method are OMRI-listed, USCC-affiliated, and recognized by USDA and EPA (40 CFR Part 503 modification).

Harvest Quest sells directly to municipal composting operations, agricultural enterprises (poultry, dairy, livestock mortality), and commercial composters across the United States through a field-sales-led model supported by technical consulting and on-site operator training. Revenue derives from custom-priced product sales of HQ Catalyst inoculants and professional services for MSAP method implementation, with multi-year contract structures. Named reference customers include Charleston County SC, Mesa County CO, Fayetteville AR, Clark County KY, Lesher's Poultry Farm, Terra-Gro, Southeast Soils, Bay Mulch, and A1 Organics. The company operates with 1-10 employees and is part of the Organics Management family of companies alongside CompostUSA, Southeast Soils, and LifeSoils. Academic validation comes from partnerships with Colorado State University, University of Florida, and Ohio State University. The company also offers a tailored Catalyst product line for hydrocarbon and hazardous waste bioremediation.

Name

Harvest Quest

Legal name

Harvest Quest LLC

Website

https://harvestquest.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Harvest Quest develops proprietary microbial inoculants and the MSAP® composting method, selling directly to U.S. municipalities, agricultural operations, and commercial composters to accelerate organic decomposition, reduce odor, and cut cure times from months to roughly 60 days.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Composting Biotechnology

NAICS

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

SIC

Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Agricultural Chemicals (2870)

akta.pro primary industry

Organics Collection & Processing (Composting/Anaerobic Digestion) (IMAIAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bioremediation & Phytoremediation (Enhanced Bioremediation, Natural Attenuation) (EUAIALAF), Composting & Co-Composting (Biosolids + Green Waste) (EUANAHAF), Organics Facility Development & Operations Services (Design/Build, O&M, Permitting) (EUAIAEAJ)

Keywords

• Microbial inoculants
• Composting biotechnology
• Organic waste recycling
• Biosolids management
• Manure composting solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Rocky River

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Microbial Inoculant Product Sales: Harvest Quest manufactures and sells proprietary custom-blended microbial inoculant products (HQ Catalyst) to composting operations. The inoculant is applied to windrows and initiates the composting process. Pricing is custom/quotes-based as the product is tailored to customer needs.
2. MSAP Method Licensing/Training: Harvest Quest provides training, consulting, and methodology guidance on the MSAP composting process. Technical experts visit customer sites to demonstrate the method, train operators, and optimize implementation. Revenue derives from both product (inoculant) sales and service/consulting engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Harvest Quest manufactures and sells proprietary custom-blended microbial inoculants (HQ Catalyst) and licenses/implements the MSAP® (Modified Static Aerobic Pile) composting method to municipal, agricultural, and commercial composting operations. The inoculants contain 2.6 billion microorganisms per teaspoon that accelerate decomposition, while the MSAP methodology enables production of finished compost in approximately 60 days with only two turns instead of frequent turning over six or more months. Tailored Catalyst variants extend the technology to hydrocarbon remediation applications.

Product overview

Harvest Quest is a biotechnology environmental solutions provider offering a portfolio centered on two core offerings: Custom-Blended Microbial Inoculants (proprietary consortia of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes) and the MSAP® (Modified Static Aerobic Pile) Composting Method. The inoculants accelerate decomposition and can be applied across multiple applications including food waste, manure, biosolids, and hydrocarbon remediation. The MSAP method is a 10-step process that reverses composting physics to achieve high-quality compost in approximately 60 days with only two turns. The company also offers tailored Catalyst technology for hydrocarbon remediation applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MSAP: Modified Static Aerobic Pile composting method - a proprietary composting methodology developed by Harvest Quest
• HQ Catalyst

