Amherstburg, ON – July 18, 2023 – GrowLiv Biologicals is proud to have been featured by CBC News in a story highlighting its innovative approach to sustainable farming. The segment, reported by CBC’s Meg Roberts, showcased GrowLiv’s journey from breeding a single insect in 2014 to producing hundreds of millions of beneficial insects and pollinators each week, making it the largest bug-breeding facility in North America.
Read the full CBC feature here: This family breeds millions of insects to help farmers choose predators over pesticides – CBC News
Founded by Dr. Ghulam Mustafa and Dr. Abida Nasreen, both PhD entomologists, GrowLiv Biologicals is now a family-run operation led in part by their daughter, Meshal Mustafa, who shared the company’s vision with CBC. “Pollination is how much fruit you’re going to get, so for a farmer, they’re not going to play around with their pollination,” Mustafa explained in the feature, underscoring the critical role GrowLiv’s bumblebees play in food production.
The CBC story highlighted GrowLiv’s dual focus:
- Pollination – supplying bumblebees to greenhouses across Ontario for reliable crop pollination.
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Biocontrol – breeding 17 species of beneficial insects that act as natural predators against pests such as whiteflies and aphids, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
“Biocontrol is a natural way to control pests without having to spray crops with pesticides, this is like the first line of defence now,” Mustafa said in the CBC interview. She also emphasized the long-term risk of pesticide resistance, drawing parallels to antibiotic resistance in humans.
The feature included expert commentary from Roselyne Labbe, a research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, who described biocontrol as a safe, sustainable solution and a growing industry across Essex County. “The government absolutely sees ecosystem resilience as a key priority. We need to have very sustainable systems for pest management,” Labbe told CBC.
GrowLiv now operates over 36,000 square feet of laboratory space, producing and shipping beneficial insects and pollinators that support growers across North America. With annual sales of $3.5 million and a growing portfolio of reared species, the company continues to expand its role as a leader in sustainable crop protection.
“It hasn’t always been easy convincing farmers to change their growing ways, but education and results have made the difference,” said Mustafa. “This recognition from CBC highlights the dedication of our family and our passion for creatures that don’t always get a lot of love.”
About GrowLiv Biologicals
GrowLiv Biologicals is a Canadian-owned insectary specializing in the production of beneficial insects, mites, and bumblebees for sustainable pest management and pollination. Founded in 2014 in Amherstburg, Ontario, GrowLiv has grown into the largest commercial insectary in North America. With rearing facilities in Amherstburg and Leamington, GrowLiv provides fast, reliable service across North America, helping growers reduce reliance on chemicals while protecting crops and the environment. Learn more at www.growliv.com.