Valentyna Bolokhovska, Co- Founder BTU Center

Valentyna Bolokhovska co-founded the BTU-CENTER group of companies, one of the largest manufacturers of biological products in the Eastern Europe market. She heads the R&D of BTU-CENTER and has been working in the field of biotechnology since 1976.
She is also a laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in the field of science and technology (2001) for the development of key components for the creation of biological adhesives. Under her leadership, BTU-CENTER annually conducts 60 to 90 educational events on the integration of biotechnology in agriculture and publishes research in Ukrainian and international agricultural publications.
A talented scientist and an effective manager, Valentyna’s managerial skills allow BTU-CENTER to develop and enter new markets and win loyal supporters. She is an ideological inspirer, a trendsetter, and a fighter against the degradation of the soil resources of Ukraine. Working in this direction, she unites the efforts of farmers, scientists, agronomists, communicators, legislative lobbyists, and non-governmental
organizations.

Q1. You started the company in 1999, which is now the largest manufacturer and exporter of biologicals in Ukraine. What made you start a company and how has your journey been?
In the 1990s, the Ladyzhyn factory of enzyme preparations, where my husband and I worked, went bankrupt. We had to somehow survive and feed our families. Weonly knew how to make biologicals, and for the last 19 years were doing that. The best life strategy is to do what you do best. Then I headed our workshop, the laboratory of microbial biopolymers, about 100 people. We started running our business and
were looking for orders on our own. At that time barter was at the heart of business relations. But most importantly we gained new experience, learned to listen to the market, faced our first challenges, and looked for solutions. Therefore, in 1999, we decided to start our own business, this is how our BTU-CENTER was born.

Q2. Your first product was for the oil and gas industry. How did you get into BioAg?
That is right, this is my specialty. To survive in nature, certain microbial cells synthesize natural slime and we proposed to intensify oil production with our biological products based on such bioslime. When the main oil is pumped out, some residue remains inaccessible in pores. When a mixture of water, acid, and our polymer in the form of an efficient bioslime composition is fed, it acts like a sponge, extracting the remaining oil, which can then be pumped out. Thus, each ton of this polymer provides additional production of 30-50 tons of oil.
Also, working with oil companies, we engaged in bioremediation or reanimation of soils in the places of exhausted fields. We learned how to restore soils polluted by oil spills and saline soils with the help of biologicals and our biotechnologies and worked out a lot of models. In 1.5 years, they leased the land to the customer, which was previously dead. These were our first challenges working in the agricultural
industry.
At the stage when we had an active cooperation with the oil companies, we thought about the fact that we had only one client. It is risky. In addition, competitors began to appear and their presence always gives impetus to development. In 2007, we registered three products –AZOTOFIT, FITOCID, and LIPOSAM and entered the agricultural market. In the following year, in 2008, we worked out model biologicals and schemes with scientists from agricultural universities.

Q3. You believe in dreams and value intuition. How did you balance your intuition and data while making business decisions?
When making business decisions, I am primarily guided by numbers. I assess risks and never invest all resources in new projects. I usually analyze errors, make calculations, and research the market and the effectiveness of the biological. To hear your intuition, you need to take your time with the question, live it, talk to trusted people, and only then make decisions.

Q4. How do you empower and motivate your team, especially women, to participate and share their thoughts freely about business and decisions?
As I have already said, we are engaged in what we have got great experience and knowledge. We are not afraid of new products, so we are not afraid to try. I have understood who I am: I am a coordinator. Most people are executors, they should be given an exact task. My task is to monitor and especially to support. Sometimes, I write memos and systematically conduct meetings to determine control points. It does not
matter how many times our employees ask me questions, the main thing is to understand the task. Setting up a task can take up to half a day.
We always give people a hand of help. It is also important to admit your mistakes because everyone makes mistakes and it is ok, we never devalue their work. I am sure people should have a sense of satisfaction in what they do at work. To women, I am generous with compliments: how beautiful you are today, what a wonderful hairstyle you have. I am who I am with all the people who surround me.

Q5. With time, more and more women are entering the agriculture industry. What is your belief for the next generation of women?
I believe women who will delve into agriculture can bring a lot to this industry. Women are consistent, multitaskers by nature, and bring everything they have started to the end. Another thing – women are motivated, they will move mountains for the sake of the people and things they love!

