By Janet Kanters

Pivot Bio is expanding its presence in the Greater St. Louis area with a more than $7 million investment in two new facilities designed to boost U.S.-based production and research capabilities for nitrogen products.

The agricultural technology company announced it will establish a Research, Development, and Innovation Center in Creve Coeur and a Customer and Operations Success Center in Hazelwood, Missouri. The expansion comes as fertilizer markets face supply pressures and price volatility, creating uncertainty for farmers ahead of planting season.

The Hazelwood facility will focus on manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and customer service operations, while the Creve Coeur location will house research and development activities within the 39 North AgTech Innovation District.

“Farmers are being asked to make critical decisions in a market that’s anything but predictable,” said Chris Abbott, chief executive officer at Pivot Bio. “Our focus is on helping bring more certainty back to the farm, and that starts with investing in U.S.-based innovation and production that farmers can depend on.”

The company expects to add more than 40 positions at the two Missouri locations.

Chris Turner, chief commercial officer at Pivot Bio, said the expansion addresses grower needs beyond product performance. “Farmers today are looking for more than just performance, they need confidence in the decisions they’re making in an increasingly volatile market,” Turner said. “Expanding our footprint in the Greater St. Louis area allows us to better support growers with solutions that are not only reliable but aligned to the economic realities of their operations.”

The investment follows Pivot Bio’s recent relocation of its global headquarters from Berkeley, California to Minnesota. The company has also launched a multiyear nitrogen price and supply assurance program aimed at providing farmers with more predictable access to nitrogen products.

Travis Frey, Ph.D., chief technology officer at Pivot Bio, highlighted the benefits of the Creve Coeur research location. “Bringing our research and development capabilities together in St. Louis allows us to accelerate how quickly we can translate breakthrough science into real-world solutions for farmers,” Frey said. “By deepening our presence in a leading agtech innovation hub, we’re strengthening the connection between discovery, development and delivery of next-generation crop nutrition technologies.”

Pivot Bio’s nitrogen products are currently available in North America, with plans to expand into Brazil.