HGS Bioscience acquires Pharmgrade to expand microbial offerings

HGS BioScience, a Paine Schwartz Partners-backed agricultural technology company, has acquired Idaho-based Pharmgrade, a developer of microbial consortium products. The acquisition follows HGS’s 2025 merger with NutriAg and aims to broaden the company’s capabilities in biological crop solutions.

Pharmgrade, founded by Kelly Tuttle, specializes in microbial formulations designed to improve plant performance. HGS said the acquisition complements its existing portfolio of humates, bionutritionals, and plant extracts, allowing the company to offer integrated solutions across liquid, powder, and granule formats.

“Biologicals remain a fragmented market,” HGS CEO Mike Steffeck said in a statement. “Combining HGS, NutriAg, and Pharmgrade gives us a platform with the scale and technical depth to deliver consistent solutions to growers.”

HGS operates a vertically integrated manufacturing network in North America and maintains partnerships with retailers and distributors across the US, Canada, and international markets. Pharmgrade’s microbial expertise is expected to strengthen the company’s research and development capabilities and expand its range of biological technologies.

Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. pH Partners, LLC served as Pharmgrade’s exclusive financial advisor.