MDG News and Updates

One of the hardest things to do in this business is to tell a customer that the great liquid product idea they are so excited about is at least 3-6 months away from commercialization. Nothing deflates them faster and I don’t enjoy sharing the news, but it has to be done. Hate me now, love me later when your product doesn’t explode or implode on the shelf. You see, any new liquid product formulation needs to go through stabilization studies to insure a long-term shelf life. The surfactants or other ingredients in the formulation are food sources for contaminating bacteria like Pseudomonas which are common blending facility contaminates. I have seen my competitors test it for a week and some a month (with varying results), but I fear we want to hold on for 3-6 months before we are comfortable with commercialization. I’ve seen bacterial issues show themselves after 2 months, and I’ve seen preservative systems weaken at 6 months, allowing for mold growth. Bacterial growth is very unsightly, causes odors and can lead to gas production but the biggest concerns are recalls and a damaged reputation. The mold concerns aren’t as bad, usually creating hairy mold in the product, but it […]

MDG has made continuous advances in molecular methods for the aquaculture industry. Over the last year, we presented three posters that focus on how these methods provide better insight for your customers. Thanks for all of those who dropped by our poster at the World Aquaculture Society meetings in Jeju, Korea and also our poster at the American Society of Microbiology in New Orleans, USA.  If you weren’t there, here is a brief synopsis of our work. Poster #1 Combining the use of Whatman FTA cards and diagnostic PCR assays to determine the pathogenic potential of shrimp water samples shipped overseas.  2014. S. Son, A. Lange, H. Behn, and M. King.  Abstract/Poster:  Aquaculture America 2014.  Seattle, WA. This poster was our first development of a pathogen detection method that allowed us to analyze your customers aquaculture sample from anywhere in the world. Simply put one drop of aquaculture pond water on a FTA card let it dry, and mail it without losing microbial diversities or paying for expensive international shipping charges. From this card we are able to extract DNA from the bacteria in the pond water and identify the Vibrio toxins present in the ponds sampled.This method was semi-quantitative and allowed […]

Microbial Discovery Group: Promises, Values, Purpose Since the founding of Microbial Discovery Group (MDG) in 2007, we have been developing our team, facilities, capabilities, and culture. Throughout these years of growth and development our business has stayed centered around our promises, values, and purpose. In order to further strengthen our foundation and our partners understanding of who we are, we have taken the past year to better define what our promises, values, and purpose truly mean to both MDG and our partners. We put words to our three promises in order to define the commitment behind Real Science, Trusted Process, and Proven Success; we highlighted our cultural values so that our employees and our customers can better understand how we do business; and we have put Feed, Clean, Save into action both locally and globally with the support of our partners. We believe that the development of our culture and brand will position us to better serve our partners in ways that earn their trust and develop lasting relationships. MDG invites you to watch our new company video as it shares the growth in our foundation. By the end of the video we hope that you have a concrete understanding of our company, and […]

Bacillus is a certain type of rod-shaped bacteria that, at MDG, is used in bioaugmentation solutions for various markets. Bacillus Species Identification Methods: Definitions, Pros, and Cons Understanding the effectiveness of Bacillus products is easy to understand because in many cases we can visibly see the difference. But, it is hard to see what exactly makes up the product. Like most companies, you have probably asked suppliers “what species and how many strains of Bacillus do you have?” This may have been followed up with a straight answer from the supplier but you found that your lab results didn’t match up. Or, maybe you have asked that question only to be replied to with more questions. Like most suppliers, we have been asked that question many times. Seems like a simple question, right? At first glance this question appears straight-forward, but in actuality it is fairly complex. It is important to understand what contributes to the complexity of this question, why suppliers respond the way they do, and the best practices for getting an accurate answer. The Big Question:  What species and how many strains of Bacillus do you have in a particular product?   The Bacillus genus contains a broad range of species and strains with a wide variety of physiologic […]

Have you ever looked at your neighbor’s lawn and wondered how they grow such green grass? You quickly hop on the internet and search for tips and tricks to a greener lawn only to find there’s no simple solution, there’s work involved. The principle of having to take care of your lawn in order to produce results is reflected across most areas of work. People working in bioremediation either know this already, or are reading this article to find tips and tricks to effectively treat soil. Here’s some good news, the same principles for growing green grass can be applied to make Bacillus products work well in bioremediation applications. Just as there are some commonly known standards to growing grass, such as water is required, microbes are a standard for success in bioremediation sites, but MDG believes in a applying a total systems approach to bioremediation. The Secrets To Success: Nitrogen and Phosphorus.  Many of you have probably read about adding fertilizer to your lawn to get green grass. Ever wonder why? A healthy lawn requires the nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients (and potassium) that are found in fertilizers. It’s the same for bioremediation. Nitrogen and phosphorus are essential nutrients to any bioremediation […]

