It works by triggering specific gene responses in plants, which then activate heat shock proteins, antioxidant enzymes, and phytohormones—basically, all the things that help plants cope with stress and grow better.
Pioneering Biotech Innovations for a Healthier Future
Q&A with Dennis Hancock, CEO | Mountain Valley MD (MVMD)
Could you start by sharing the vision behind Agrarius and how it aligns with Mountain Valley MD's (MVMD) overall mission? Can you also share the relationship with Agrarius?
The vision behind Agrarius is simple: provide farmers with a fully organic technology that helps to enhance a plant’s resilience, amplify growth, reduce reliance on fertilizers, and even strengthen a plants ability to protect against pests and disease. This idea of doing more with the available land and optimizing the hard work of our farming partners aligns with MVMD’s mission of ‘more life’ and our commitment to advancing agricultural practices that truly can impact the world’s food supply.
As for our relationship with Agrarius, it’s a key part of what we do. We’ve worked with Agrarius on extensive trialing to document the incredible product impact and more recently moved into an exclusive distribution license for Agrarius as we become their global commercialization partner. We're actively working in key agricultural regions across Mexico, Central America, South America, the U.S. and Canada to bring this revolutionary product to large farming operations.
What inspired the partnership with Agrarius, and what key challenges in agriculture were you aiming to address?
MVMD is a biotech company that has developed key technologies organized around the idea of doing more with less. Using molecules to their maximum effect while reducing collateral impact is a core focus inside our company. We were drawn to Agrarius given the rapidly changing global agricultural landscape due to mass fertilizer shortages, population growth, and urban sprawl that is limiting available farmlands. When we look at the future of global food supply, helping to impact such a core challenge is very rewarding work.
Introducing this game-changing Agrarius technology to large-scale farming operations in key agricultural regions was all about addressing the need for more effective ways to boost crop productivity, lessen fertilizer and pesticide dependency, and broadly support the ROI of farming operations.
Agrarius is touted as a game-changer in the agricultural industry. Can you explain how the technology works and what sets it apart from existing solutions?
Agrarius really is reshaping what is believed possible in agriculture. What makes it stand out is how it taps into a plant’s natural signaling processes to enhance growth and resilience. It works by triggering specific gene responses in plants, which then activate heat shock proteins, antioxidant enzymes, and phytohormones—basically, all the things that help plants cope with stress and grow better.
What’s unique about Agrarius is that it uses naturally occurring signaling molecules that are precisely synthesized under controlled conditions. These molecules initiate epigenetic changes that enable plants to grow deeper roots and open up their foliage to optimize the effect of photosynthesis, thus increasing growth hormones, plant efficiency for water use and nutrients, decreasing the requirement of fertilizer and pesticides where used, and increasing overall resistance to diseases and stressed climate conditions.
In short, Agrarius is different because it doesn’t just treat the symptoms; it organically enhances the plant’s own ability to grow stronger and healthier naturally. This not only increases yields and reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides but also supports more sustainable farming practices.
What are some of the most significant impacts you've seen Agrarius have on crop yields and sustainability practices so far?
We’ve seen some pretty impressive results with Agrarius across a broad range of crop types. For starters, it can naturally boost crop yields by anywhere from 10% to 50%, depending on the crop. That’s a huge win for farmers because it means more productivity without needing to expand their land or use more resources.
Agrarius also helps reduce fertilizer and pesticide use where this is desired. This is big because it not only saves farmers money but also lessens the environmental impact of farming—like reducing runoff that can pollute water sources.
Another key benefit is how Agrarius makes crops more resilient to pests and harsh climate conditions like drought. This means more stable yields even when the weather isn’t ideal.
How does Agrarius contribute to sustainable farming practices and reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture?
Agrarius plays a big role in promoting sustainability in farming. First off, it is a one hundred percent organic product that naturally increases crop yields. By making plants more efficient at using water and nutrients, Agrarius helps them grow deeper roots and become more resistant to diseases and tough climate conditions. This means farmers can produce more food with fewer resources, which is key to reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture.
