Tidal Grow wins California approval for biofertilizer Spectra

Washington-based Tidal Grow AgriScience has secured regulatory approval in California for its chitosan-based biopesticide, Spectra, marking a significant step for the company’s expansion in one of the world’s most valuable specialty crop markets.

The product, designed for use on tree nuts, citrus, and grapes, adds a new mode of action to integrated pest management programs in a state that dominates US production of almonds, wine grapes, and other high-value crops. For Tidal Grow, a division of Tidal Vision Products, the approval signals entry into a market where growers are under mounting pressure to reduce reliance on conventional chemistry while maintaining yields.

Spectra’s active ingredient, chitosan, is derived from upcycled crustacean shells and bioengineered for consistent performance. The company says the formulation works as a fungicide, bactericide, and nematicide while also priming plants’ natural defenses and improving nutrient uptake. Used in combination with conventional inputs such as copper, it is designed to strengthen overall crop protection programs while lowering application rates and input costs.

California approval is often viewed as a regulatory benchmark for biologicals in the US and abroad. With growers in Europe and Latin America also seeking alternatives to synthetic crop protection, industry observers see the move as part of a broader trend where bio-based inputs are scaling from niche adoption into mainstream commercial agriculture.

“By equipping growers with reliable chitosan-based technologies, we’re helping drive profitability by improving efficacy of existing IPM strategies, all while empowering the growth of sustainable, high-performing agricultural systems,” said Galynn Beer, vice president of global sales at Tidal Grow.