Products and services

• Custom-Blended Microbial Inoculants (HQ Catalyst) Proprietary microbial inoculant containing 2.6 billion microorganisms per teaspoon, including actinobacteria, fungi (predominantly eurotiomycetes), and actinomycetes; accelerates decomposition of organic matter and chemical contaminants; OMRI-listed for use in certified organic operations. Sold to municipalities, agricultural operations, and commercial composters.
• MSAP® (Modified Static Aerobic Pile) Composting Method A 10-step composting methodology that reverses standard composting physics by heating piles from outside-in rather than core-out. Produces finished compost in approximately 60 days with only two turns after a 30-day static phase, raising pile temperatures to 130°F+ within 48 hours and sustaining for several weeks. Largely eliminates mechanical turning, reducing odor, VOC, and dust emissions. Requires no infrastructure investment.
• Hydrocarbon Remediation Solutions (Tailored Catalyst) Tailored microbial inoculant formulations designed to rapidly degrade hydrocarbons, fracking waste, and hazardous compounds. Introduces specific blends of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes that break down contaminants into humus, carbon dioxide, and water. Targeted at environmental remediation firms, oil & gas operators, and hazardous waste cleanup contractors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60-day cure time (vs. 6+ months traditional)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership for testing and validating Harvest Quest inoculant performance. University of Florida conducted turfgrass microplot trials studying the effects of HQ compost on plant growth and disease prevention. Research supports claims about beneficial bacteria in finished compost and soil health benefits.
• Colorado State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partnership for third-party validation of compost quality. Dr. Douglas Rice, Ph.D., Laboratory Director at CSU Environmental Quality Lab, provided written correspondence stating that Harvest Quest compost contains 'rich populations' of beneficial organisms and is 'a superior, safe, high nutrient product.'
• Ohio State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution partnership indicated by OSU logo displayed on homepage among research institution affiliations. Extent of collaboration not specified in available source material.
• OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute)coreOthersOMRI-listed product certification. The Organic Materials Review Institute reviews products intended for use in organic production and processing. OMRI listing indicates the Harvest Quest inoculant is approved for use in certified organic operations.
• US Composting Council (USCC)coreOthersIndustry association membership. USCC is the primary trade organization for the composting industry in the United States. Charleston County, a Harvest Quest customer, received the USCC Composter of the Year award in 2014.
• USDAcoreOthersUSDA regulatory endorsement. The MSAP Process is recognized as a method modification to 40 CFR Part 503 Biosolids Rule, which is administered under USDA/EPA framework for biosolids management.
• EPAcoreOthersEPA regulatory recognition. MSAP Process is recognized as a method modification to 40 CFR Part 503 Biosolids Rule, the federal regulation governing biosolids composting under EPA authority.
• Organics Management (Parent Company)coreOthersHarvest Quest is part of the Organics Management family of companies, which includes CompostUSA, Organics Management Southeast Soils, and LifeSoils. Mark Scheer is listed as an author on the Harvest Quest blog and appears to be part of the organizational leadership.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Republic Services (Organics Division): Republic Services is the second-largest US waste hauler and operates organics recycling facilities (including partnerships like BlueOrganics) in multiple states. Represents a national-scale incumbent that could in-source or replicate Harvest Quest's MSAP-style methodology at larger sites.
• BioAg Alliance (Novozymes / ADM joint venture, now Novonesis): Novonesis (formerly Novozymes BioAg Alliance with ADM) develops microbial-based agricultural solutions at industrial scale for soil health, crop yield, and residue decomposition. Represents the most credible large-scale competitor that could enter Harvest Quest's core inoculant market.
• Synagro Technologies: Synagro is the largest US private-sector biosolids and organic waste management company, operating hundreds of facilities across North America. It serves as a broad incumbent in Harvest Quest's biosolids and municipal organics verticals with much greater scale and contract vehicles.
• Casella Waste Systems: Casella operates one of the largest organics recycling platforms in the Northeast US, running multiple composting and anaerobic digestion facilities. Represents the integrated-hauler-plus-processor model that competes with Harvest Quest for downstream compost customers.
• Veolia North America (Organics & Biosolids): Veolia is a global environmental services leader with a substantial US biosolids and organics management business, including composting at municipal and industrial sites. Operates as a broad incumbent with R&D resources and EPC capability that dwarfs Harvest Quest.

Direct peers

• Lystek International: Lystek provides biosolids processing, organics management, and fertilizer products using its proprietary THP (thermal hydrolysis process) technology. Comparable to Harvest Quest in serving municipal biosolids customers with proprietary process technology and value-added end products.
• TeraGanix (Effective Microorganisms / EM-1): TeraGanix distributes Effective Microorganisms (EM-1) microbial inoculants for agriculture, composting, and environmental remediation in North America. It is the most direct competitor to Harvest Quest's HQ Catalyst inoculant, serving overlapping customers with similar microbial consortia claims.
• SCD Probiotics: SCD Probiotics manufactures and sells beneficial microbial inoculant products for composting, agriculture, livestock, and odor control. Their product portfolio (SCD Bio Ag, SCD Scent Away) competes head-to-head with Harvest Quest's inoculants across manure management and compost acceleration use cases.
• N-Viro Systems: N-Viro Systems licenses proprietary biosolids management technology (N-Viro Soil, N-Viro Fuel) to municipalities and industrial clients. Competes with Harvest Quest for the same municipal biosolids processing budget using a different (alkaline stabilization) technical approach.

Regional players

• Ecologia (EnviroServ / similar regional players): EnviroServ and similar emerging-market environmental services operators run commercial composting and bioremediation sites outside North America using proprietary microbial cocktails. Comparable in technical approach to Harvest Quest but operating in different geographies (notably Africa and Latin America).

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/harvestquest
• Facebookfacebook.com/HarvestQuest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harvestquest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Harvest Quest