Microbial Discovery Group (MDG) obtained third party certification in November 2016 for Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), meeting your needs for GMP and FSMA requirements. This certification demonstrates their commitment to bringing safe, quality products to market. The scope of the certification covers all products including the Bacillus fermentation and processing and provides assurance that all products are manufactured in appropriate conditions to support the highest standard of safety. Since its inception in the 1960s, the HACCP system has become the global standard. HACCP is a logical, science-based, highly effective system of product safety control that relies on prevention. It builds a systematic approach to product safety from raw material to product end use. HACCP provides a written plan for product safety using Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Sanitation, Non-conformances, Corrective Actions, Recall, Customer Complaints, and Raw Material & Supplier Approval. The certification also ensures that MDG’s procedures meet the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements for Hazard Analysis and Risk Based Preventive Controls for feed. “Having auditors from an outside company review our program provides additional assurance that MDG’s products are safe for their intended use. Third Party Certification is voluntary; but we at MDG feel it delivers value for our customers and strongly aligns […]

If you are anything like me, the sands of time are moving pretty fast these days.  It seems only a moment ago I was loading my little ones on the school bus and then hunkering down to work diligently on a business plan, humbly seeking support for this dream of MDG to become a reality. Fast forward and in the blink of an eye, I find myself penning a message in celebration of MDG’s 10-year anniversary, a dream fully realized, and my oldest is in college and my youngest is driving. No doubt this has been a remarkable season of growth with so many “firsts”, so many special moments, and so many blessings. As I look back on this past decade, I feel so fortunate and humbled to reflect on the amazing relationships that have been built, our culture, our shared values, our incredible “why” that gets us out of bed each day, and our passionate pursuit to explore all of what’s possible in the world of microbial discovery. Amazing Relationships While you set out to conquer the world by starting a business, then quickly move to outrun failure, along the way you receive the enrichment of the relationships you build.  Our […]

It takes quality people to make quality products; that’s why MDG invests in passionate people like our Fermentation Manager, Brian. 1)  What drew you to Microbial Discovery Group? I left the job I was at for 13 years to come here. I needed something new and exciting. Returning to school was not an option at that point in my life. I was lucky enough to find MDG and they took a chance on me.   2)  What does your typical day look like? Insanely busy… On any given day I could be loading tanks, cleaning separators, loading or unloading freeze dryers, cleaning tanks, harvesting tanks, maintenance around the plant, keeping up on GMP paperwork, filling out tank paperwork, switching over tanks to begin new runs, making sure addition cans are ready for use, having enough addition cans in rotation, etc. etc.   3)  What are you working on right now? At this moment it is tank reload, sterilization and separator cleaning.   4)  What is the most inspiring part of your job? Accomplishment, problem solving and results.   5)  What is your favorite aspect about working at MDG? Nothing is ever the same. There are new challenges and new obstacles […]

Microbial Discovery Group LLC (MDG) has filed a patent for a blend of novel plastic degrading shelf stable Bacillus. This unique combination works to aid in the biodegradation of plastics. MDG’s goal will be to leverage the bacteria along with research gathered to develop a new product for treating landfills and leachate, potentially reducing pollutants, toxicity, cost, post-closure care, hydrogen sulfide emissions, and accelerating waste stabilization. MDG recognizes that twenty-five million tons of plastics are discarded to landfills annually, accounting for 13% of municipal solid waste (MSW). Plastic film, including grocery bags are difficult to recycle. While there are machines that remove plastic bottles and other plastic materials from garbage, a cost-effective solution that targets the removal of plastic bags does not currently exist. The degradation can take up to 1,000 years resulting in high costs for building new landfills. Even if the US continues to promote bans of plastic bags, or increase regulations around them, there will still be a need for accelerating landfill breakdown, as well as reducing costs related to post-closure care. For these reasons, bioaugmentation was evaluated as a more cost-effective solution for landfill and plastic remediation. MDG has put focus on finding a combination of shelf-stable […]

Research Microbiologist, Claire Heile, has taken our Feed, Clean, Save initiative to the next level by dedicating her entire research efforts to environmental conservation. 1) What drew you to Microbial Discovery Group? I believe that our shared goals to find microbial solutions to world issues (specifically pollution) drew us together. MDG recognized and supported my determination, becoming the catalyst to bring these goals to fruition.   2) What does your typical day look like? My typical days are rather atypical; I have a variety of responsibilities that make every day unique and interesting.   3) What are you working on right now? I am currently gathering data for two patents, operating a lab-scale landfill simulator, isolating/identifying/testing new Bacillus sp., running chemical/molecular tests, creating/implementing new procedures, contributing to documentation needed to import our Bacillus to other countries, processing/analyzing data, preparing for a discussion with landfill industry leaders, organizing a blood drive and beach clean-up with our Feed Clean Save program, working on posters to present at upcoming conferences and constructing a digital library/database.   4) What is the most inspiring part of your job? The most inspiring part of my job is having the opportunity to find solutions to global challenges that impact […]