Q6. You must have come across different challenges while establishing and growing the business. How did you overcome those? What keeps you going in prevailing difficult circumstances?
The main credo is people. No matter what the cataclysms happen, you are looking for a way to save the team. At the heart of everything are people. People are our families. First of all, we must fulfill our obligations to them.
In my free time, I draw pictures and write poems, I have already published my fifth collection of poems. I love flowers, especially wildflowers and paint them mostly. My work is honest and simple, it is about me, my family, my well-being, and everything that surrounds me gives me the impetus to move on. I write when I am happy and when I have a headache. In my poems, I find recipes for overcoming tough situations. When I draw, I clean up my mind and soul. There is a completeness in drawing and I love it in every way. It is necessary to do what you want, not only what is necessary. u do not have to be strong all the time. You need to be sincere with yourself and enjoy your life!

Sarah McHatton is Valent BioSciences’ Vice President for Global R&D and Regulatory Affairs. She is an accomplished R&D leader with strong experience in taking products from discovery through commercialization and a broad background in microbiology and fermentation.
Before joining Valent BioSciences in 2022, Sarah oversaw R&D for the biocontrol and biofertility pipeline and product portfolios for the BioAg division at Novozymes. She also headed the global BioAg Applications Research and was the site lead at two Novozymes facilities in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Sarah has led the microbial physiology (fermentation) and microbial discovery and assay development units in BioAg R&D. She started her career in medical diagnostics R&D with Dade Behring, Inc. Sarah earned her Ph.D. and M.S. degree in microbiology from the University of California-Davis, and her B.S. degree in biology from the University of Michigan.

Q1. You started your career in Medical Diagnostics and worked on projects for different industries. How did you get into BioAg?
In my undergraduate days, as a biology major, I had internships in entomology, microbiology, and plant pathology labs at agricultural companies of various sizes. These experiences motivated me to be an industry scientist and I chose microbial physiology and ecology for my graduate studies. With my first industry job, I went to the “dark side” and worked on bacterial pathogens – the bad guys. But, my next job
at Novozymes allowed me to work with the marvelous and untapped potential of beneficial microbes in a variety of applications. When Novozymes was expanding its BioAg presence in 2014, I was assigned to start up the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, facility and the BioAg Microbial Discovery unit. It felt like returning to my calling from my undergraduate internship days. The rest is history!

Q2. Having worked on projects for different industries and currently in BioAg, what differences do you find in BioAg compared to other industries?
The regulatory landscape is more challenging and uncertain than in most other industries I have supported. The stakes are quite high, as BioAg addresses both the quality and quantity of crops that feed the world. This has led to significant efforts put into research, development, manufacturing, registering, and supporting our products to ensure that they provide maximum benefit to customers.

Q3. With time, more and more women are entering the agriculture industry. What would you advise them to have a fruitful career in the industry?
Network, find mentors, and don’t be afraid to add or change mentors when you seek new perspectives. It’s a journey and only you have the steering wheel. I have been very fortunate to have had strong mentors who helped advance my career. I have also mentored younger colleagues who hopefully have benefited from my knowledge and experience. My goal is to encourage more women to enter the industry and help guide them during their careers.

Q4. BioAg is a very dynamic industry and has been revolutionized by technology and innovations. What is going to be the next big leap in the agriculture industry?
Biostimulants are growing and hold so much potential. The BioAg industry has only scratched the surface in terms of the power of natural organic matter, microbial inoculants, and other natural products and the benefits they can have on plant health and stress reduction. Valent BioSciences is dedicated to further discovery and research to unlock their full potential. Long term, as precision agriculture advances,
prescriptive and targeted delivery of custom cocktails biostimulants could be a game-changer for yield and ROI.

Q5. As a senior woman leader, what are your future aspirations? What are your goals for Valent Biosciences?
I want to leave my mark on the industry by continuing to develop effective, innovative, sustainable, and trusted solutions for our customers. This will help us maintain our preeminent position in the ag industry. Moreover, as a senior leader, it’s important for me on a personal level to help shape the next generation of scientists and business leaders. As a global company, we must always consider the unique perspectives
of our customers and colleagues, I enjoy the opportunity to collaborate and learn from others and see how our products are making a difference around the world.

Alice Toderi has been the Chief Marketing Officer at HELLO NATURE (formerly Italpollina) for nearly eight years. With a background in healthcare and beauty, Alice brought a consumer-focused mindset to Hello Nature, which she drew on as the driver behind the rebranding of the group. She also managed the integration of the marketing department at a global level, focusing the efforts on the biostimulants sector
of the group, building awareness through several initiatives, and creating the biostimulant.com platform. She studied at the University of Bologna and the Luigi Bocconi Business School in Milan. She has recently been elected as Director at Large in the EBIC (European Biostimulants Industry Council) Board.

