About BG Biologics
We believe that CEA has the potential to produce healthy, locally-sourced, fresh produce that is also affordable for more people. Contamination of hydroponic systems by Pythium is endemic across the industry because this aqueous environment is just perfect for the spread of these plant pathogens. These infections threaten the sustainability of these unstable ecosystems. We want to partner with growers to develop a biologically-based and more effective Pythium management solution that is presently available.
Mission
Our mission is to commercialize an effective biological control solution to manage Pythium infections in Controlled Environment Agricultural (CEA) spaces.
Vision
Our vision is to deliver a host-specific pathogen of into the recirculating water of hydroponics systems that will colonize and kill Pythium biofilms so that growers yields are increased, and susceptible crops like spinach can be added to growers product lines.
Our Story
BG Biologics was founded to address one of the most persistent and costly issues in hydroponic and greenhouse agriculture: Pythium root rot. Led by Dr. Paul Morris, a leading expert in microbial interactions and plant biology, BG Biologics grew out of decades of academic research and a commitment to real-world problem-solving.
Dr. Morris founded BG Biologics with Maureen Yorga, an entrepreneur and project manager with a background in business ownership and high-end property development. Together, they’ve combined deep scientific knowledge with business expertise to bring PythiumX to market.
Dr. Morris currently serves as a biological sciences professor at Bowling Green State University where he also leads the Morris Lab, which is focused on microbial systems and plant biology.
In 2019, after being invited to a greenhouse in Ohio experiencing total crop loss due to a Pythium outbreak, Dr. Morris returned to his lab and began screening environmental isolates. That effort led to the discovery of a unique bacterium that kills Pythium on contact. Now trademarked as PythiumX, this isolate uses a direct delivery system to inject proteins into Pythium cells, causing cell death. It’s highly specific, non-toxic to plants, animals, and fungi, and—unlike existing treatments—built for aquatic systems.
