Seipasa, a Spanish company specialized in the development and formulation of biopesticides, biostimulants and fertilizers for agriculture, has inaugurated the new facilities of its microbiology department, located in the town of l'Alcúdia, in the province of Valencia. The facilities are located in a place adjacent to the production plant and, together with the department of botanical extracts, they occupy a total of 150 square meters. Seipasa will thus complete its laboratory and continue making progress in the internal knowledge about its products.
Dr Inmaculada del Castillo is the new head of Seipasa's microbiology department
The construction works have taken 6 months to complete and the facilities have been equipped with the most advanced technology. Dr. Inmaculada del Castillo, expert in the use of microorganisms in sustainable agriculture, has been appointed head of the department.
"The new microbiology department is helping us generate very valuable internal knowledge about the bacteria we use to improve the quality and effectiveness of our solutions. It allows us to take another step in the testing of our products' effectiveness. We are gaining knowledge about their behavior and performance in all possible scenarios," said del Castillo.
New international scenario
The R+D+i Director at Seipasa, Francisco Espinosa, has underlined the importance of this new microbiology department in the current context, following the recent approval of the new European Fertilizer Regulation and before its coming into force. "We are facing a new regulatory framework that includes products of microbial origin, and which establishes a set of clear rules about the use of microorganisms in the development of biostimulant products," said Espinosa.
He added that "we are talking about complex products, where the key lies in the internal knowledge about each of the strains with which we work. Developing a solid base and acquiring deeper knowledge about the products is fundamental to be able to transfer that knowledge to the agricultural sector and apply it in real conditions."
Dr. Inmaculada del Castillo has a degree in biology and a PhD in microbiology and genetics from the University of Seville. She joined Seipasa after 7 years of experience in the United Kingdom, first as a researcher at the University of Nottingham and then as a specialist in the biotechnology and biofertilizer development sector.