RIVER FALLS, Wisc. – (Oct. 2, 2006) – BioDiagnostics, Inc. (BDI), a leader in genetic purity and standard seed testing, is proud to announce that August 2006 marked the completion of the company’s tenth successful year in business. BDI began operations when genetic testing was in its infancy and remains at the forefront of an industry that continues to evolve. Today, BDI ranks among the top three seed testing companies nationwide.
Founded on Aug. 1, 1996 by CEO Quentin Schultz and his wife, Marilyn, BDI has grown from only three employees in the basement of the Schultzes’ home, to a 20,000 sq. ft., freestanding facility housing as many as 70 employees each season. Building on professional industry expertise, quality testing, and advanced technology, BDI has become a trusted, full-service provider of seed testing services to a broad range of clients.
Keeping pace with the seed industry, BDI has grown from offering its original Isozyme Electrophoresis testing to providing a variety of other innovative tests designed and integrated to meet the needs of the seed industry. In many respects, BDI set the industry standard in Isozyme Electrophoresis testing by developing a unique 15-loci procedure to determine the genetic purity in corn and other crops. BDI commercialized an isozyme testing service that was once available to only large seed companies and made it accessible and affordable for small and mid-sized firms. “Today even large companies who used to do in-house testing now use our services because of the accuracy and high throughput we offer,” CEO Schultz said.
In the last two decades, genetic engineering has transformed modern agriculture. Today, DNA testing is among the essential services required by the industry. BDI continues to be at the forefront of innovation, expanding its DNA testing service to meet the growing needs of agriculture during a revolutionary period in genetic engineering.
“During my career in the seed industry, I have witnessed a dramatic transformation from 100 percent conventional genetics in corn, cotton, and soybeans to almost 80 percent containing transgenic traits,” Schultz said. “As the industry has advanced, so have we – expanding our services to include germination and vigor testing, trait testing for herbicide tolerance and insect resistance, and GMO event identification/adventitious presence screening using DNA technology.”
“By combining state-of-the-art equipment, highly educated and trained staff, and high throughput capacity, we can quickly and efficiently meet the current and future testing needs of both plant breeder and production customers,” says Schultz. BDI has averaged a 40 percent growth rate due to its ability to add vital new services for the seed industry. A recent example is the expansion of BDI’s Analytical Chemistry lab to offer high throughput seed treatment application rate analysis and FAME testing for oil seeds.
BioDiagnostics also places a strong emphasis on its role as a good corporate citizen in the River Falls community. BDI is a member of the River Falls Chamber of Commerce, and also sponsors a highly successful team for the annual Relay for Life, an American Cancer Society fundraiser. In addition, BDI provides 10 percent of its available workspace to the local science and technology incubator, as well as offering more than two dozen jobs each year for students at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
BioDiagnostics, Inc. (BDI) is the chosen partner and trusted authority for the agricultural seed industry. With its thorough perspective of the biotech landscape and a keen awareness of current industry challenges, BDI helps clients determine ‘best practices’ in seed production. BDI offers excellence and expertise in seed testing, combining a full line of genetic purity and germination tests with state-of-the-art instrumentation throughout its facility located in River Falls, Wisconsin.
Test with the Best!
BioDiagnostics is the nation’s first USDA accredited testing lab. For more than 10 years, BDI has continued to raise the standard in seed testing by combining professional expertise, state-of-the-art technology and expert consultation.
— Posted October 2, 2006