The New Science of Poultry Environments

Ag Biotech, Inc. Selected as 2026 Buffalo Region NYSBDC Exporter of the Year Homegrown New York agricultural innovator honored for scaling global market footprint, with international sales now commanding 50% of annual revenue. Niagara Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Business Advisor Bree Bacon, Tristan Hudak, Robert Hudak, and NYSBDC International Trade Director Dr. Mercedes Sanchez-Moore, PhD. LAKEVILLE, N.Y. — June 2026  — Ag Biotech, Inc., a pioneering New York manufacturer specializing in sustainable agricultural biologicals, has officially been selected as the  Buffalo Region NYSBDC Exporter of the Year for 2026 . Awarded by the New York State Small Business Development Center (NYSBDC), this prestigious accolade recognizes Ag Biotech’s stellar international expansion as a testament to the power of targeted innovation paired with strategic state export support. Cultivating Global Growth from Local Roots Founded in 1992, Ag Biotech, Inc. has spent over three decades developing high-performance biostimulants and biofertilizers engineered to optimize soil health and maximize crop yields. As domestic agricultural demand matured, leadership anticipated the global shift toward resource-efficient farming. Under the direction of Founder and President Robert Hudak and Director of International Development Tristan Hudak, the company launched an aggressive push into highly competitive international agricultural sectors. Expanding into global markets brought standard yet daunting cross-border challenges, including the capital-intensive nature of international market development, complex cross-border financing, and the hurdles of building trusted, long-distance distributor networks from scratch. A Catalyst Network: Transforming Challenges into Channels To scale these international barriers, Ag Biotech tapped into a synchronized network of state and regional export resources. Working in close collaboration with the Niagara Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Business Advisor Bree Bacon, and NYSBDC International Trade Director Dr. Mercedes Sanchez-Moore, PhD, the company accessed a vital framework of specialized trade resources. Through this targeted advising relationship and the support of Empire State Development’s Global NY, Ag Biotech successfully mobilized key export mechanisms, including: • Strategic Guidance & Market Intelligence:  Accessing global database channels to streamline verified distributor searches. • International Trade Show Portals:  Showcasing proprietary solutions directly to foreign commercial buyers. • Export Financing Alignment:  Utilizing government-backed tools to buffer international credit and trade logistics. Reflecting on the impact of this collaborative network, Tristan Hudak shared: “Receiving advice and being introduced by NYSBDC to funding resources and government-backed export programs has accelerated our international expansion plans, and we are grateful for the support.” A Sustainable, High-Yield Future Across Four Continents Today, Ag Biotech’s international segment serves as a primary driver of corporate vitality. Global sales now account for a staggering  50% of the company's annual revenue . The firm's advanced biochemical portfolios—led by flagship products like the biostimulant  Bio Shot™  and the biofertilizer  Bio Seed ®—maintain a rapidly expanding footprint across core agricultural markets in  Mexico, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America . Ag Biotech’s journey demonstrates how New York businesses can effectively convert localized agronomic breakthroughs into global commercial standards when cutting-edge innovation is matched with the right strategic trade support.‍ ...Read more

Ho Chi Minh City, morning of January 28, 2026 — Petrovietnam Ca Mau Fertilizer Corporation (PVCFC, HOSE: DCM) and AG Biotech, INC (USA) officially signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement, marking the beginning of a long-term partnership between the two companies in the research, development, and application of biotechnology solutions across the agricultural value chain — advancing toward a green, efficient, and sustainably developed agricultural sector. Representatives of both parties — Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien, Deputy General Director of PVCFC, and Mr. Tristan Hudak, Director of International Development at Ag Biotech Inc. — presided over the signing ceremony of the Cooperation Agreement. Cooperation Grounded in Applied Science and Biotechnology The signing reflects the shared vision of both parties to combine PVCFC's strengths in fertilizer production, distribution, and crop nutrition solutions with AG Biotech's capabilities in researching and developing biological preparations, microbial products, and advanced biotechnologies — creating natural plant growth regulation solutions that are environmentally friendly and aligned with global sustainable agriculture trends. The Cooperation Agreement between PVCFC and AG Biotech is built on the shared belief that the future of sustainable agriculture must rest on a harmonious combination of next-generation fertilizers and biological solutions — optimizing farming efficiency, improving agricultural product quality, and protecting the environment. Both parties agreed to cooperate across four key strategic directions: • Joint research and development of fertilizer product lines integrating biotechnology, including integrated solutions combining inorganic and organic fertilizers with biological and microbial preparations, aimed at improving nutrient absorption efficiency, soil amelioration, and crop disease resistance. • Piloting and scaling up farming models that apply biological and microbial preparations for natural plant growth regulation in key growing regions, particularly for major crops such as rice, fruit trees, industrial crops, and vegetables. • Joint training and technical transfer to the distribution network, technical staff, and farmers on nutritional solutions and biological solutions for natural plant growth regulation. • Exploring opportunities to commercialize jointly developed products in domestic and international markets, progressively building comprehensive agricultural farming solutions aligned with an environmentally friendly biological approach — contributing to improved farming efficiency and sustainable development of Vietnamese agriculture. The cooperation agreement between the two entities opens a new direction for the application of biotechnology in sustainable agriculture. Together Toward a Green, Low-Emission Agricultural Sector Through the strategic partnership, PVCFC and Ag Biotech jointly aim to minimize the environmental impact of agricultural production, contributing to: • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by optimizing fertilizer use and strengthening biological solutions; • Improving soil fertility and crop farming ecosystems; • Advancing environmentally friendly agricultural models aligned with ESG standards and the global Net Zero trend. This is also a concrete step in PVCFC's strategic transition — from the role of a traditional fertilizer manufacturer to a comprehensive agricultural solutions provider, integrating science, technology, biology, and technical services. