XiteBio Technologies Inc., a Manitoba based Canadian Ag-biotech company is becoming the leading edge ag-biological solutions provider in North America. XiteBio’s IRD (Innovation, Research & Development) Centre researches and develops unique, efficacious biological product lines and brings them to the Canadian, US & some international markets to benefit farmers’ bottom lines. XiteBio’s head office and IRD Centre is located in Winnipeg with employees in MB, ON, SK, ND & MN.
XiteBio’s all commercial products are exclusively developed by their own proprietary platform technology AGPT® (Advanced Growth Promoting Technology) and patented PGPR (Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria) technology. The AGPT based products are: XiteBio® SoyRhizo®, a premium liquid inoculant for soybean; and XiteBio® PulseRhizo®, a premium liquid inoculant for pea, lentil & faba bean. XiteBio® SoyRhizo® and XiteBio® PulseRhizo® are the only inoculants on the market that do not compete with the pre-existing beneficial microbial populations rather work with the soil microflora to benefit the crops. They help in nitrogen (N) fixation in legume crops. The PGPR based product, XiteBio® Yield+ for oilseeds, cereals, legumes & tuber crops, is powered by patented unique phosphorous (P) solubilizing bacteria and they can be tank mixed with herbicides as early post application or in-furrow application with liquid starter fertilizers. XiteBio’s newly launched product is XiteBio OptiPlus, is a in-furrow dual inoculant for soybean, taking care of N-fixation and P-solubilization.
XiteBio do believe in biotechnological innovations and provide their customers unique products and services that increase their bottom line in an eco-friendly manner.
Tell us about yourself?
Dr. Manas R. Banerjee is the President & Chief Executive Officer for XiteBio Technologies Inc., a dynamic microbial biotechnology company head-quartered in Winnipeg, Canada. XiteBio is a leading edge ag-biological solutions provider to the North American and as well as some other international markets. Dr. Banerjee is an expert in soil microbiology & biotechnology and his research works encompasses soil-plant-microbial interactions, soil biological quality, and environmental sustainability. Dr. Banerjee obtained his Ph.D. from University of Aberdeen, UK and was engaged as researcher/scientist/professor capacity with the University of Saskatchewan, University of Manitoba, University of Western Ontario and Agriculture Agri-Food Canada. He also worked as a Director of R&D in a privately owned Canadian seed company. He has published numerous research papers, articles, book chapters and number of international patents that produced over 10 commercially successful ag-biological products for crops like soybean, corn, wheat, barley, pulses, canola, etc. His applied approach earned him or his company numerous awards like Agriculture Tech CEO of the Year 2017, Nominee Manning Award for Innovation 2017, Most Dynamic Microbial Technology Company 2016. He has given numerous presentations and often covered in the press.
If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Hire more motivated/committed people those who stick around longer to see the end results/fruits of the journey
What problem does your business solve?
Nitrogen fixation for legume crops. i.e. you do not have to use none to little amount inorganic nitrogen fertilizer to grow legume crops like soybean, pea, lentil, faba bean, etc.
Phosphorous solubilization for multiple crops. i.e. the phosphorous fixed in the soil can be unlocked by this bacteria so plants will have more available form of phosphorous nutrients. Also increase the efficiency of the phosphorous fertilizer which is a finite source. Also reduce P surface run-off, help in clean up of lake waters or water bodies by reducing eutrophication. Crops where this technology can be used are: canola, corn, wheat, barley, oat, soybean, pulses, potato, sugar beet, etc.
What is the inspiration behind your business?
My objective is all the farmers of North America should have at least one ag-biological in their arsenal to increase their crop product sustainably.
What is your magic sauce?
AGPT – Our own in-house technology – work with soil not against the soil like traditional inoculants.
Patented PGPR – unique bacteria help in phosphorous solubilization to increase the efficiency of the applied chemical fertilizer and plant will have more available form of phosphorous for their uptake.
What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?
We are currently marketing/distributing/selling in North American market like USA, Eastern Canada & Western Canada over as decade. But now we want expand into/export into European and Latin American market. Our international testing have already been successful in Turkey, France, Ukraine, India and China. We want distribution partners in those countries.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
Brand recognition; once people use our product they like them and we generally retain them as customers. But we need to expand our brand to obtain new customers in newer region.
How do people get involved/buy into your vision?
Our main aim is to get more distributors or more dealers/retailer in different regions. For further information on our products & technologies please visit our website at www.xitebio.ca or follow us in Twitter or Facebook or Instagram. You may also call us toll-free at 1-855-XITEBIO (1-855-948-3246).