MDG News and Updates

Since the completion of our Oak Creek facility in the fall of 2022, we have steadily grown our capacities and capabilities as a trusted provider of Bacillus-based solutions. In 2024, we announced that our growth had given us the opportunity to expand our footprint once more in the city of Franklin, WI. Our newest 117,000-square-foot facility provides us with the necessary space to further our fermentation, freeze drying, and spray drying capabilities. The completed expansion gives us a total annual fermentation capacity of 22 million liters across multiple facilities. Our new space allows us to serve customers even more effectively as we work toward our mission to Feed, Clean, Save the World. “We are continuing to answer the call for sustainable solutions to the world’s largest problems,” said Sona Son, MDG’s VP of Operations, of the expansion when it was first announced. “Adding this new facility’s fermentation and drying capacity will increase our capability to grow and manufacture environmentally safer microbial products.”   We’re looking forward to continuing to grow our capacity in current and emerging markets. Our driving force is applying Real Science to a Trusted Process, yielding Proven Success.  Contact us to learn more about our evolving capabilities […]

When your wastewater customers are facing challenges, you want a partner with proven success and extensive expertise in wastewater treatment. At Microbial Discovery Group, we can be that partner. MDG stands as a leading expert in bioaugmentation, holding in-field and in-house expertise in tackling the challenges of wastewater systems. With a strong foundation in microbial science and a track record of proven success, our microbiologists, technical support staff, and account managers provide innovative, sustainable solutions and programs that enhance wastewater treatment processes and offer long-term benefits. MDG’s In-Field Bioaugmentation Expertise We understand the issues that wastewater treatment facilities face because our technical support team is constantly in the field, identifying unique solutions for each customer. We take a hands-on approach with our training and educational programs, and we prioritize your ability to work with real people to help you solve problems. This allows us to adapt to changing conditions in the field and set you on the path to success. MDG’s In-House Bioaugmentation Expertise Our in-field success is also driven by extensive research and development taking place at our four in-house labs. At MDG, we are dedicated to delivering effective, innovative, and sustainable microbial solutions to mitigate your wastewater customers’ […]

Spring’s warmer weather and longer days are always welcome after a cold winter, but for septic tank owners and operators, this seasonal transition can bring a significant problem: odors. Now that spring thaw has occurred and the heat of summer is setting in, septic tanks can emit unpleasant odors, and your customers need to find a solution. MDG is here to be your partner in creating that solution, providing you with the education, tools, and hands-on support you need to formulate an effective, microbial-based product that combats septic tank odors due to spring thaw. Odors Created During Spring Thaw After spring thaw, septic tank owners and operators may notice new or more intense odors than normal. This is because: Bacteria resume activity When temperatures get colder in the winter, the bacteria that break down waste in the septic tank may become less active or dormant. When the system starts to warm, these native bacteria become active again and resume the process of breaking down waste, which can produce odors. Compacted snow and ice melt Melting snow and ice can soak into the ground around the septic tank and drain field, which might impede the system’s ability to properly drain and […]

As a Bacillus manufacturer, we work to grow our partners’ pure single-strain Bacillus cultures and scale the process so that they receive exactly what they need. Our success in the commercialization of microbial solutions comes from our trusted process and our commitment to quality and partnership, so that the transition from concept to commercial is not just a possibility, but a proven outcome. The Growth of Bacillus At the heart of our success is a deep understanding of microbials and their potential in multiple applications. The initial step in our process is optimizing the Bacillus culture for maximum growth. We measure a strain’s growth in a variety of media, ultimately landing on the one best suited for highest yield and setting the stage for success throughout the rest of the commercialization process. A Partnership for Progress At MDG, we put our partners first. When we grow your Bacillus culture, we work closely with you to refine and improve processes to ensure you’re receiving the strain and yield you’re aiming for. To make your journey to market successful, an active and involved partnership is key. We’ve seen this collaborative effort lead to efficiency and proven marketplace success for our customers. Custom […]

Every year, we participate in trade shows and exhibitions around the globe, showcasing our innovative microbial solutions in the wastewater industry. In 2024, we attended the International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress & Exhibition in Toronto, Canada. This event offered us a platform to present our Bacillus strains, which are on the Canadian Domestic Substance List (DSL), highlighting the compliance and suitability for use in Canadian water management and environmental applications. About the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition The IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition is a premier global event focused on water management and sustainability. The event gathers experts, decision-makers, and innovators to discuss solutions for water-related challenges. Our Role MDG partners with distributors and manufacturers in the wastewater treatment market to help them increase their sales and take their businesses to new heights with our unique Biotifx® platform. Focusing on bioaugmentation treatment, we offer our partners the education, tools, and hands-on support they need to succeed across applications. At IWA in 2024, we connected with industry leaders, explored new collaborations, and promoted our sustainable microbial solutions tailored for diverse industrial and environmental needs. For more information on MDG and our services, contact us to get in […]