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Robert Hudak, Founder and President of Ag Biotech, Inc., shared: "We believe that the combination of AG Biotech's biotechnology research capabilities and Ca Mau Fertilizer's robust production and distribution platform will create practical solutions for Vietnamese agriculture. This is not merely a commercial partnership — it is a shared mission to build a green and sustainable agricultural sector." Robert Hudak, Founder and President of Ag Biotech Inc., speaking at the event. PVCFC — Progressively Expanding Its Agricultural Solutions Ecosystem With over fifteen years of development, Ca Mau Fertilizer has firmly established itself as Vietnam's leading fertilizer brand — supported by a modern production system, strong R&D capabilities, and an extensive distribution network both domestically and internationally. PVCFC's products are now present in over 20 countries, becoming a symbol of quality and credibility in Vietnam's fertilizer industry. In its long-term development strategy, alongside building comprehensive crop nutrition solutions, PVCFC has identified biological solutions as one of its key focus areas for walking alongside farmers across the entire agricultural production value chain. Speaking at the event, Mr. Tran Ngoc Nguyen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Petrovietnam Ca Mau Fertilizer Corporation, emphasized: "The strategic partnership with Ag Biotech is an important step in Ca Mau Fertilizer's transformation journey — from fertilizer manufacturer to integrated agricultural solutions provider. We expect the combination of next-generation fertilizers and biotechnology to create lasting value for farmers, for the agricultural sector, and for the environment." Mr. Tran Ngoc Nguyen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Petrovietnam Ca Mau Fertilizer Corporation, speaking at the event. The partnership between PVCFC and AG Biotech not only opens a new development direction in agricultural biotechnology, but also contributes to building a sustainable agricultural value chain, improving the quality of Vietnamese agricultural products, and enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnamese agriculture in the international marketplace. ...Read more

European livestock producers face a tightening set of constraints that extends beyond productivity targets. Pressure to reduce reliance on antibiotics, manage input costs and demonstrate environmental accountability is reshaping how feed strategies are evaluated. Conventional additive models, built around supplementation rather than systemic gut interaction, often struggle to reconcile performance gains with these evolving expectations. The shift underway is less about incremental improvement and more about rethinking how a single input can simultaneously influence multiple biological and operational outcomes. Feed decisions increasingly hinge on whether an additive can deliver measurable improvements without forcing trade-offs. Growth performance remains central, yet it is no longer sufficient in isolation. Producers are examining how efficiently nutrients are converted, how consistently animals maintain health without intervention and how downstream effects such as waste output or water quality are influenced. This broader lens reflects a move toward inputs that operate within the animal’s digestive system to support balance rather than correction. Another emerging expectation is compatibility with reduced-input feeding strategies. Rising volatility in feed ingredient pricing has made it necessary to extract more value from lower-energy or lower-protein formulations. Additives that can sustain or improve outcomes under these conditions are gaining attention, particularly when they enhance nutrient utilisation rather than simply compensate for deficiencies. This distinction separates short-term supplementation from longer-term efficiency gains. Adaptability across species and production environments also plays a decisive role. Livestock systems are not uniform, and solutions that require extensive reconfiguration for each application create friction in adoption. Buyers increasingly favour approaches built on a consistent underlying mechanism that can be adjusted at the formulation level without losing effectiveness. This allows producers to apply a unified strategy across poultry, swine, aquaculture or early-stage cattle development while accounting for biological differences. Quality assurance and traceability have become non-negotiable elements in supplier evaluation. The ability to control raw material sourcing, maintain consistent production standards and verify the absence of contaminants directly influences confidence at the farm level. Certification frameworks and rigorous batch testing are no longer peripheral considerations but integral to how feed inputs are assessed for long-term use. Within this evolving landscape, lignin-derived feed additives have moved from a peripheral concept to a subject of serious evaluation. Their role as insoluble fibres that interact within the gut offers a different pathway compared to microbial or enzymatic additives. Rather than introducing external biological agents, they influence the internal environment in which digestion and microbial balance occur, creating conditions that support healthier and more efficient nutrient processing. Phytaxis SA exemplifies how this approach can be translated into a scalable solution. It has developed a sulphur-free lignin platform produced through proprietary extraction processes, enabling consistent quality and biological activity. Its formulations, largely built on a single modified lignin base, are tailored for species-specific needs while maintaining a unified mode of action. The result is observable improvements across metrics that matter to producers, including feed conversion, growth outcomes and reduced reliance on antibiotics. In aquaculture settings, it improves water quality by reducing ammonia and solid waste, while in terrestrial livestock, it supports gut health and lowers mortality. Its vertically integrated production and adherence to recognised quality standards reinforce supply reliability, positioning it as a credible choice for producers seeking performance gains aligned with modern constraints. ...Read more

