EPL Bio Analytical Services named Agrow Awards 2015 finalist

EPL Bio Analytical Services LLC was recently named a finalist for the 2015 Agrow Best Supporting Role Award, which recognizes the company that has contributed most to the global crop protection industry through the provision of support services.  

“This includes outstanding customer support, excellence in service and a willingness to go the extra mile for its customers,” CEO Robin King told Crop Protection News. “Because ag is our industry and our passion is to serve the Ag industry, being nominated for this award is about as good as it gets.”

The Niantic, Illinois-based company provides customized analytical laboratory testing services to the agricultural crop protection, agricultural chemical, agricultural biotech, organic, biocontrol, nutritional, food ingredient and feed industries. EPL Scientists work with local, national and international clients to find safe and reliable agricultural products in order to protect and improve world food supplies. 

The Agrow Awards specifically honor individuals and companies who have achieved high standards in the crop protection and agrochemical industry during the past year. The winners in each of 14 categories will be announced during an awards ceremony in London on Sept. 17.

This is the second consecutive year that EPL Bio Analytical Services has been named an Agrow Awards finalist in the Best Supporting Role category.

King, who has more than 25 years of experience in management of analytical services in the regulated agricultural food and feed safety industry, as well as extensive agricultural biotechnology experience, recently spoke with Crop Protection News about EPL Bio Analytical Services. 

Q: What sets EPL Bio Analytical Services apart from the rest?

A: There are many great laboratories out there, but we are one of the only labs in our niche industry that is and has always been focused on the agricultural industry. We understand the needs of our customers and strive to provide services customized to their exact requirements.

Our employees don’t just analyze samples, we understand the agriculture, the use and value of the products we are testing, the quality and regulatory requirements, the sense of urgency for our customers, in addition to understanding the technology and science required to perform the analyses. We are a learning organization, and we encourage and provide opportunities for every employee to continue to provide more value to our customers.

Q: What are the long-standing goals at EPL Bio Analytical Services? 

A: Our primary objective is to be the most trusted laboratory in our industry. We believe that trust requires several things. The basis or foundation is basic integrity. Most people understand that concept, and it is mandatory in our organization to do the right thing even when it is hard.

Next is competence. You can be honest and have integrity, but if you are not capable of doing the thing that must be done, you still cannot be trusted.

Next, you must be able to deliver the results. If you can do something but you don’t follow through and meet or exceed expectations, you still cannot be trusted.

Finally, intent -- you can be honest and capable and follow through, but to truly be trustworthy, you must have the right intent. You must care equally about your success and your customer’s success. Our goals are centered on meeting our customers’ needs in the most trustworthy way.

Q: What do you think still needs work within the company?

A: Our company is always in a learning and continuous improvement mode. In fact, although not required for most of the work we do, we decided to do the work to become ISO 17025 accredited for many of our nutritional analyses.

We are always looking for how we can serve our customers either by improving technology and methodology, processes, data quality and management, and finding ways to support new agricultural technologies.

Q: What makes a company successful in this business? 

A: Long-term success only comes when you incorporate the principles I mentioned with respect to trust. We are only successful if those we serve are successful.