Another huge benefit is that Agrarius can help cut down on fertilizer use. Because it helps plants absorb nutrients more effectively, farmers don’t need to rely as much on synthetic fertilizers. This not only saves money but also reduces the negative environmental effects of fertilizer runoff, like soil degradation and water pollution.
Agrarius also boosts crop resilience to pests and climate change, so there’s less need for chemical pesticides and excessive irrigation. By making plants healthier and more self-sufficient, Agrarius supports more sustainable farming practices all around.
Can you discuss any specific case studies or examples where Agrarius has made a noticeable difference in reducing the use of chemical inputs or conserving water resources?
One great example is a trial our farming partner did on citrus trees suffering from a citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB), that is largely documented globally as incurable and ultimately destroys the tree. This trial looked at naturally treating affected trees without the use of antibiotics, and took place in a tropical area with volcanic soil that also was determined to have an overabundance of Manganese and Iron, which is not ideal.
The Agrarius treated citrus trees exhibited notable recovery signs, including the emergence of healthy green foliage, abundant and large white flowers, and the production of spot-free, juicy Valencia oranges, with an overall yield increase of approximately 10%. The trial also demonstrated an enhanced distribution of both macronutrients and micronutrients within the plant system, including reduced levels of Manganese and Iron in Agrarius treated trees.
MVMD believes these findings to be materially significant and highlight Agrarius as a potential organic solution for citrus producers facing the impacts of HLB, with potentially the first viable method for revitalizing affected orchards and introducing sustainable disease management practices.
What has been the response from the agricultural community to Agrarius? Are there any specific regions or crops where you've seen particularly strong adoption?
The response has been really encouraging. Farmers and large-scale operations are intrigued by how Agrarius can naturally boost crop yields, reduce fertilizer use, and help plants resist pests and climate stress. We’re focusing our efforts in strong agricultural regions like Mexico, Central America, South America, and the U.S. and Canada, and within that the most significant volume crops such as corn, sugar cane wheat, cotton, soy, coffee, rice, and potatoes.
In these areas, especially where there’s a strong interest in sustainable farming, Agrarius is really gaining traction. As we work through the trial crop cycles with farmers who are evaluating directly in their own operations, we are seeing very positive results and related adoption to ensure Agrarius is integrated into their future crop planning cycles. By way of example, our strongest regional sales pipeline currently is in Brazil where we are trialing with some of the largest agricultural companies in the world. We also have some very sophisticated third-party trials being conducted in sugar cane, corn and soy that look very promising demonstrating the impact of Agrarius on more than just increased yields for example. We are very optimistic about what is unfolding here.
What challenges have you encountered in bringing Agrarius to market, and how have you addressed them?
Like any groundbreaking technology, bringing Agrarius to market has had its challenges. One big hurdle was proving to farmers and large-scale operations that Agrarius works as well as we say it does. To address this, we have focused on getting farmers to trial Agrarius on a portion of their land and directly see the results for themselves in their real farm setting versus relying on internal case studies alone. This is a very common practice and one that admittedly I underestimated from an adoption timing standpoint as each farm needs experience with the product before they will agree to apply it more broadly across their operations. But the good news in this process is that farmers are now seeing how impactful the Agrarius product is first hand and can work to integrate it directly into their real-world farming practices.
Building trust has also been crucial. Because Agrarius is so innovative and its claims unknown in a crowded agro product space, we introduced the Agrarius Guarantee Program. I love this program as it gives farmers a risk-free way to try Agrarius and if it doesn’t do what we say it does, they don’t pay for the product. And when the product performs, they simply pay us out of their increased profits. This is a true partnership strategy and has been key in building confidence in the product, and is much more in line with the way MVMD does business with its partners.
We’ve also had to navigate the regulatory landscape, which can be complex and takes time. We’ve tackled this by focusing our efforts in key regions that we believe will have the greatest ROI as agricultural powerhouses. To date, we can now sell Agrarius in Brazil, Colombia, the United States, Canada, and all of the European Union.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for the expansion and development of Agrarius? Are there any upcoming innovations or partnerships you're particularly excited about?
