Innovator Spotlight: How Pioneer BioTech Is Using Fermentation to Transform Crop Protection

At Dakota BioWorx, we believe innovation happens when research, resources, and the right people intersect. That’s why we’re launching our new Innovator Spotlight Series—to highlight the scientists, founders, and technologists building the future of biotech right here in our facility.

For our first feature, we’re proud to introduce Matthew Cole, founder of Pioneer BioTech (PBT) and an alum of South Dakota State University. As a next-generation farmer from South Dakota, Matthew is taking a fresh approach to agricultural innovation by developing plant-based bioproducts for crop protection and industrial use.

“Pioneer Biotech is all about value-added agriculture. We’re using corn and soybeans as fermentation inputs to create new bioproducts that help protect crops and open new markets for farmers.”
— Matthew Cole, Founder, Pioneer BioTech

From Fermentation to Field Trials

Pioneer Biotech’s work is rooted in fermentation, using corn and soybean feedstocks  to produce bioproducts that can treat crop diseases like Goss’s wilt, leaf blight, white mold, aphids, and even seed weevils in sunflower crops.

But the applications don’t stop there. These same fermentation products also have the potential to serve as emulsifiers for oil and gas recovery and surfactants in industrial settings—bridging agriculture with broader bioeconomy markets.

Testing, Proving, and Scaling—All in One Place

One of the advantages of working at Dakota BioWorx is the ability to move quickly from concept to scale without ever leaving the research park. Pioneer BioTech is actively testing its products in both laboratory settings and field plots located right behind our facility.

“This is crucial because everything from proof-of-concept to scaling technology can happen at Dakota BioWorx. That’s a cornerstone for gaining investor or grant funding and moving ideas forward.”
— Matthew Cole

With support from organizations like South Dakota Soybean, Corn, Oilseeds, and the SD Biotech Association, PBT is leveraging public and private partnerships to de-risk early-stage innovation and push toward larger field trials and commercial readiness.

A Model for Regional Innovation

As a homegrown startup with its roots in the Midwest and its eyes on global challenges, Pioneer BioTech is a compelling example of what’s possible when biotech and agriculture converge in the right environment.

We’re proud to support PBT’s growth—and to offer a platform where founders like Matthew Cole can build, test, and scale the next generation of biotechnology.

Watch the full Innovator Spotlight video here.

About the Series
The Dakota BioWorx Innovator Spotlight Series celebrates the changemakers working inside our walls. Follow along as we profile the startups, researchers, and visionaries pushing biotech forward—without leaving South Dakota.