Growers across the globe face ongoing challenges such as disease, pests, and climate change. It can take years and a lot of money to breed new resistant varieties. Most growers tend to stick with the seed houses they have been working with for years and work with them to develop new varieties. This does produce results, but it can take years to develop the new varieties. What if the solutions to these problems were already out there?
© CSI Agri
Craig Thomas has over 20 years of experience in the fresh produce industry, almost 14 years of which have been in the seed business. He has built a wide knowledge of what growers want and need, and can match this up with solutions, travelling the world to find them.
His new business venture, CSJ Agri, aims to deliver exactly that - "In most cases, the solution is already out there," says Craig. "An issue faced by a grower in the UK may have already been experienced by a grower in South Africa or in America, for example. If you can match the needs with a solution which is already there, then there is no need to wait for years or go to the expense of developing a new variety."
CSJ Agri has launched in herbs, baby leaf, spring onions, micro-greens, root crops & oriental vegetables, but there is an ever-increasing range of crops as more growers look for solutions to challenges they have historically faced.
Craig added, "A grower can lose a significant amount of money if their crop is impacted by disease or environmental stress, and waiting years for a solution simply isn't an option. If I know of a grower facing a similar challenge or a seed house with the right solution, I can quickly connect the two, ensuring access to the best genetics available. At CSJ Agri, integrity is at the heart of everything we do. Growers trust us to provide solutions that are not only effective but also sustainable, helping them navigate challenges with confidence."
CSJ Agri also offers a suite of bio stimulants to further aid growers, "delivering solutions from seed to harvest, including our bio stimulants range, which offer zero residue, chemical-free solutions to farms battling bacterial and fungal challenges during critical growing periods of crops. It means we are offering truly new and sustainable solutions vs traditional methodology."
This article was previously published in Primeur May 2025. Click here for the link to the entire edition
For more information
Craig Thomas
CSJ Agri
[email protected]
