Richard Belcher

About Richard Belcher

I’m a PhD-level product development and stewardship leader with a technical project management backbone. I specialize in scaling sustainable products from lab concepts to commercial execution by building the test infrastructure, cross-functional operating rhythm, and partner-facing guidance that makes adoption easy and reliable.My career has focused on the “last mile” of R&D—where performance, shelf life, handling, equipment compatibility, and application windows determine whether a product succeeds in the market. I’ve built SOP platforms and compatibility programs that convert complex biological behavior into clear, farmer- and partner-ready recommendations.At Pivot Bio, I led application research and served as Technical Project Manager for on-seed development, coordinating teams from fermentation through manufacturing and ensuring we released on time each season with meaningful product increments. We scaled from 10k acres to 1M+ acres, extended on-seed stability from 14 to 45 days, and proved a rapid mixing process (dry microbe into liquid extender) to under 90 seconds in systems aligned to major seed-treater partners—work that also generated co-IP.Earlier, I helped build Indigo Ag’s on-seed compatibility foundation (supporting what later became biotrinsic® positioning) and explored foliar concepts by developing a wettable powder approach and validating in-tank and equipment compatibility.I’ve built multiple lab workspaces, hired and mentored teams, supported regulatory readiness (including CDFA/OMRI organic marketplace registration), and contributed to patent portfolios that helped underpin commercialization momentum.I’m motivated by roles where I can lead cross-functional execution, translate science into usable products, and bring rigor to the bridge between R&D and field adoption.

Experience

1. Independent Consultant

   Bioag Insights Llc

   Apr 2025 — Present · Hayward, CA, US

   Built client-ready lab and controlled-environment plant testing workflows to develop and evaluate seed treatment formulation in relation to stability, flowability, biocontrol function, and effect on germination- Enabled trial and product stewardship readiness: set application rates, prepared CRO samples, and authored stewardship guidance- Developed executive-ready data and decision decks (market/competitive/regulatory analyses) to align stakeholders and accelerate product development- Delivered market sizing & competitive intelligence: produced TAM/SAM/SOM estimates (including multi-year acreage averaging and top-state rollups), competitive comparisons, and commercialization readiness assessments- Scoped biostimulant/biocontrol concepts for target crops (corn and soy) and application methods (seed treatment, foliar, in-furrow); advised on product specifications, formulation development, and scoping for trialing and regulatory- Supported IP and invention development: drafted and reviewed provisional-patent inputs (e.g, IDF content, composition options, methods of use), refining formulation and application strategy language.

Education

• Troy University

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Ecology and Field Biology

  2000 — 2004

• University of California, Riverside

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Environmental Toxicology

  2006 — 2012

Skills

• Sustainability
• Quality Control
• Aseptic Technique
• Data Analysis
• Bacterial Culturing
• Technical Writing
• Characterization
• Research
• Laboratory Skills
• Pcr
• Laboratory
• Soil Science
• English
• Purification
• Product Development
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (Pcr)
• Environmental Awareness
• Environmental Science
• Chromatography
• Microbiology
• Science
• Teaching
• Customer Service
• Renewable Energy
• Bioremediation