Blurb: Fertilisers and plant nutrition strategies are changing as European agriculture balances productivity goals with environmental responsibilities. Advances in nutrient management, precision farming and biological solutions are helping growers improve crop performance, optimise input use and strengthen long-term soil health. Article: Agriculture across Europe is facing a period of rapid change. Farmers are under growing pressure to increase productivity while reducing environmental impact, protecting soil health and keeping pace with changing regulations. At the same time, rising input costs, unpredictable weather patterns and shifting consumer expectations are adding new challenges to crop production. Plant nutrition has become a central focus within this transition. Fertilisers remain essential to maintaining crop yields and supporting food security, yet growers are looking beyond traditional application methods to improve efficiency and minimise nutrient losses. Modern nutrient management strategies emphasise precision, data-driven decision-making and a deeper understanding of soil conditions. Success increasingly depends on using nutrients more efficiently and applying them where they can deliver the greatest benefit. Farmers are looking for solutions that support crop performance while helping them meet sustainability goals and build more resilient operations for the future. Precision Technologies Improve Nutrient Efficiency Digital technologies are transforming how farmers manage plant nutrition. Satellite imagery, soil sensors and analytics platforms provide greater visibility into field conditions, enabling growers to understand how nutrient requirements vary across different areas of a farm. Precision agriculture tools support more targeted applications by matching fertiliser use with specific crop needs. Variable-rate technologies help reduce waste, improve nutrient efficiency and lower input costs. Better access to field-level data also allows farmers to make more informed decisions throughout the growing season. Greater accuracy in nutrient management is helping producers move away from uniform application practices towards more responsive and resource-efficient approaches. Soil Health Moves to the Centre of Crop Strategies Healthy soils provide the foundation for productive and resilient farming systems. Soil quality influences nutrient availability, water retention and crop performance, making it a critical factor in long-term agricultural success. European growers are placing greater emphasis on practices that improve soil structure and biological activity. Regular soil testing, balanced nutrient programmes and the use of organic amendments help farmers better understand the condition of their land and identify opportunities for improvement. Plant nutrition strategies increasingly consider the interaction between nutrients, soil conditions and microbial activity. A stronger focus on soil health is helping producers build farming systems that can support productivity while maintaining environmental balance. Biological Solutions Expand Nutrient Options Interest in biological inputs continues to grow across European agriculture. Biostimulants, microbial products and other biological solutions are gaining attention for their potential to improve nutrient uptake and enhance crop resilience. Many growers are integrating these products alongside conventional fertilisers to support more efficient nutrient use. Research and product development are expanding the range of available options, allowing producers to explore new approaches without replacing established nutrient programmes entirely. Combining biological and conventional solutions can help farmers improve crop performance while reducing pressure on natural resources. “Precision Tools, Biological Solutions and Soil-Focused Strategies are Helping Growers Optimise Inputs while Building More Sustainable Farming Systems.” Regulation Shapes Nutrient Management Decisions Environmental policies are influencing fertiliser use across Europe. Regulations aimed at reducing nutrient runoff, protecting water quality and lowering greenhouse gas emissions are encouraging producers to adopt more precise management practices. Growers are responding by investing in technologies that improve application accuracy, strengthen record-keeping and support regulatory compliance. Nutrient management plans help farmers balance productivity goals with environmental requirements while maintaining operational efficiency. Collaboration between producers, agronomists and technology providers is becoming increasingly important as the sector works to develop practical solutions that align with evolving policy expectations. Climate Pressures Demand Greater Resilience Changing weather patterns are creating new complexities for nutrient management. Drought conditions, excessive rainfall and shifting growing seasons can affect nutrient availability, crop development and overall productivity. Flexible nutrition strategies help farmers respond more effectively to these challenges. Predictive tools, field data and adaptive management practices support better decision-making throughout the growing cycle and enable producers to adjust nutrient programmes as conditions change. Improving nutrient use efficiency can also strengthen resilience by helping crops perform more consistently during periods of environmental stress. Supporting the Future of Sustainable Agriculture Fertilisers and plant nutrition remain essential to global food production, yet expectations surrounding their use are changing rapidly. European agriculture is moving towards approaches that combine productivity with environmental stewardship and longterm resilience. Advances in precision farming, biological solutions and soil health management are creating new opportunities to optimise nutrient use while reducing environmental impact. Future success will depend on collaboration across the agricultural value chain, bringing together growers, researchers, technology providers and policymakers to develop practical solutions for evolving challenges. Efficient nutrient management supports more than crop yields alone. Stronger plant nutrition strategies help improve resource efficiency, protect soil health and build a more sustainable future for European agriculture. ...Read more