Bio Gro Celebrates Win at Victorian Industry Awards
On the weekend at the Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria (NGIV) Awards Night, Bio Gro was honoured to receive the “𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿” 2025 award.
This recognition is not only a fantastic acknowledgment of our commitment to excellence in the Horticultural industry and the quality of our Growing Media, but also a testament to the dedication, hard work, and attention to detail consistently demonstrated by our Production, QA, and Sales Teams at Bio Gro.
Bio Gro was also acknowledged for its leadership in sustainability and diversification, particularly as we strive to Recover, Refine and Reapply, reinforcing our position as an industry leader driven by a dedicated team.
A huge congratulations to everyone at Bio Gro on this outstanding achievement and award!
Bio Gro Supports NGIV First Nations Knowledge Exchange Program
Recently, Bio Gro was proud to take part in the First Nations Knowledge Exchange program, hosted by NGIV and Agriculture Victoria – the first initiative of its kind in the agriculture industry.
Our very own Charlotte Lymbrey and Michael Patten spent time with the team at Wadawurrung Nursery (Karringa-ngitj baleert), sharing their expertise while also learning through genuine partnership.
Charlotte presented on Bio Gro’s business and growing media management in a nursery setting, impressing participants with her preparation, confidence, and professionalism. It was a shining example of the positive, respectful collaboration that strengthens our industry.
As Emma Daly (Bio Gro’s Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer) put it, “Charlotte is an exemplary model of what we aim to achieve with our next-gen leaders.”
This recognition not only reflects Charlotte’s personal growth, but also Bio Gro’s commitment to developing the next generation of leaders within our business.
A huge thank you to NGIV for this recognition, and to our team members who continue to represent Bio Gro with passion, professionalism, and pride.
Together, we are building stronger partnerships, supporting industry innovation, and closing the loop in sustainability.
Bio Gro Cultivating Healthy Futures with St Mary’s Kitchen Garden
At Van Schaik’s Bio Gro, we love seeing our products make a difference in local communities. One wonderful example comes from Hamilton, Victoria, at St Mary’s School Garden and Kitchen Program, where our Bio Gro Premium Wicking Mix plays a key role in helping students grow, cook, and share fresh food.
Garden and Kitchen Program Coordinator, Lyn Donaldson shared an inspiring update with us:
– The garden is thriving with vegetables and herbs, regularly replenished with Bio Gro Wicking Mix and fertiliser.
– Students are harvesting, preparing, and eating produce they’ve often never tried before.
– The new kitchen program has sparked enthusiasm across the school, with teachers and parents praising its impact.
The ripple effect has been remarkable. One parent wrote that her son had “never spoken about school so positively” until after his cooking class – even waking up at 6:30am one morning, keen to cook breakfast!
The program also recently hosted a Chef Day, featuring local chefs, who cooked alongside the students and brought the wider community into the experience.
As Lyn put it: “The program inspires students while increasing awareness of healthy food and nutrition… This achievement could not have been possible without your support.”
A big thank you to St Mary’s for sharing their journey with us, and to our team for making sure Bio Gro products contribute to healthy gardens, healthy food, and healthy futures.
A significant milestone for Newbridge Organics Processing Facility
In collaboration with our contracted partner, the Northern Grampians Shire, last week Bio Gro received our first delivery of raw, unprocessed FOGO directly into our Newbridge facility. Here, it will be decontaminated and processed into high-quality compost and mulch.
We are proud to be part of this partnership as we work together to divert FOGO from landfill and deliver sustainable waste solutions for the Northern Grampians Shire and other Councils across regional Victoria.
Bio Gro Partners with UniSA STEM Girls Academy
Bio Gro is proud to partner with the UniSA STEM Girls Academy – an evidence-based program delivered to more than 200 secondary school girls across South Australia each year.
The initiative focuses on developing key STEM capabilities in students from Years 9 to 12, including critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and collaboration.
As part of this year’s challenge, Bio Gro invited 14 students from three local schools to explore a real-world issue: how to reduce contamination in Food Organic and Garden Organic residues. The students were tasked with developing innovative and practical solutions while using the Design Thinking process and existing technologies.
Their concepts will be presented in August, with selected work to be featured in a temporary exhibition at Museum Of Discovery in Adelaide, opening on 16 October.
Bio Gro Engages with Local Growers at Muirs Co Breakfast
Bio Gro proudly participated in the recent Breakfast and Information Session hosted by Muirs Co at their Penola, SA branch.
The event brought together over 25 local growers for an engaging and informative morning, with Bio Gro featured as the primary supplier.
The Bio Gro team values opportunities to connect with growers to discuss key agricultural topics, including soil constraints, moisture retention, soil fertility, and the unique challenges of farming in the Limestone Coast region.
We’re committed to supporting increased productivity through tailored solutions and the proven benefits of Bio Gro products.
Bio Gro Collaborates With Coola Road Wines
Van Schaik’s Bio Gro is proud to collaborate with passionate growers, committed to building and maintaining soil health! Tom Ellis of Coola Road Wines is leading the way in innovation and sustainability in his cool-climate vineyard.
At Bio Gro, we value our strong relationships with local growers, providing high-quality soil amendments and in-house spreading services for seamless application, whether mid-row or under-vine.
Watch the story as told by Tom Ellis, from Coola Road Wines – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4NCrdz7EAg
Bio Gro Donates to St Mary’s Primary School, Victoria
Bio Gro is committed to Sustainability and strives to play an active role within our communities.
Bio Gro recently had the opportunity to support the Year 6 Sustainability Group at St Mary’s Primary School Hamilton 3300 by donating our Premium Wicking Mix for 13 Foodcubes!
It was great to see the enthusiasm and passion for gardening from the students!
Bio Gro in the Field with Local Farmers
Bio Gro is proud to support events like the recent “Boosting Soil Fertility with Organic Amendments and Soil Testing”, at Hatherleigh, South Australia.
Farmers from South Australia’s South East heard from Dr Mel Fraser, Declan McDonald, and David Oddie. Soil sampling methods, soil biology and organic amendments and paddock treatments were just some of the topics of discussion.
This project was funded by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board, through funding from the National Landcare Program Smart Farms Small Grants – an Australian Government Initiative.
‘EAGA’ Visits Dandenong Site
Bio Gro recently welcomed the ‘Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action’ to our Dandenong South site, to better understand our collective environmental responsibility.
The Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA) consists of the following member Councils:
City of Boroondara, Glen Eira City Council,
Knox City Council, Maroondah City Council, City
of Monash, Stonnington City Council, City of
Whitehorse, and Yarra Ranges Council.
The EAGA was formed in response to community concerns about climate change and a desire to drive action in a coordinated manner in the Eastern Melbourne region.
