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About Me

My name is Richard Belcher, PhD

I am an Ag Biotech professional with over a decade of hands-on experience in sustainable product development, formulation science, and field deployment. My career has focused on bridging the gap between R&D and real-world application—turning innovative product concepts into scalable, grower-ready solutions. I’ve led and supported successful product development programs across fermentation, stabilization, and compatibility testing pipelines to ensure lab tested concepts perform reliably under commercial agricultural conditions. Through BioAg Insights LLC, I help AgTech companies accelerate product development, troubleshoot technical challenges, and bring sustainable technologies to market with confidence.

My Mission

Delivering sustainable ag product concepts—from handoff to application—developed for seamless integration into farming operations and providing impactful results.

BioAg Insights: lab scientist handing off a microbe to a farmer, representing lab-to-field support

My Services

  • Formulation Development

  • Application Research 

  • Lab to Field Deployment

  • Market Exploration

  • Product Specifications

  • Stage-Gated Planning

  • Design of Experiments

  • Data Review / Slide Development

  • Product Stewardship Guidelines

  • Field Trial Recommendations

  • Lab Design Services

  • Photography / Videography

  • Lucidchart Visualizations

Who I Work With

I collaborate with early-stage AgTech startups bringing sustainable ag product concepts to market. Whether your product is pre-trial or has completed initial trials, but not yet launched, I help accelerate its path to commercialization.

 

BioAg Insights is quick turnaround and works within your budget.

My Approach to Product Development

The lifecycle of a BioAg product is tailored around a crop’s growing season. Each stage—from lab-based formulation to field application—focuses on refining the concept through iterative testing and insights. Field trial results feed back into development, with the ultimate goal of achieving launch readiness for real-world use.

BioAg Insights: product lifecycle—formulation, application, field trials, data insights, launch readiness

As a BioAg product moves through its lifecycle toward a targeted planting date, setting realistic and measurable milestones is key. I help teams establish stage-gated development plans that align with R&D workflows—ensuring timelines are achievable and balanced with available bandwidth and resources.

BioAg Insights: balancing bandwidth and resources to hit measurable milestones

Within each stage of the product lifecycle, well-designed experiments are critical to generating meaningful insights. With nearly 15 years of R&D experience in both academic and industry settings, I can swiftly design and adapt experiments that balance in-house capabilities with field-level utility. 

BioAg Insights: clear experiment design with statistical rigor for ag biotech

Formulation Development

Successful formulation development for BioAg products requires biologicals to be compatible with existing crop applied chemistries, physically stable in package, and maintaining effective titers 'til time of planting. I bring hands-on experience tackling these challenges to ensure products perform reliably from lab to field.

BioAg Insights: biological–chemical compatibility for seed, foliar, and soil applications
BioAg Insights: keeping microbes and chemistries in balance
BioAg Insights: microbial stability from package to seed

Application Development

A critical, but often overlooked, step in BioAg product success is ensuring seamless integration into real-world farming operations. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate directly with farmers, equipment manufacturers, and sales reps to optimize biological applications for compatibility with existing systems—supporting performance without disrupting routine practices.

Lab Design and Buildout

With experience building and managing seven laboratory spaces, I specialize in designing labs that are functional, safe, and morale-boosting. From interpreting blueprints to coordinating contractors and facility teams, I ensure every detail—from casework and utilities to equipment and inventory—is aligned with workflow efficiency and ergonomic design.

BioAg Insights: lab buildout planning with safety, ergonomics, and workflow in mind

Dr. Patrick Fardella, Associate Scientist - Quorum Bio

"We first reached out to Richard Belcher for advice on developing microbial inoculations for corn and soybean seeds. He was incredibly helpful—sharing practical protocols, clear guidance, and always making time for follow-up questions.

A few months later, we brought Richard back on to help develop a seed treatment formulation for an antimicrobial compound we’re working on. Even with a tight one-month timeline, he took the pure compound all the way to a finished, applied treatment on winter wheat for a biocontrol field trial involving multiple pathogens.

Richard is efficient, easy to work with, and deeply knowledgeable. He meets you where you are, communicates clearly, and delivers results. I genuinely enjoyed working with him and couldn’t recommend him more highly."

Let's Connect

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