PRESS RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
New Edge Microbials, a business started by microbiologist Sandy Montague 20 years ago, has partnered with Canada’s Lallemand Inc. in a deal that will contribute significantly to transformation in the productivity and sustainability of broad acre and horticulture farming in Australia and New Zealand.
The NEM-Lallemand partnership brings together:
NEM’s powerful platform in Australia; NEM has developed, manufactures and markets more than 50 proven biological products used across approximately one million hectares each year, and Lallemand Plant Care’s extensive world-class product range. Lallemand is a global leader in the development, production, and marketing of yeast, bacteria, fungi and related solutions across the baking, food ingredients, human and animal nutrition and health, crop protection/nutrition, winemaking, brewing, alcohol, and biofuel sectors. It has a presence in 50 countries, operating 48 production plants and employing over 5,000 people.
Under an exclusive partnership, NEM will introduce an extensive range of Lallemand Plant Care products to Australia and New Zealand, starting with initial field trials in 2024 and a steady stream of new product launches from 2025 onwards in collaboration with NEM’s long-standing distribution partners. The company anticipates that this will lead to significant market growth in the biological segment and help farmers in Australia and New Zealand increase soil health, crop yields, and quality.
NEM’s current products, used throughout Australia, include a full range of rhizobia-based seed and soil treatments that support nitrogen fixation in legume crops, and an emerging range of bio-stimulants for fruit, vegetables, and horticulture.
NEM remains majority Australian-owned and regionally based and expands its commitment to harnessing the best Australian and global science for soil and plant health. Lallemand and NEM are committed to substantial investment in new product development.
NEM has grown from a business providing an initial range of rhizobia products out of a small factory in Albury in 2004 to its recent move to a modern, high-quality facility in Wodonga with 42 employees embodying Australia’s leading capability for end-to-end development of bio-stimulants and bio-fertilisers from research to commercial supply. The partnership with Lallemand Plant Care, a leading global organisation, is an important next step for the business.
According to Lallemand Plant Care CEO, Frederic Chagnon:
“The future of farming lies in scientifically proven biological products that enhance yield, profitability, and soil health without harm to the environment. Our experience globally indicates a rapid adoption of biological products, a trend which is currently underway in Australia and New Zealand where NEM is the leading independent player and the ideal partner for Lallemand in this region.”
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Modern broadacre systems rarely slow down. High-performing varieties, tight rotations and economic pressure mean paddocks are pushed to deliver year after year. Yet soil is not an unlimited resource. Like any high-performing system, it benefits from a deliberate reset.
We are thrilled with our recent experience using NoduleN Peat for inoculating our lupins sown on May 5th, 2023. Although we started two weeks later than usual due to wet weather, the results have been promising. We prepared the seed with a double rate of NoduleN Peat, using a paint mixer for an even application, which gave us confidence in the coverage.
While completing the sowing over the weekend, we faced a minor hiccup when we ran out of inoculant and had to use untreated seed for the last bags. We hoped the residual peat dust in the seed box would provide some protection, and we believe it may have helped.
This paddock is challenging due to a resistant ryegrass issue, and past crop rotations—including oats for silage and canola—have laid the groundwork for successfully growing lupins in the future. We’ve found lupins invaluable for our sheep as stock feed, and the use of peat, despite being a bit messy, allowed us to confirm adequate coverage by using visible colour as our guide.
We are optimistic about the upcoming harvest and will be employing a yield monitor to assess the outcomes thoroughly. We’re also looking forward to conducting soil tests after harvest and are open to experimenting with vials for future mixes.
Overall, we appreciate the support and are happy to collaborate further. We welcome the expertise and are keen on continuing to implement innovative farming practices. Thank you for being part of our agricultural journey!
