Grochem lifts the bar on quality control
A growing force in New Zealand’s agrinutrients and agrichemicals sector, Grochem is focussing on expanding its range of products for local horticultural businesses and developing its international markets.
Behind every facet of the operation is a total focus on meeting international standards in the vital areas of food safety and quality control.
George McHardy, business manager and one of three directors and shareholders in Grochem, said the Porirua-based company blends a range of imported and New Zealand ingredients onsite, strictly adhering to every possible international testing regime. Thus providing security to both distribution and growers.
Grochem has its own quality control testing facilities on its premises. They have recently installed some of the latest, hightech equipment available internationally which was previously only able to be accessed offshore. Independent laboratories are also still utilised for testing and certifi cation of products.
For over 20 years, Grochem has worked closely with the local horticulture industry and independent researchers to develop an extensive range of products that meet industry requirements in four specific areas – plant nutrition, insecticides, fungicides, and plant growth regulators. Many of these are the company’s own ‘recipes’, developed for New Zealand soils and climate, and the prevailing pests, fungus and diseases.
In addition, Grochem partner with a number of multinational agrichemical companies to bring speciality products to growers.
The company has a dedicated staff of sixteen, including a chemist, research manager and technical field agronomists with extensive experience.
Grochem imports raw materials from a number of overseas countries, including USA, Chile, China, Japan, Norway and Germany, and while these meet certifi cate of analysis before export, they are all rigorously tested on arrival to ensure the passage out, across the equator, has not altered the chemical signature.
The Orchardist | August 2014
Greener way to fight off diseases
This article was originally published on the NZ Herald
Specialist product manufacturer Grochem, a horticultural industry consortium has discovered a new “greener” control for a kiwifruit disease.
Specialist product manufacturer Grochem, HortResearch, Amberley Management Services and Technology New Zealand spent three years and about $250,000 developing a biological control agent for the disease sclerotinia.
Sclerotinia infects flowers, preventing the fruit developing.
Grochem project manager Iain Latter said the new control could replace a chemical fungicide.
He said the commercial harnessing of a naturally occurring biological fungal agent to fight sclerotinia would change the industry.
“There’s huge pressure on exporters … to have zero chemical residues and New Zealand has been leading the world in terms of reducing our chemistry use that actually goes on fruit.”
With prospects for commercial sale abroad for a range of crops the new agent, called Epicure, may itself become an export earner.
Latter said the support of Technology New Zealand, which provided a $175,000 grant, was essential.
“We’re a rapidly growing New Zealand company but without that assistance this wouldn’t have occurred because the development of BCAs is a reasonably risky project and our resources are limited.”
Early test results show Epicure is as effective as current fungicides with comparable costs.
Grochem will register Epicure for commercial use next season.
An innovative application method may see the humble bee enlisted as an alternative to high-volume spraying.
The idea is to introduce Epicure to bees as they enter and leave the hive.