At MDG, we follow a Trusted Process for microbial contract manufacturing. However, equipment breakages, electrical outages, and other issues can occasionally hinder that process. Setbacks are an unfortunate reality of complicated workflows like microbial strain scale-up, but we’re prepared for the unexpected. By focusing on redundancy and contingency planning, we can continue to deliver your product on time and to your specifications, despite any production hiccups. Our Redundancy Measures Redundancy at MDG focuses heavily on equipment—if one piece breaks, we can continue to move forward while fixing the problem. Our expansion added more equipment and production space to our redundancy efforts, meaning that across our three locations, we have multiple: Fermentation tanks Centrifuges Dryers Production freezers Generators, boilers, and air compressors Sterilizers                    In addition to a plethora of equipment, we also ensure that spare parts are in stock so our maintenance team can quickly swap them in when something breaks. This enables us to get the affected equipment back up and running faster, returning to our regular production routine. Another important part of redundancy is having multiple locations for culture collection/production and storage. These elements are housed in separate buildings, or […]

As a follow up to the article “The Key Drivers Behind MDG’s Current Expansion,” I’d like to take this opportunity to talk more extensively about the expanding Bacillus market. Previously, I eluded that many of the current market opportunities were due to the increased demand across multiple industries. In particular, the following four main areas are what prompted Microbial Discovery Group’s (MDG) fermentation expansion: Antibiotic alternatives Human probiotics usage Continued Growth in the Biopesticide and Biofertilizer Industries Emerging markets Antibiotic Alternatives Due to the numerous consequences involved with their usage, recent regulations and consumer pressures have prompted a reduction in antibiotic use on animals. Meat and poultry companies across the globe recognize the consumers’ desire for safe products that feed themselves and their families. This has resulted in the industry taking a hard look into environmentally friendly methods that improve gut health, as well as improve feed conversion. Acidifiers, yeast feed additives, Lactobacillus and Bacillus have all benefited greatly from the reduction of antibiotic usage. Domestically, the poultry industry has lead the charge on antibiotic reductions and have put pressure on the swine, dairy and beef markets to follow suit. With the popularity of antibiotic alternatives in animal feed on the rise, we have seen a rapid increase […]

With our growing population, it has become increasingly important to improve upon and advance current waste management technologies. In industrial and consumer markets, biological products are often selected as an environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient option. These have the capabilities of removing both chemical and biological contaminants, as well as accelerating the breakdown of other types of substrates. Products including both microbial inoculants and enzyme concentrates are commonly used in a variety of industrial and household applications. For example, because of their ability to remove unwanted organic matter build up and removal of biofilms, these kinds of products are currently being sold for drain and grease trap applications. In the landfill and waste management industry, both enzymes and bacteria can be used to break down complex waste particles and improve soil/water quality. However, the ways in which enzymes and bacteria work are significantly different. Using cutting edge techniques, Microbial Discovery Group (MDG) is researching both enzyme and microbial degradation to optimize approaches to break down plastic bags in landfills. Enzymes: Fast and Highly Specific Enzymes are non-living proteins produced by organisms such as bacteria, fungi, plants and higher life forms. These proteins help catalyze chemical reactions, working in conjunction with substrates. Enzymes function […]

If you are attempting to ship your Bacillus powder products internationally to certain countries, your product may be sent for a third party plate count prior to approval. It is very important that you understand which plating method will be used to enumerate the product. If you don’t understand the method and the weaknesses of each method as it relates to Bacillus spores, you may have a surprise coming. The truth is; there is no standard method for plating high count Bacillus powders. Because there is no standard method for plating Bacillus powders, most labs will attempt to use a plate count method for plating water or wastewater. These types of methods will hang you out to dry pretty quickly as they just aren’t meant for your types of products.Here are some of the key concerns you will need to navigate along the way. Certified laboratory: Often, you will hear that customers sent your product to a certified laboratory. When I hear that a “certified lab” provided plating results, I always ask in which areas are they certified?  Their answer will often be your first clue that they may not be using the right procedure for your product.  Most often they are a certified drinking water laboratory or have wastewater […]

At MDG, we continue to discover all the possibilities to treat wastewater with Bacillus. Through years of research and development, we’ve found that bioaugmentation is the answer for wastewater treatment. Bioaugmentation is the process of adding scientifically selected organisms to a microbial community to enhance that community. The term bioaugmentation is often used to describe biological processes in wastewater treatment when using Bacillus products. We work directly with distributors in the wastewater treatment market to deliver ready-to-use solutions on a global scale.     Why are bioaugmentation products used? Not every species and strain of bacteria are good at everything. Bioaugmentation products are used when you want to improve an aspect of an environment biologically (i.e., eliminate foul odors, digest wastewater sludge, etc.). While the existing community of bacteria are good at certain things, when we introduce specific strains that are better than others, we can make the entire population more efficient. For example, in wastewater treatment, while the existing community may be good at breaking down specific substrates, the addition of Bacillus increases the ability to break down compounds with enzymes. This process allows the whole community to digest more efficiently.  Bacillus has been shown to significantly reduce fats, oils, grease (FOG), sludge, odors, carbon oxygen […]