In the past, it might have seemed essential to keep your cultivation free from anything living besides the plant itself. Then, the value of having the right type of beneficial insects in your crop became clear. Now, the industry is shifting toward a more resilient type of growing: with a healthy root microbe life, a crop can better withstand harmful viruses, fungi, and bacteria, as well as other types of stress, resulting in a higher yield. This approach is at the core of Concert Bio's activities.
The UK-based company specializes in developing plant-beneficial microbes to improve growth. James Watson, Head of Commercial, explains that the microbiome is the collection of all microorganisms—such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses—around an organism, in this case, the plant. "By restoring vital parts of the plant microbiome, we're helping crops achieve even more of their potential. This can also help with resilience to stresses caused by disease or harsh conditions."
© Concert Bio
A leafy green grower in Michigan in the USA recently conducted a trial at their facility. The results were impressive. The grower trialed Prelude™ by Concert Bio—next-generation beneficial microbes tailored specifically for soilless and hydroponic systems. "With Prelude™ B, we saw a +9.6% increase in yield, and with Prelude™ A, a +2.4% increase on our Nunhems® crispy leaf variety".
The grower used a Dosatron system in their production greenhouse to Prelude™ A and B multiple times in 'drag race' trials against untreated plants. The grower said that the product integrated easily into their existing operations: "With zero changes to our automation, workflow, or crop quality. Prelude™ integrated seamlessly into our system, delivering real performance gains. For us, it's a clear example of how precision biology can drive sustainable growth in even the most optimized environments."
The grower was happy with the results and highlighted how these trials are contributing to their mission and longer term vision. "We're committed to producing fresh, pesticide-free leafy greens year-round while staying true to our values of sustainability and local distribution. These trials are part of our ongoing efforts to innovate and improve productivity."
© Arlette Sijmonsma | HortiDaily.com Paul Rutten at GreenTech 2025
Concert Bio recently secured regulatory approval for Prelude™ in the USA. Dr Paul Rutten, their CEO, sees the trial results as an important milestone in their international expansion. "We've been delighted to see the results of this trial and others in the US, which show that growers are getting results in line with what our EU and UK growers have reported."
For more information:
Concert Bio
© Concert Bio
James Watson
Head of Commercial
[email protected]
www.concert.bio