We’re looking to solidify Agrarius’s presence in key agricultural regions, especially in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the U.S. Our goal is to continue working with large-scale farming operations to show them the incredible benefits Agrarius offers—like increasing yields, cutting fertilizer use, and boosting resilience. This is what I believe will enable large scale adoption of Agrarius in these key agricultural organizations and the rest of the market who watches these key industry leaders closely.
On the innovation front, we’re always exploring ways to enhance Agrarius. Our R&D team is working on making the technology even more effective across a wider range of crops and environments. We’re committed to keeping Agrarius at the forefront of agricultural technology.
How do you see Agrarius influencing the future of global agriculture, especially in the context of food security and climate change?
Agrarius has the potential to really make a difference in global agriculture, especially when it comes to food security and climate change. By naturally boosting crop yields, Agrarius helps meet the growing demand for food without needing more land, which is crucial for food security. Plus, by reducing the need for fertilizers, Agrarius supports more sustainable nutrient management and lessens the environmental impact.
Agrarius also strengthens plants’ resilience to pests and climate-related stress, which is vital as we face more unpredictable weather patterns. This means farmers can look to have more reliable yields even in challenging environmental conditions.
By promoting sustainable practices, Agrarius aligns perfectly with the global push for more environmentally friendly farming. It’s a technology that can help support global food supply challenges and address climate change challenges at the same time.
As the President & CEO of Mountain Valley MD, how do you foster a culture of innovation within your team?
Innovation is at the heart of what we do at Mountain Valley MD, and fostering that culture starts with empowering our team to be creative and think outside the box. We encourage everyone to explore new ideas and challenge the status quo because that’s where I have always believed that the real innovation happens.
Collaboration is also key. We bring together team members from diverse backgrounds and expertise to share insights and co-create solutions. It’s amazing what can happen when you have a diverse group working together across multiple languages and cultures.
We also put a big emphasis on continuous learning. We invest in training and resources to keep our team at the cutting edge, and we encourage experimentation and taking calculated risks. Even if things don’t work out exactly as planned, there’s always something to learn and apply to future projects.
What advice would you give to other leaders in the agricultural tech space who are looking to drive meaningful change in the industry?
My advice to other leaders in the ag-tech space would be to really focus on positioning your innovation as a complement to the farming partners. Candidly, they have multi-generations of expertise and know exactly what they need to do to optimize every inch of their land. Collaborating to see how we can make their best work better has really changed the mindset of the partnership. Many competitors make claims and have all the excuses when their products don’t perform. I love clear control groups, guaranteeing our impact on their ROI.
And finally, collaborate with industry partners—farmers, researchers, and other stakeholders—because the best solutions often come from working together.
What personally motivates you in your work with Agrarius and Mountain Valley MD?
What really drives me is the potential to make a positive impact—on agriculture, on health, and on the environment. I’m excited by the idea that our Agrarius technology can help farmers grow more food, more sustainably. Internally, we talk about the ability to literally impact the GDP of a third world country through sustainable food supply and I can’t wait to start looking at broader global implications in the next couple of years. Farmers literally feed the world and it is an amazing space to innovate in.
Seeing how Agrarius can naturally boost crop yields and reduce the need for chemicals is incredibly rewarding on many fronts.
Beyond agriculture, Mountain Valley MD is focused on advancing biotech solutions that can improve health outcomes for both people and animals. The chance to develop products that make a real difference in people’s lives is really incredible. It’s challenging work, but knowing that we’re making a tangible impact makes it all worth it.
How do you balance the demands of leading a cutting-edge company with staying grounded in the core mission of advancing global health and sustainability?
Balancing those demands is definitely a challenge, but it comes down to integrating our core mission into everything we do. There are a lot of opportunities presented to us literally every day from new potential partners for a variety of investment considerations, and we must filter through those to make sure that everything we do aligns with our commitment to global health and sustainability.
And then keeping the team focused on the core requirements of our business in this important commercialization growth phase is critical. We consciously spend a smaller portion of time on new innovations but keep focused on what we can impact today.
Collaboration is also crucial to support our scale and expertise. We work closely with experts, researchers, and customers to ensure our innovations can translate into meaningful and impactful projects that impact the global health and wellness landscape.
The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of AgriTechTomorrow
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