Grant Hansen - New Hill, NC
If you’ve ever wondered how Certis Biologicals connects real-world grower needs with smart, strategic product decisions, much of that work happens through Product Management with Grant Hansen, Product Management and Business Analyst Lead.
Grant plays a key role at Certis Biologicals as Product Management and Business Analyst Lead, connecting field insights with product strategy and positioning. Since joining Certis in June 2025, he has worked cross-functionally to support product launches and ensure Certis’ biological solutions are aligned with grower needs. With more than a decade of experience in agricultural inputs, Grant helps position the right tools for the right challenges in the market.
What is your role at Certis Biologicals, and how did you come to join the team?
I have been the Product Management and Business Analyst Lead since June 25’, so I’ve been here 7 months now! Prior to, I’ve spent the past 12 years in the world of agricultural inputs in various organizations, from large Fortune 500 types like
DuPont Crop Protection and WinField United to being a freelance industry consultant. My professional background can be broadly categorized as product
and market development, and I also bring experience and understanding of sales, operations, technical development and regulatory. And so, here I am as Product Management Lead at Certis.
What drew you to work in the biologicals/agriculture industry?
As the son of an electrical engineer turned entrepreneur, I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of science and business. I took an early interest in biological sciences and earned a BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a Professional Science Master’s in Plant Biology both as an Illini. I made the full pivot to marketing in the Ag industry with my first job as a Marketing Analyst for DuPont Crop Protection. At that time, I remember being fascinated by Jim Borel, former Executive VP of Agriculture at DuPont, talk about how bacteria were being used to protect crops and enhance yields. That inspired me to pursue the path of ag biotechnology innovation and commercialization I am currently in now.
Looking back at your career so far, what accomplishment are you most proud of?
Honestly, it’s less about a single milestone and more about the through-line: I’ve been the person organizations turn to when they need the dots connected between market opportunity and internal capability. I find the moments where clarity emerges from complexity most rewarding. If I had to name one, it would be bringing a new foliar fertility product to the US market soup-to-nuts, from crafting the GTM strategy to providing customer service for our first customers.
What's one scientific concept or principle you find fascinating and use often in your work?
One principle I find useful is multiple causality – the idea that outcomes are usually shaped by several interacting variables as opposed to a single causative agent. It’s made my thought process and even world view more honest and comprehensive and has challenged me hold conclusions with an open hand in the event my mental model needs to be updated with new, conflicting information.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My work is project-oriented, which has me working on different deliverables on a day-to-day basis. Otherwise, it’s a fairly standard workday – spreadsheets, reports, slide decks, calls, Team meetings, etc.
What’s your favorite part about working at Certis Biologicals?
It is an honor to be a part a company that pioneered biological crop protection and continues to help the global agriculture community produce healthy food in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner. The pioneer spirit is still strong at Certis: we’re lean, resourceful, get things done, support each other, and deliver. The people have been great and the work itself is challenging and invigorating.
How does your role contribute to the success of Certis' products or customers?
My role as Product Management and BA Lead is to bring the needs and realities of the field to the forefront of our decision-making process. With a clear understanding of where and why a product is the right tool for the right job, our team can provide the proper resources and training to ensure that the grower and our channel partners succeed.
Is there a project or accomplishment you’re especially proud of?
One of my first projects was to gather insight from the sales team for the launch of PFR-97® 10% ES. As a cross-functional team of sales, marcom, tech services and sales, we were able to formulate a plan and a set of requirements needed to get this product in the right places. The willingness of the teams to work together and collective ownership of the result made me particularly proud of my decision to start the next chapter of my career at Certis.
How do you position Certis Biologicals' products to differentiate them in the competitive agri-inputs market?
The landscape is shifting. Chemistries are getting tired and resistance is building, input costs are escalating, and the end consumers are paying closer attention to what’s in their food. Growers need partners who can help them navigate this complexity, not just sell them a product.
What sets Certis apart, and in my view how we position ourselves in the market, is the depth behind our recommendations and the support we offer our customers. We don’t just know that our products work; we know how, when, and why – backed by rigorous field bench and greenhouse data. That credibility especially matters when we ask a conventional grower to implement a biological for the first time.
But positioning only goes so far without proper field execution. Tommy Van Groningen in the Central Valley has built trust by demonstrating the whole-culture value of our gold-standard Bt portfolio. Dave Silva in Coastal CA has helped his customers implement Agree® and BoteGHA® as a multi-pronged approach to managing tough insect pressures facing his market. Jason Downs and Amanda Watkins have successfully launched Nemaclean® into their spud markets as an alternative to harsher chemistries without elevating costs or compromising performance. These aren’t corporate talking points- they are examples of how we solve problems with our customers and build our business one relationship at a time.
Whether he’s aligning field insights with product strategy, supporting product launches, or helping teams navigate complex market decisions, Grant’s work helps ensure Certis Biologicals delivers thoughtful, data-driven solutions to growers.
We’re grateful for the clarity, collaboration, and strategic perspective he brings to
Product Management each day, and for the impact his work has on strengthening the products and partnerships that support our mission.
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About Certis Biologicals
Certis Biologicals is the leading developer, manufacturer, and distributor of biological innovation such as biofungicides, bioinsecticides, bionematicides, bioherbicides, and plant health-promoting products, servicing the agriculture, turf, greenhouse, home, and garden markets globally. With a proven, broad portfolio of products and a continuous pursuit of new solutions for conventional and organic production, Certis Biologicals is a leader and partner in sustainable crop production trusted by farmers in the U.S. and more than 50 countries across the world. To learn more about Certis Biologicals and their portfolio of proven solutions, visit CertisBio.com.
