What is the elevator pitch you use for your startup?
Psigryph owns Nanopect, a biodegradable, non-toxic delivery system for living cells. It is being deployed to solve problems in agriculture, food and pharma with our first product being launched in 2023.
What pain points are you trying to solve in agriculture?
We are solving the problem of soil nitrification. Cows, pigs, chickens and plants are fed nitrogen-containing compounds to increase protein content. The inefficiency of current non-protein nitrogen supplements and fertilizers results in most of the product ending up in the soil where it causes the generation of potent greenhouse gasses.
How did you get the idea to start your company?
I’m a serial entrepreneur who was looking for an academic technology that I could turn into a company. I was introduced to the opportunity by a lawyer I knew previously.
What are your plans for the US market? Do you think you’ll have a presence in the midwest?
We need to conduct field trials of our novel animal feed and biopesticides for regulatory approval. Grand Farm appears to be an ideal location for some of that work. Many of our products will be pesticides that are regionally important. So, we will need to test products in the markets in which we plan to sell.
Our starting material is the Montmorency Sour Cherry. The upper peninsula of Michigan is a world leader in the production of that crop. So yes, we see some sort of presence in the Midwest in the near future. We are very interested to partner with companies and other groups in the US that have detailed local market knowledge. We think this will be key to our success.
If your product/service was already being used by everyone, globally, what impact would that have?
We could remove tonnes of nitrous oxide from the atmosphere through the use of our products. This would have a huge, positive impact on climate change.
“My grandfather in Barbados was a farmer so I have a heartfelt desire to make life easier and more profitable for farmers.”
How are you incorporating growers into your business plan?
We already have an agreement with the largest producer of sour cherries in Canada to supply our needs. As we grow, we will need more such agreements with growers. We look forward to building more relationships with growers. Also, we will need field testing locations for many of our products.
Where do you see your company in 10 years?
I see us as a large, innovative company marketing products directly and through partnerships that dramatically improve the environmental footprint of agriculture. I expect to have operations in the US and Europe to complement our head office in Canada.
Where do you see your company in 10 years?
I see us as a large, innovative company marketing products directly and through partnerships that dramatically improve the environmental footprint of agriculture. I expect to have operations in the US and Europe to complement our head office in Canada.
This magazine reaches 16,000+ farmers. In one sentence, what would you like to tell them?
My grandfather in Barbados was a farmer so I have a heartfelt desire to make life easier and more profitable for farmers.
psigryph.com
150 Research Lane, Suite 107
Guelph, ON N1G 4T2
