Our Story
From Local Beginnings to Transforming Sustainable Horticulture.
At Crop Defenders,
our purpose has always been simple:
To empower Greenhouse Growers with the tools, strategies, and partnerships that make ecological growing profitable.
Growers are more than producers; they’re the unsung heroes of our communities, cultivating the food that nourishes us and the flowers that bring beauty to our lives.​
But we know the road to sustainable growing isn’t easy. Greenhouse growing is a fixed-cost business, and most production expenses are set regardless of the production outcome. When pests invade your farm, their feeding damage degrades production quality, reduces yields, and ultimately impacts the bottom line.
​​
Growers deserve better, and helping them overcome these challenges is the reason Crop Defenders was born on a cold Canadian winter day in 2007.
Our Mission is Rooted in a Massive Transformative Purpose:
To Make Ecological Growing Economical.
We believe that when sustainable growing is affordable and accessible, it has the power to transform lives, protect health, and preserve our planet for future generations.
Our Roots
Before founding Crop Defenders, Dr. Ishtiaq Rao, Ph.D. spent over a decade creating and managing South Asia’s first biological control company, with the purpose of saving people from the harmful health effects caused by exposure to pesticide residues. Inspired by this mission, he and his wife brought their vision to Canada in 2007, establishing Crop Defenders in Leamington, Ontario, the greenhouse capital of Canada.
​
From a small, dedicated team, we’ve grown into an industry pioneer with over 60 team members, cutting-edge R&D, local production facilities, and operations across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Milestones of Growth
2007 - 2015
-
Led by Dr. Ishtiaq Rao, Nicole Stewart, and Mary Xavier, Crop Defenders began by focusing on providing Growers with the freshest biological controls available, and offering science-driven IPM strategies instead of sales-centric tactics.
-
By treating Growers like extended family and offering honest advice, Crop Defenders quickly grew just by word of mouth.
The Future We're Growing Towards
Our Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) is ambitious yet deeply rooted in purpose:
To protect the health of 500 million people around the world yearly through eco-friendly biological crop protection. This vision drives us to scale our Globally Local model, innovate sustainable pest management systems, and inspire a new era of ecological agriculture.
As we grow throughout and beyond North America, we’re committed to building partnerships that transcend borders to empower Growers around the world with the means to achieve pest outbreak-free, profitable, and sustainable growing operations.
A Culture of Service
Beyond Transactions, Towards Partnerships
At Crop Defenders, we believe Growers deserve to have a partner that’s invested in their long-term success.
That’s why our customer service vision is rooted in building relationships that deliver consistent results, and delightful experiences. We are committed to:
Discover It
Deeply understanding your unique challenges, frustrations, and goals.
Own It
Designing and delivering solutions tailored to your definition of success, ensuring every recommendation is aligned with your operation’s needs.
Deliver It
Exceeding expectations by not just solving problems but doing so in a way that creates a "wow" experience, every time.
This culture of service isn’t just about how we work, it’s about how we care.
We treat your farm as if it were our own, because we believe your success is our success.
Join us in shaping the future of sustainable growing. If you’re a Grower looking for sustainable pest management solutions, we invite you to grow with us.