From Farm Fields to Rooftops: Discover an Iowa-Made Soybean Innovation
June 23, 2026
By Haley Banwart
When most Iowans think about soybeans, they might picture livestock feed, cooking oil or biodiesel. But what if those same soybeans could help protect your home?
In Ames, one innovative organization is proving just how versatile Iowa-grown crops can be. In 2024, Colorbiotics, a Sika Company, launched a breakthrough bio-based roofing treatment, Peak 301, that uses soybean oil to help homeowners extend the life of aging asphalt roofs.
Colorbiotics has been creating specialty products and equipment for more than 30 years, and many people may be surprised to learn how often they encounter the local manufacturer’s innovations without even realizing it.
“We’re best known for producing colorants used in landscaping products, like wood mulch; recreation products, such as golf course sand; and applications in the concrete industry,” says Kent Rotert, vice president of Colorbiotics. “Because we have about 50% market share in wood mulch colorants, there’s a high probability the colored mulch in your yard, neighborhood or local park was made using technology developed right here in Iowa.”
Rotert adds, “Safety and environmental responsibility are critical to how we do business. We put our products through the same testing protocols used in the cosmetics industry, and we applied that same rigorous approach to developing Peak 301, our roofing rejuvenator.”
The Science Behind the Shingles
The science behind Peak 301 is rooted in a common challenge faced by asphalt roofs.
Over time, exposure to sunlight, heat and everyday wear causes asphalt shingles to dry out and become brittle. As shingles lose flexibility, they become more susceptible to cracking, curling and losing the protective granules that shield roofs from the elements.
That's where Peak 301 chemistry comes in. The treatment is professionally applied to aging asphalt shingles, penetrating deep into each shingle’s molecular makeup. Once absorbed, it works to restore flexibility, improve granule adhesion and help replenish properties that naturally diminish as a roof ages.
Rotert explains that the product is designed for roofs that are already showing signs of aging. “In Iowa,” he says, “that often means applying the treatment to roofs that are around 10 years old or older. But in Florida, for example, homeowners might expect to apply it sooner due to the climate and heat intensity.”
He continues, “The treatment allows a shingle to do what a shingle does. Rather than just coating the surface, it helps the shingle continue to breathe, maintain its character and protect the asphalt beneath it. That’s important because your roof is the first line of defense for everything below.”
Beyond its performance benefits, Peak 301 was developed with all-natural ingredients. The formula contains 35% soybean oil and is USDA-certified, making it an environmentally friendly option for extending the life of an existing roof and delaying the need for replacement.
Corn-Soybean Rotation Inspires Product Development
The innovation doesn't stop with soybeans. After seeing success with its soybean-based roofing treatment, Colorbiotics looked to another crop that plays a central role in Iowa agriculture: corn.
“After the soybean product had been on the market for several years, we started looking at corn as well,” Rotert says. “Corn and soybeans are both a big part of the crop rotation system in Iowa, and both are critical to the state's agriculture industry, so it made sense for us to explore opportunities with both.”
As a result, the company developed a corn-based, private-label product also used in roof rejuvenation solutions. The work builds on Colorbiotics' commitment to sourcing materials locally and leveraging its full-scale research and development lab to bring new ideas to market.
Today, Colorbiotics operates from a 175,000-square-foot facility in Ames with a team of 72 employees. While the company now has global reach through its parent company, Sika, it remains deeply rooted in Iowa and continues to develop products that blend agricultural resources with practical, real-world applications.
Products like Peak 301 are a unique reminder that Iowa's crops do more than provide food, fuel and fiber. They also inspire innovative solutions that help solve everyday challenges while creating new opportunities for farmers, manufacturers and consumers.
“Our production process is a great example of recirculating agricultural resources back into the marketplace,” Rotert shares. “The soybeans are grown, harvested and processed in the Midwest, manufactured locally in Ames and then used on homes throughout the region.”
For homeowners, the technology offers another tool for protecting one of their homes’ most important investments. For Iowa agriculture, it demonstrates how crops grown in local fields can offer value in unexpected places.