Novozymes is now officially in the biofertility business. In December, Novozymes acquired a Milwaukee-based biofertility solutions company, EMD/Merck Crop Bioscience Inc. for $283 million, and now the takeover is complete. With a presence in the U.S., Canada, Argentina and Brazil, the acquisition by Novozymes not only allows the Danish-based company global access to more farmers, but also brings together the technical expertise of the two companies.

Novozymes will now provide biofertility products that enhance the supply of nutrients to crops, which, according to Novozymes, include nitrogen inoculants for legume crops, which are signaling compounds to enhance nitrogen fixation. While the biofertility solutions market is estimated to be roughly $250 million, the market is part of the larger $1 billion agricultural biologics industry, according to Novozymes. In addition to the nitrogen inoculants, the company will also provide a series of products that increase phosphate availability in crops, control insect, disease and weed crop pests, and stimulate crop stress resistance.

“We’re excited to bring these two innovative companies together to help farmers produce more and better food, feed, fuel and fiber,” said Thomas Videbaek, executive vice president of Novozymes, on the official takeover. Following the first announcement in December by Novozymes on its move to expand into the biofertility solutions market, Steen Riisgaard, president and CEO of Novozymes told Biorefining Magazine that “sustainable products and technologies will in the future play an even greater role in the agricultural industry as they allow effective and more sustainable ways to grow crops.” Novozymes “is dedicated to leading continued innovation in this space,” Riisgaard said.