Last week brought news of a huge honor for Elemental Enzymes, when Fast Company released its annual World Changing Ideas list. The list named Elemental as the winner in its “Established Excellence: 5-14 Years in Business” category. Additionally, Fast Company selected the company as a finalist in the competition’s “Agriculture” category for its technology to fight Citrus Greening, Vismax®.

As planting continues across the U.S., I wanted to take time this month to focus on how enzyme usage can benefit corn crops. Corn is one of the few plants we work with that grows in a uniquely linear manner, meaning that any advantage you can give this plant early in the season can lead to an increase in size, health, and yield of the crop.

Proactivity is always better than reactivity. In much the same way, a plant with a strong immune system has a better chance of defending itself than a plant relying solely on external pesticides.

Most people think of oranges when they hear the word “citrus.” That’s fair, considering oranges are half the globe’s citrus production. As a world leader in citrus, Brazil grows more than one-third of all oranges.

Behind any new Elemental Enzymes technology are the scientists whose dedication and support ultimately make the formulation work for end users. This includes the field researchers whose responsibility it is to balance findings in the lab against on-farm applications for practical use. The Elemental Enzymes field team based in Jacksonville, Florida, is key to the development of technology for the citrus industry.

It has been another great year for scaling Elemental Enzymes. The company doubled revenue last year and is set to do so again with a number of major developments, including a sizable investment from Paine Schwartz Partners.