Q1. Can you talk about your career path? How did you start your career and how did you move from healthcare and beauty to BioAg?
Well, when I had my degree, I was already working for one company in the healthcare/beauty sector and then I had two other experiences in different roles within marketing departments of beauty firms, growing my knowledge and skills as I was able to manage various projects in fields such as rebranding, website management, trade marketing, product management. Then, I needed to move from Milan to the South of
France and across Hello Nature (Italpollina): I applied for their marketing vacancy and eventually got the job, I was excited but also a bit scared, I knew nothing about the agriculture sector. But one thing I learned in marketing classes, since the beginning, was that you can apply marketing skills in every sector, regardless of your knowledge of it! Having experience in a completely diverse sector was an advantage, I was able to bring a different and new perspective to renew Italpollina’s image and communication. What I did not expect back then was that agriculture would become my passion and that I would find my reason why in working in this environment.

Q2. How is BioAg different from healthcare and beauty in terms of consumer-centricity, consumer attitude, etc.? What is the major consideration in strategizing communication for the BioAg sector?
Agriculture may seem a less glamorous and exciting sector to animate from a marketing perspective. The truth is, for some activities, for example, social media presence, and influencers’ marketing, the beauty industry is more advanced and eager to adopt new ways of communicating, while agriculture takes more time to implement innovative marketing initiatives. Some trends that were already present in the beauty business eight years ago have started to appear in farming since last year. It is interesting to think about the beauty industry and apply some strategies to agriculture. From my point of view in agriculture we tend to be more conservative and traditional in the way we talk about our products and brands, while in beauty there is a more open attitude to innovate, experiment, and change. Similarly for consumers: the substantial difference is that in the beauty business, consumers are searching for ways to become a better version of themselves, to feel good, to please others – so the inclination to dare, to change, and to experiment is greater. There is no big risk. In agriculture, farmers count on their yield to secure their income, it’s a necessity. It’s normal that before considering changing what they have or what their family has always been doing, they need strong proof of evidence. They are reluctant because if they make a bad choice they risk their income! So it’s a completely different perspective to take into consideration, this said, it’s possible to innovate and disrupt in agriculture as well if you have a strong scientific and technical background to support your actions.

Q3. Being a woman and coming from a different professional background, what are some of the challenges you have faced and how have you overcome these challenges?
To be honest, I can’t remember the difficult situations I have lived for these reasons. I’ve always felt respect for my role and my knowledge.
The main challenge for me was to learn about this new sector and new products. Luckily, I had great colleagues to count on. One of the attitudes that helped me the most, not only in this role but in general, has always been to be proactive, curious, and to ask questions or search by myself for solutions, not to wait for someone to come up with the right answers. I always try to help colleagues, even from other departments, if they need a hand since we all work for the same goal: the success of Hello Nature. I am convinced that by adopting a positive attitude you get back positivity, and I have to say that this works (almost) every time.

Q4. If you had to explain to a younger woman how you succeeded in your career, what would you tell her?
Young people tend to be more stressed about the outcome, they are obsessed with controlling everything, and sometimes they get caught up in thinking that there is no solution to their problems (I was one of them!). But I learned one thing: there is always a solution and the best way to get there is creativity. I would simply share my motto, which I find useful in some hard situations; it has guided me through
challenges: “Creative possibilities are available to me.” The second sentence I would share with a young woman at the beginning of her career would be, “Opportunities come in unexpected ways, do not miss them!”

Q5. What are your future aspirations professionally and personally? What are your goals for Hello Nature?
These eight years at Hello Nature have been a gift; I got to know wonderful people; I wake up every day with a clear goal in mind; andI am passionate about my job. At Hello Nature we have had a lot going on, from the rebranding to the name change, new technology launches, new websites, new exciting projects like biostimulant.com, and new markets opening. With my team, we never get bored! Last but not least, I
was elected to the Board of Directors of EBIC in November 2023, which is a great achievement for me, personally and professionally. In the coming years, I want to continue focusing 100% on our projects at Hello Nature – there is always something cooking. Also, I want to work with EBIC to continue raising awareness about biostimulants.
At Hello Nature we will focus on strengthening and optimizing our existing catalog, completing our offer with innovative services helping farmers in their daily tasks, like the care4soil analysis one. In this difficult moment, our choice is to focus on what we do best and be at our customers (distributors and farmers) side to listen to their needs and provide valuable and sustainable solutions.