Osflo nearing 60 years of fertilising Taranaki’s future

A Taranaki business that began with a single truck and a vision to support local agriculture is nearing 60 years of operation.

Osflo Fertiliser, based just outside Inglewood, has grown from humble beginnings into a cornerstone of the region’s farming community with about 65 staff across the group, supplying sustainable fertiliser solutions and supporting local employment, innovation and sport.

CEO Rob Facer says the company’s longevity is rooted in its strong relationships, particularly with local growers and poultry producer Tegel, and its commitment to evolving with the needs of New Zealand farmers.

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Above: Osflo Fertiliser CEO Rob Facer.

Osflo Fertiliser Ltd was officially established in 1967 by John Geraghty and Malcolm Campbell, two local men who had started working together in fertiliser spreading a few years earlier.

They took over Farmers Bulk Topdressers in 1966 and soon after acquired the fledgling Osflo business, which would become the foundation of their fertiliser operations.

Facer says the company’s 60-year milestone is a moment of pride.

“It’s quite a long time – a wonderful legacy,” he says.

The company’s flagship product, Osflo, is a composted poultry litter fertiliser that is both Fertmark registered and BioGro certified.

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Above: Osflo Fertiliser product at the company's facility near Inglewood.

It is made by collecting bedding and litter from Tegel’s poultry sheds, composting it through a thermophilic process to ensure biosecurity, and blending it with other nutrients to meet customer-specific agronomic needs.

The company now produces and sells more than 50,000 tonnes of premium Osflo fertiliser per year, and their fleet of commercial vehicles includes five dedicated bulk fertiliser spreaders just for that product.

Facer says the relationship with Tegel is mutually beneficial - Osflo supplies the wood shavings for the poultry sheds, then collects the used litter and transforms it into a high-value fertiliser.

Osflo’s product is organic and sustainable, with a generally-lower carbon footprint than conventional fertiliser, but the company does also apply conventional product on behalf of major suppliers like Ballance and Ravensdown.

This diversification helps smooth out the seasonal nature of fertiliser application, which typically peaks in spring and autumn.

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Above: Osflo produces and sells more than 55,000 tonnes annually.

To maintain a skilled workforce year-round, Osflo offers full-time employment even during quieter months. Facer says this approach is essential for retaining experienced operators, some of whom have been with the company for decades.

“You can’t buy that knowledge and loyalty,” he says, “it’s acquired over many years, and it’s critical to delivering the level of service our customers expect.”

To further reduce seasonal volatility, Osflo is investing in product development.

The company is trialling pelletised and granulated versions of its fertiliser to make it denser, easier to transport, and suitable for a wider range of crops and climates.

It is also working with Massey University and Plant & Food Research to validate these, and other, innovations for New Zealand conditions.

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Above: Osflo equipment at the company's production plant.

Looking ahead, Facer says the company is focused on building a broader portfolio of products that can be used year-round, particularly in horticulture and viticulture.

“We want to extend our seasons and reduce our reliance on the weather,” he says.

Osflo’s commitment to environmental responsibility is reflected in its Toitū carbon reduce certification and ISO accreditations for quality, environment, and health and safety. The company has also invested in solar power and upgraded its vehicle fleet to meet modern emissions standards.

Facer says these efforts are part of a long-term view.

“We’ve got 60 years of legacy behind us, and we’re thinking about the next 60,” he says.

Another key relationship underpinning Osflo’s success is with its bank, ANZ. Facer says the company has banked with ANZ since its inception and values the trust and understanding that has developed over the decades.

“They understand our business and we understand them - they’re not just a bank, they’re a partner,” he says.

“That’s critical in a seasonal industry like ours, where cash flow can fluctuate.

Facer said Osflo has used a broad range of credit facilities over the years, including funding for property and commercial facility purchases.

ANZ Managing Director of Business Lorraine Mapu says ANZ is proud to support businesses like Osflo that are deeply embedded in their communities.

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Above: ANZ New Zealand Managing Director of Business Lorraine Mapu.

“Osflo is a great example of the innovation and resilience that characterise New Zealand’s rural businesses,” she says.

“When we work with businesses like Osflo, we’re also supporting local jobs, sustainability efforts, and the long-term prosperity of our farming communities.”

Facer is also candid about the challenges facing the region. While he praises Taranaki’s rich soils, reliable climate and strong farming heritage, he says the region’s deep-rooted reliance on dairy farming can be both a strength and a limitation.

“This is a traditional family-held dairy region,” he says.

“That’s part of what makes it so strong – the knowledge, the community, the consistency - but it can also be a bit of a roadblock to the future, because in a lot of ways we’re doing things the way we’ve always done them.”

He believes the region would benefit from greater diversification in land use and production.

“I’m not predicting a downturn in dairy - but if something like foot-and-mouth disease ever came here, and we were entirely dependent on one sector, we’d be in trouble,” he says.

“Having a vibrant horticultural industry, some alternative cropping, different production – that’s a form of risk mitigation.”

He says there is already good work happening in this space, but it’s a slow burn.

“It’s about being open to new ideas and thinking a bit more broadly about what the land can do.”

Osflo’s own growth strategy reflects that thinking. While most of its fertiliser is currently sold in Taranaki and the Waikato, the company is eyeing expansion into other regions and sectors.

Facer says his focus is firmly on the future.

“We’re proud of where we’ve come from,” he says, “but we’re even more excited about where we’re going.”