Chemicals and agricultural solutions group Omnia has opened a new analytical services facility, in Stellenbosch, in the Western Cape, to strengthen scientific support for South African agriculture producers through rapid, accurate and efficient analysis of soil, plant tissue, sap, water and biological samples.

In fact, Omnia's technology enables comprehensive soil and plant tissue analysis in just 47 seconds, which reduces overall laboratory turnaround times to about two days.

The Stellenbosch facility will provide producers with faster turnaround times and easier access to scientific insights that support timely, informed production decisions.

Overall, Omnia helps producers to identify nutrient deficiencies, monitor soil health, detect changes in soil microbiome, optimise fertiliser programmes and make evidence-based management decisions that improve crop performance and increase return on investment for producers.

Omnia's analytical services footprint in the Western Cape, which is a significant agriculture region, leverages decades of experience and proprietary technology development. Omnia also has analytical services operations in Sasolburg, in South Africa's Free State province, and in Zambia.

The Sasolburg facility houses the company's flagship laboratory and one of the continent’s most extensive facilities for soil, plant tissue, water and sap testing, while the Zambian facility is focused on soil health through long-term investments in analytical technologies and methodologies.

Referring to the company's decision to locate an analytics services facility in Stellenbosch, Omnia manufacturing, operations and supply chain COO Francois Visagie says the group wants to bring world-class analytical capability closer to one of South Africa's most important agriculture regions, enable producers to access faster scientific insights and support better on-farm decision-making.

"Agriculture is becoming increasingly data-driven, and access to accurate, timely information is essential for improving productivity, profitability and sustainability. This is the cornerstone of modern farming practices," he states.

“Reliable scientific analysis is becoming a critical part of modern agriculture. By combining analytical expertise with precision nutrition and biological solutions, Omnia is helping producers improve productivity today while building resilience for the future," adds Omnia executive director Stephan Serfontein.

EFFICIENCY FOCUS
A key component of Omnia’s technology development is an adaption of analytical technology for agricultural use through proprietary algorithms and calibrations.

By combining advanced spectroscopy and extensive calibration datasets, Omnia provides rapid, reliable insights. In addition to improving speed and efficiency, the technology eliminates the need for chemical reagents and minimises environmental impacts associated with conventional analytical processes.

Omnia continues to invest in solutions that help producers navigate increasingly complex production conditions through precision nutrition, biological solutions and science-based decision-making. The Stellenbosch facility forms part of Omnia's ongoing investment in scientific innovation and integrated crop nutrition strategies, particularly to address challenges such as extreme weather conditions, soil health management and rising input costs.

In addition, Omnia has partnered with Stellenbosch University to integrate advanced soil DNA analysis into its analytical services offering, further strengthening the organisation’s biological analysis capabilities and technical expertise.