2nd Breakout Session - Green Team: H. Browning, Leader
For expanding commercialization opportunities for biocontrol, what alterations or alliances would you recommend to make existing paradigms more successful? Consider two of the following: a) individual grower-initiated efforts, b) cooperatives c) small companies, d) large companies
- Alliances:
- EPA Environmental Stewardship Program: little-known promoter of BC.
- Non-Traditional Agriculture Groups - e.g., Rodale Press, Organic Growers.
- Producers (Farmers) to Identify their Needs.
- State BC Consortia as identified earlier.
- Agricultural Input Delivery System - fertilizer & pesticide suppliers, coops, dealerships have a great distribution system - product and support.
- Technology manufacturers and providers - may help in overcoming scale, etc.
- State/Federal/industry/producer/consumer groups and advocates - e.g. Farm Bureaus, State Dept. Ag, Consumers Unions, Environmental Groups.
- Crop Advisors and Consultants - they are a big part of our clientele.
- Trainers - find professionals to help us educate about BC - use as advisors
- Include PR experts.
- Foundations, Philanthropists.
- Celebrities with "Ecological" affinities - evolve some committed spokespersons.
- Alterations:
- Technology Development for Production of BC agents or products.
- Team to assess, set targets and develop plans - e.g. Wisconsin potato growers.
- Draw out sleeping technologies that have potential but have not been used.
- Use franchise concept to develop small (?) local business entrepreneurs.
List at least five unconventional ideas that might be tried.
- "KFC" Franchisement.
- Consumer stock investment in cooperative to develop and use biocontrol.
- Governmental held "Large-Scale" production - Use existing labs and equipment to provide manufacturing capability.
- Link sales with scouting to create value-added sales and to enhance educational role.
- Develop accessory industry to provide contract batch-processing for BC production.
- Privatize Biocontrol R&D, either for-profit or non-profit.
As a group: Drawing upon Tasks #1 or #2, or any other workshop discussions, construct a scenario or paradigm for a new enterprise that could commercialize some particular aspect of biocontrol. What would it take to develop and implement such an enterprise? (For example, consider possible roles of academia, growers, government, and industry; consider legal, financial/business, scientific and education/communication issues).
- Concept: The Franchise of BC. Various permutations possible from full service parent company to specialty products and services
- Applications where this concept might be useful:
- Commercial scale prod of macroorganisms (pred., parasites, etc.).
- Small-medium fermenters.
- Classical BC R&D - similar to former international role of CIBC.
- Biocontrol "general-store" to locally provide products, info, service.
- BC Service only - scouting, training, information, consultancy.
- Attributes of Franchise Concept that would benefit commercialization of BC
- Economies of scale - overcome some of scale limitations.
- Provide a business framework and intellect for biological enterprise.
- Access to and involvement of venture capitalists.
- Provide a "Production" Framework - from products to service.
- Access to Technology outside normal channels in BC.
- Provide credibility - e.g. KFC is consistent, quality(?), nationally known (inferred respected) as opposed to small local operator who is unknown, unproven.
- Marketing and Advertising Umbrella.
- Research and Development Support from Parent.
- Value-added service possible - access to company agents, experts, and consultants.
- General Store could be fostered where you locally sell products developed and sold elsewhere as well, particularly as it relates to service.
- Requirements to make franchise concept workable:
- Central (parent) Capabilities must be developed and proven.
- Must be technology base to build from to attract franchises and investors.
- Policy/regulatory presence.
- Reputation Establishment - may be "borrowed or leased" by absorbing proven or known products or services - e.g., attract ANBP.
- Business Plan for parent co. and franchises.
- Developed standards for products, quality, production - e.g., QC on fermenters.
- Training at all levels.
- Demand must be created to draw investors.
- Distribution and Marketing system must be in place to attract franchisees and investors.
- Flexibility to grow and change as franchises come on line.
Considering all the discussions throughout this workshop, list the five action steps that could have the most positive impact on the commercialization of biocontrol. (Identify who could do what).
- Nationally Assess current and sleeping BC technologies to develop a database of "ready" technologies for commercialization - identify agents, products, systems. Who? WGBC to deliver to National BC council, other interested parties.
- Assess Technology Needs for development if BC is to be advanced. Examples: Industrial microbiology, Growers, University and other intellectual organizations, Marketing and delivery systems experts. Who: Federal Research organizations could serve as conduit for information.
- Provide information on status of biological control to those interested in policy changes such as FQPA so that realistic assessment of impact can be made. Who? Engage supporters and provide the results of #1 and #2 above.
- Develop market strategies to create consumer pull-through demand for bc.
- Who? Universities, Federal Groups, Economists, CARET groups and other advocacy groups.
- Future Workshops - Broaden with related issues groups, involve much larger audience and participants - We continue to preach to ourselves. Send "BC ambassadors" to others’ group meetings rather than trying (unsuccessfully) to get substantive numbers and representation to our meeting.
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