For more than 20 years, Volker Bornemann worked in BASF’s agricultural division, helping farmers and farm organizations deal with such issues as pesticide residues, genetically modified organisms and mycotoxins.

With a Ph.D. in chemistry from Rice University, Bornemann is an expert in food safety and agriculture. In 2014, he launched Avazyme, Inc. in Research Triangle Park, N.C.  to provide testing, technical expertise and consultation to the entire food value chain, from the farm gate to food retailers. He is using his background and expertise from the ag industry to build his new business.

“We are a unique business. We are aiming for the entire food value chain, anyone involved with the growing and production of food,” Bornemann said in an interview with Southeast Farm Press. “Pesticide residues, mycotoxins and other issues impact the entire food value chain. Ensuring quality and safety is important for everybody.”

At BASF, Bornemann worked closely with farmers and farm groups on pesticide residue issues, but at Avazyme, he and his staff aim to expand the reach further downstream to food manufacturers. For example, Bornemann notes that wine makers are interested in fungicide residues in grapes and how that may impact flavor and fermentation characteristics of wine. Avazyme provides testing that does just that.

“Food makers are asking that if a genetic modification or a new trait changes the metabolism of a crop, how does it also impact the nutrients in food. This is important to everyone in the food value chain,” Bornemann said. “We can measure residues, allergens, and nutrients in finished products.”

At BASF Bornemann examined how fungicides used in barley and wheat production impacted the brewing process. This was important for brewers for product quality and safety. Avazyme does similar work with brewers, bakers, winemakers and food makers on food safety and food quality parameters.

An important market for Avazyme is the growing hops market in North Carolina that is developing to serve the craft beer industry. “We have machines that help hops growers measure the alpha acid content and beta acid content of their hops, which are critical to brewers,” he said. “Our state-of-the-art mass spectrometers can do aroma and flavor profiles of hops, which is important for hops growers deciding what varieties of hops they want to grow, and to help establish the unique flavor profiles of North Carolina grown hops.”

For farmers, Avazyme can measure pesticide and mycotoxin residues in their final product. “We can accurately tell them what their actual pesticide and mycotoxin residue levels are at the end of the season,” he said.