Environment category: Andre Prassinos, co-founder and managing director of animal probiotic company BioBrew, is excited, a little embarrassed and proud to be nominated in the Pride of New Zealand community awards.
"No man is an island and I would not be here today with the business if it wasn't for the rest of the team," Mr Prassinos said.
"BioBrew is a team effort and relied on the very important contribution of my business partner Don Pearson and our very smart research team of Lincoln University scientists."
Mr Prassinos' nominator said his innovative approach to the development, production and distribution of agricultural probiotics was unique and had allowed farmers to improve production while reducing or eliminating problematic synthetic inputs such as antibiotics and artificial growth promoters. His novel methods revolutionised probiotics for farmers who now have access to superior world-class microbial technology at 10 per cent of the cost of other commercial products. Mr Prassinos was also recently recognised as a finalist in the New Zealander of the Year Innovator category while BioBrew received the inaugural Restorative Innovation Award at the 2013 Sustainable Business Network Awards.
