Biobest introduces Entomatic handheld for precision dispensing

Sep 16, 2025

Biobest’s new portable mite and insect dispenser, the Entomatic Handheld, is engineered for precision, speed, and user comfort - offering growers an efficient new tool for targeted biological applications.

Developed in partnership with Hortiworld, the Entomatic Handheld has been designed for use in confined or irregular growing environments. Its compact and ergonomic design makes it ideal for linear crops such as strawberries, greenhouses with narrow paths or rolling benches, ornamental nurseries with variable layouts, and small-scale operations ranging from high-tech facilities to low-tech systems.

“The unit is designed for focused, even distribution of beneficials such as Phytoseiulus persimilis, Amblyseius cucumeris, Orius laevigatus, and Franklinothrips,” says Sam Gui, market development manager for high tech IPM at Biobest. “For applications involving Amblyseius swirskii, the Entomatic Handheld can also dispense our supplementary feed, Nutrimite simultaneously. Operators can adjust dosing rotator and fan speeds to suit various crop and application needs. The removable hopper lid also functions as a stand, adding convenience during refills.

“Designed for flexibility, the Entomatic Handheld provides accurate blanket treatments up to three meters wide, making it ideal for crops such as ornamental potted plants,” says Sam. “By clipping on the snout attachment, operators can make precise applications in linear row crops such as strawberries, with the vertical slim design making it easy to turn and walk in narrow rows.”

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Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.