LIBERTYVILLE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Valent BioSciences (VBC) announced that Randy Martin Ph.D. has been named Global Technical Development Specialist for the company’s burgeoning soil health business. Martin, who had previously managed VBC’s R&D pipeline, brings more than 30 years of experience in the agricultural biologicals space.
In his new role, Martin will serve as the primary global technical resource for Valent BioSciences’ biorational soil health products. He will also manage the global R&D programs for the broad range of biorational soil health products in development for VBC and its affiliates.
“Randy brings a unique combination of experience and skills to the most rapidly growing area of our business,” said Steve Wiest, VBC’s Global Business Manager, Biorational Rhizosphere. “His celebrated career and dedication to building integrated programs that combine traditional and biorational technologies is among the most highly regarded in the industry.”
The addition of Martin marks another key move in VBC’s rise as the thought-leader in the biological soil health space. In addition to its acquisition of Mycorrhizal Applications, in 2015, Valent BioSciences has enacted numerous licensing agreements and purchased promising microbial library collections over the past several years. The company has also invested heavily in new research facilities including the Bio-Research and Development Growth Park at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis and the Biorational Research Center in Libertyville Illinois.
“It isn’t often one has the opportunity to expand into such an exciting new area within an industry as well established as ours,” said Martin. “While the physical and chemical aspects of soil quality are well understood, the impact of beneficial microbes and soil biology on crop production is agriculture’s exciting new frontier. I look forward to working with growers and other stakeholders to help maximize the potential of our world’s soils.”
Martin earned a Ph.D. in entomology from Texas A&M University and Master’s degree in entomology and toxicology from Clemson University. He is a member of the Entomological Society of America and serves as Chairman of VBC’s Soil Health Advisory Board.
About Valent BioSciences
Headquartered in Libertyville, IL, Valent BioSciences is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sumitomo Chemical Company and is the worldwide leader in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of biorational products with sales in 95 countries around the world. Valent BioSciences is an ISO 9001 Certified Company. For additional information, visit the company’s website at www.valentbiosciences.com
