What You Need to Know about the AgriNomix/Zwart Systems/AdeptAg Deal
February 19, 2022 
Photo: AgriNomix.
AgriNomix and Zwart Systems are familiar company names to many growers in the controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) industry. Now, they are operating under one umbrella, thanks to the emergence of a new company, AdeptAg.
At the beginning of 2022, AgriNomix posted the following message on its website:
“As of January 1, 2022, AgriNomix and Zwart Systems joined forces to become part of the newly formed, AdeptAg company. AdeptAg is rapidly becoming the elite North American platform to serve professional horticultural growers as well as the increasingly active controlled environment agriculture market. AgriNomix is North America’s top supplier of process automation, internal logistics, and robotic solutions for growers. Zwart Systems is North America’s leader in comprehensive irrigation and water treatment solutions to controlled environment growers. The wide-ranging core competencies of these two, best-in-class suppliers are extremely complementary and over time, integrated turn-key solutions will be offered.”
In the same statement, when asked how he chose these two businesses to launch the AdeptAg platform, Rick Parod pointed to both AgriNomix and Zwart Systems’ exceptional reputations for integrity, breadth of offerings, and stellar service.
“These companies exemplify the impact and value contribution that all of our companies will bring to our customers operations,” Parod says.
The full statement is available here. In addition, Greenhouse Grower reached out to the team of Parod, AgriNomix co-founder Rob Lando, and Zwart Systems General Manager Jim Van Ryn to learn more about the arrangement and what it means for both companies, as well as their grower customers.
During his time as CEO of irrigation company Lindsay Corp., Parod says he witnessed the rapid expansion of the CEA industry. After doing a lot of research, which includes meeting with companies like AgriNomix and Zwart, he decided it was time to get into the market.
“I looked at the big picture of where the industry was heading, and saw an opportunity to provide CEA growers with best-in-class products and services to help them increase yields and productivity,” Parod says. “Working with companies like AgriNomix and Zwart Systems seemed to be the right way to start, and it became clear early on that in launching this venture, our success would drive further successes for all our suppliers, customers, and employees.”
Parod also notes that while neither company was looking to make this transition, they saw the potential of a platform that provided new capabilities to supply products and services.
“It’s a chance for everyone involved to retain the culture of the business that led to their success,” he says.
Lando says while AgriNomix has grown dramatically over the past few years, this move was a way to strengthen its own infrastructure so it can continue to build for future opportunities.
“It’s a chance for us to refresh and build strength and new capabilities from within,” he says.
Van Ryn echoes many of Lando’s thoughts.
“We’ve been family owned for 53 years, and we always want to bring new technology to growers,” he says. “But there comes a point where it becomes tough to keep on growing, and when you have a chance to work with people who know how to grow a business, the time felt right to us. It also a great way to capitalize on the syngergies between our two companies and offer integrated solutions.”
For growers, there won’t be any immediate changes.
“It will be business as usual for the time being,” Lando says. “When things change, it will be for the positive.”
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