April 17, 2024

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

Custom Agronomics (“Custom Ag”), the second of three active portfolio companies of Inverness Graham Green Light, the environmental sustainability-focused, lower-middle market buyout strategy of Inverness Graham, announced it has acquired BioTek Ag, a Florida-based provider of solutions that improve and protect crops yields from corn, soybean, and cotton fields to vegetables and fruit orchards. 

The completion of this transaction will expand Custom Ag’s range of private-label liquid plant nutrients, nitrogen stabilizers, and other specialty products that deliver key environmental improvements, including yield enhancement and better soil health. It also will serve to extend its geographical reach into the U.S. Midwest and Southeast regions.

“The acquisition of BioTek is an exciting opportunity for the combined business,” said Paul Nolen, managing principal, Inverness Graham. “In addition to building upon Custom Ag’s strong private-label model and nutrient use efficiency product offering, the acquisition offers opportunities to augment formulation expertise, expand portfolio offerings to a new and broader customer base and add great people to the team.”

“We look forward to supporting continued strategic acquisition efforts and organic initiatives to accelerate the growth of the overall platform.”

Focusing on product knowledge and service, the BioTek team strives to discover new technologies with the potential to increase production and maximize return through their implementation. Their line includes:

~ seaTEK – an EPA-registered, highly concentrated and non-toxic growth regulator containing natural growth enhancers, micro-nutrients, and bio stimulants that poses no environmental hazards. 

~ seaTEK PLUS – and EPA-registered plant growth regulator with one of the highest concentrations PGR formulations. 

~ powerTEK 4-17-8 – a 4.17-8 fertilizer with chelated zinc and BioTek’s proprietary blend that enhances nutrient availability and soil fertility. 

~ powerTEK K – a plant nutrient solution with nitrogen, potassium, Boron, and EDTA manganese. 

~ bindTEK – a surfactant polymer designed to enhance infiltration performance of surface and sub-surface irrigation. 

~ pro TEK N – containing the active ingredient N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) – a urease inhibitor to reduce volatility of urea and urea ammonium nitrate solutions by inhibiting the activity of the urease enzyme. 

~ aquaTEK – a blend of special non-ionic surfactants with citrus oils designed for use with a broad range of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and/or fertilizers and micronutrients. 

“Custom Agronomics is an ideal partner for BioTek’s next chapter of growth,” stated Jim Wendling and Kim Tart, founders, BioTek. “We share a commitment to exceptional products and service via a private label offering and believe there is significant cultural fit between the two organizations.”

“The capabilities of the combined platform will allow us to better service our customers and pursue new opportunities.”

~ Lynda Kiernan-Stone is editor in chief with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and Agtech Intel News. She can be reached at lkiernan-stone@globalaginvesting.com.

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