MEDIA RELEASE
24 February 2024
A Melbourne bioherbicide start-up is projected to see over $100 million in sales over five years as its sustainable weed management products achieve full regulatory approval in the USA.
Earlier this month, Contact Organics received unconditional approval from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their FireHawk Bioherbicide – set to be one of the most effective sustainable and non-toxic weed and crop management tools.
Now there are calls for $10 million in investment to launch the product in an effective manner globally.
Demand for the product has been rising over the last decade with ongoing litigation and growing health concerns around common weed management chemicals.
The concerns have been centred around the safety of weed killers on animals, humans and the environment – with the World Health Organisation ruling that one of the most common products being used by councils and in agricultural practices ‘probably causes cancer’ to humans.
Globally, the core chemical in these weed killers is Glyphosate with 42 countries already imposing restrictions or a potential ban on it.
Contact Organic’s non-toxic bioherbicides have achieved sales exceeding $1M to date and have been validated by top USA universities, piloted across a range of agriculture and council settings in USA and here in Australia and is set to be launched in the US market later this year.
“The market has been calling out for an effective environmentally friendly and non-toxic weed management product for years,” Contact Organics Managing Director Dr Frank Glatz says.
Glatz adds that through Australian and international collaboration, experts in regenerative farming, soil science and agriculture have validated the effectiveness and overall safety of this product as well as its benefits to soil health.
“We know here in Australia, the agricultural industry, local government and home users alike have been urgently seeking alternatives to use as non-toxic weed control and desiccation options.”
The issue of loss of fertile soils and biodiversity is mainly due to industrial farming practices and agrochemical pollution, erosion and decarbonisation has been discussed globally in recent times.
Sustainable herbicide use will benefit regenerative agriculture improving the land and regenerating healthy soil and the environment.“With adequate local and international investment, we know this product will make a world of difference to the environment, our health and our animals,” Glatz says.
Henry Rowlands, Founder of the Detox Project, recently published an article in Sustainable Pulse on alternatives in weed control. He summarised “Glyphosate alternatives are set to take the market by storm as non-toxic weed control surges in interest amongst both farmers and gardeners. Instead of damaging the environment and public health, alternative weed control products like the ones developed by Contact Organics can help to nurture them.”
ENDS
About Contact Organics
Contact Organics develops and manufactures proprietary, high performance, non-toxic weed management products that are beneficial to soil microbiology and fertility. The company holds a strong patent portfolio, and its growth is fuelled by the global trend towards environmentally sustainable weed management and agriculture. Contact Organics markets its FireHawk Bioherbicide products to target markets of home and garden, landscaping, municipality and commercial, regenerative farming, crop desiccation, vineyards, specialty horticulture, and glyphosate resistant invasive weed control. Established in Australia in 2015, the company Headquarters are in Melbourne. Contact Organics USA business is located in Maurice, Iowa. Contact Organics products are manufactured in Bangkok, Thailand, and Atlanta, USA, and sold directly to end-users throughout Australia, New Zealand and USA.
Media Contact
Lindsey Salas
lindsey@goodtalent.com.au
0416 335 886