HGS BioScience buys Earthgreen and Menefee Mining to expand soil treatment business

HGS BioScience has acquired Earthgreen Products and Menefee Mining, a move that expands the company’s footprint in the U.S. and broadens its portfolio of humic and fulvic acid products used to improve soil health.

The acquisitions give HGS access to the Menefee Formation in New Mexico, known for its high-quality natural humate deposits. The freshwater humates extracted from the formation are widely used in agricultural products to stimulate biological activity and enhance soil productivity.

The deal, backed by private equity firm Paine Schwartz Partners, also includes Earthgreen’s processing facilities in Cuba, N.M., and proprietary extraction and formulation technology. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

HGS, based in the U.S., said the additions will strengthen its capacity to serve growers with products in granule, powder, and liquid form. The company’s expanded product line includes HumiK ONE, a granule that delivers humic acid in a format compatible with fertilizers and biostimulants. Other offerings feature low application rates and compatibility with both dry and liquid systems.

“The Menefee mine delivers consistent quality and performance,” said HGS Chief Executive Mike Steffeck in a statement. “These resources allow us to offer a more complete set of soil health solutions for farmers.”

Tyler Lown Vandenburg, president of Menefee Mining, will join HGS’s executive team. Brett Lown, formerly head of sales at Earthgreen, will take a commercial leadership role focused on strategic accounts.

“Joining HGS offers scale and resources to bring our materials to a wider market,” Lown said.

With the acquisition, HGS adds to its six existing U.S. production plants and a research and development center. The company said its products are sold in more than 40 countries.

Demand for soil conditioners and biologically active treatments has grown in recent years as growers look to improve crop performance while reducing reliance on synthetic inputs. The humic acid market, used in both conventional and organic systems, is projected to expand with increased focus on sustainable farming practices.