By Lauren Milligan, Content Specialist, AgriBusiness Global
Many of the most innovative solutions in sustainable farming today focus on plant-soil interactions and the rhizosphere — the dynamic zone of soil surrounding plant roots. Biostimulants, designed to optimize the soil microbiome, are revolutionizing crop production by improving nutrient uptake, crop resilience, and soil health.
The Growing Role of Biostimulants
Biostimulants are natural or biological products that enhance plant growth and mitigate abiotic stress without serving as traditional fertilizers or pesticides. Their mechanisms, including the recruitment and activation of microbial communities, enable plants to better withstand challenges like drought, salinity, and nutrient deficiencies.
José Nolasco, Head of Global R&D Bionutrition at Rovensa Next, says their strength is their versatility. “Biostimulants can solubilize, mineralize, or mobilize nutrients like phosphorus or nitrogen, enhancing their use efficiency and benefiting the entire plant-soil-microorganism system."
Emmanuel Lesprit, Global Head of Marketing and Regulatory Affairs for Elephant Vert, agrees, citing case studies such as a multi-year program combining an organic amendment and a biostimulant on cocoa in Ivory Coast. “As soon as the first year, results showed an increase of plus-300% yield compared to the control and plus-100% compared to the organic amendment when applied alone on under-fertilized soils,” he says.
“Biostimulants can solubilize, mineralize, or mobilize nutrients like phosphorus or nitrogen, enhancing their use efficiency and benefiting the entire plant-soil-microorganism system.”
José NolascoRovensa Next
Products Pulling Ahead in the Global Market
Biostimulants are tailored to meet regional agricultural needs, demonstrating significant results across diverse geographies. Lawrence Middler, Biologicals Senior Analyst for AgbioInvestor, an analytical firm in the global agrochemical, biologicals, and the seeds and traits industries, says that companies offering specific products in three of the largest biostimulant markets (U.S., EU and Brazil) are pulling to the forefront.
Here is an overview of the biostimulant products leading the change in regenerative agricultural practices in these regions.
United States
The U.S. biostimulants market shows promising growth potential, particularly in row crops like corn and soybeans, where adoption remains low but is poised to expand. Early adopters, often younger growers with college degrees, are leveraging biostimulants to enhance crop growth, yields, and plant health reports Kynetec, a global data and analytics company.
While awareness among row crop growers is relatively low—38% for corn and 28% for soybeans—specialty crop growers, such as almond producers, demonstrate higher awareness and usage rates, averaging four applications annually, according to Kynetec.
Middler says the big successes in this region are coming from companies creating products for specific crop needs.
“Indigo Ag has a strong position with its Biotrinsic range, including: Biotrinsic M34 (Bacillus subtilis); Biotrinsic N13 (Bradyrhizobium japonicum) inoculants; and Biotrinsic WN29 (Cladosporium tenuissimum) which enhances abiotic stress tolerance in wheat,” Middler says.
Other products that are doing well, according to Middler, include:
Sumitomo Chemical’s MycoApply inoculant (Glomus aggregatum / Glomus etunicatum / Glomus intraradices / Glomus mosseae)
Bayer’s Acceleron range of biostimulants: Acceleron B-200 SAT (Penicillium bilaiae); Optimize XC (Bradyrhizobium japonicum); Acceleron B-300 SAT (Penicillium bilaiae); and Acceleron B-360 ST (lipo-chitooligosaccharide SP104).
Novoymes’ QuickRoots inoculant (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens / Trichoderma virens) product.
“With a biostimulant, what growers are ensuring is the crop will be able to produce its potential yield… The key here is that we’re not just promoting the productivity of the crop. We are looking at sustainability as well as crop production.”
James MaudeAcadian Plant Health
Advancements and Challenges in Biostimulants
Regulatory changes are fostering biostimulant adoption. For instance, the EU’s 2019 regulatory framework defines biostimulants outside the scope of plant protection products, cutting back on the time it takes to get products to market. However, challenges persist in tailoring biostimulants to diverse microbiomes, as soil composition varies significantly by region and crop rotation.
“Customization is essential but costly,” notes Lesprit. “Nevertheless, large-scale trials and programs are key to identifying strains that best fit specific conditions.”
The use of advanced analytics like metagenomics is driving innovation but remains resource intensive. Lesprit says the visible effects of biostimulants, particularly on soil, take longer to detect compared to traditional inputs, requiring extensive trial networks to validate efficacy.
It’s also about communication with the grower.
In an interview with AgriBusiness Global, James Maude, Senior Vice President for Acadian Plant Health, says biostimulants have a different value proposition than traditional crop inputs.
“It’s not like a fertilizer, where you’re saying one plus one equals two. The industry has been constantly focused on more productivity. Growers want more and more yield. They put on more nitrogen or phosphorus. They use more herbicides and fungicides to bump up that yield,” Maude says. “With a biostimulant, what growers are ensuring is the crop will be able to produce its potential yield. It’s a different type of value proposition. The key here is that we’re not just promoting the productivity of the crop. We are looking at sustainability as well as crop production.”
Using technology to show the benefits of the biostimulants’ effect on the roots of plants is essential for communicating this product’s unique value proposition.
“Our products influence the microorganisms that help the crop extract nutrients from the soil. We know that our products [make plants] more tolerant to abiotic stress. We have all that mapped,” says Maude. “We know that we are contributing to sustainable agriculture as well as the productivity of the crop. What we’re saying is it’s not productivity plus productivity. It’s productivity plus sustainability. That’s the value proposition that we offer with these types of technologies.”
“Innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to research are vital to unlocking the full potential of biostimulants and advancing sustainable agriculture.”
Emmanuel LespritElephant Vert
A Regenerative Future
As biostimulants reduce dependence on synthetic inputs, like nitrogen fertilizers, creating economic and environmental benefits, they also enhance crop quality, making produce more marketable and reducing food waste. These solutions are paving the way for sustainable farming practices that balance environmental, social, and economic needs.
“Innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to research are vital to unlocking the full potential of biostimulants and advancing sustainable agriculture,” Lesprit says.
Biostimulants are not just an agricultural innovation — they represent a transformative shift toward a more sustainable and resilient future for global farming.
