Our Story

Growth, built
through science.

From a fish tank in 2016 to OMRI-certified formulas studied by the USDA — our story is about patience, microbiology, and giving plants what nature always intended.

Est. 2016

Fish poo. Sea kelp.
The science of life.

Our founder started with a simple observation: the water from his aquaponics tank grew plants faster and greener than anything on the market. It wasn't just nitrogen — it was a living microbial community, evolved over millions of years to feed roots.

A decade later, that same microbiome is the backbone of every OPB product — a complete ecosystem of beneficial bacteria, fungi, and enzymes, packaged for the home gardener.

By the numbers

A decade of
measurable results.

10y
developing the formula
305
microbial species in the OPB community
3
research institutions studying the formula
100%
OMRI-listed for certified organic production
Three pillars

Three pillars. One ecosystem.

Living biology

Every product carries a curated community of beneficial microbes — alive, active, and ready to colonize root zones from the moment of application.

Sustainable inputs

Pine and cedar industry waste, sea kelp, fish hydrolysates. Nothing synthetic, nothing extracted from the soil that should stay there.

Independent science

USDA, UC Berkeley, Bartlett Tree Experts. We do the trials, share the data, and stand by what the research finds — even when it surprises us.

The arc

Built over time,
not overnight.

2016
The aquaponics observation. Our founder notices that water from a backyard fish tank grows plants noticeably faster than commercial fertilizer. The microbiome theory is born.
2018
First OMRI listing. The original FOOP Nutes formula passes Organic Materials Review Institute certification.
2020
Inoculated biochar breakthrough. A research collaboration with Bartlett Tree Experts proves that pre-inoculating biochar with our microbial community eliminates the standard 30-90 day "nitrogen lockup" period.
2022
The USDA study. A 36-month soil-organic-matter trial begins across 14 sites. UC Berkeley sequences the microbiome at five intervals.
2026
Organic Plant Biosciences. The home-gardener line spins out as its own brand: same science, friendlier packaging, retail-ready sizes.
Certifications

Trusted down
to the molecule.

OMRI Listed
Kid & Pet Safe
Sustainable Sourcing
Independently Tested

Join our growing
community.

Tens of thousands of gardeners, landscapers, and growers in 14 countries put OPB in the soil every week. We'd love to count you in.