EBIC is the European Biostimulants Industry Council, the trade association for plant biostimulants in Europe. Founded in 2011, our vision is sustainable agriculture supported by the global adoption of plant biostimulants.
We are dedicated to fostering the growth, development and fair regulation of our industry. We promote plant biostimulants as essential to advanced food systems, providing education, advocacy, and support to members, policymakers, and farmers.
We achieve this through various strategic activities, including:
EBIC welcomes producers* of plant biostimulants active in Europe that are interested in co-operating in areas of common interest. Our members are forward thinking companies committed to developing opportunities for all. Members involve themselves in whichever aspects of our work are relevant and important to them.
EBIC Code of Conduct
EBIC members are asked to commit to a code of conduct which offers transparency to farmers using plant biostimulants, allowing them to make informed decisions about the benefits that biostimulants may bring to their crop management systems. This commitment protects the reputation of our industry by ensuring that all claims are based in science and that members follow best practice in production, distribution and commercialisation of their products.
Governance structure
Every position in the EBIC governance structure is held by an EBIC member. The Board of Directors is elected from the membership and supported by a professional Secretariat. The mid-term strategy (MTS) is developed by the Board in conjunction with the membership and sets out EBIC’s goals and the activities required to achieve them. It is implemented by the MTS Steering Group which co-ordinates the workplan with a series of project teams.
EBIC’s History
In the first decade of this century, the biostimulants industry was fragmented, unstructured and unregulated, but the potential of these emerging technologies was beginning to be recognised at both farmer and policymaker levels. EBIC was founded in 2011 by a group of biostimulants manufacturers frustrated by the lack of a harmonised regulatory framework, who saw an opportunity to correct this when the European Commission announced a review of fertiliser regulations.
Following a decade of work shaping policies, educating stakeholders, and driving research and innovation, EBIC celebrated the inclusion of plant biostimulants in the EU Fertilising Products Regulation (EU 2019/1009 – the FPR), a real step forward for the industry. The FPR represented a milestone in the development of the plant biostimulants industry. The regulatory recognition gave credibility to the whole product category, and the minimum quality and safety requirements specified under the FPR reassured potential customers by eliminating inappropriate product claims. Importantly, biostimulants were recognised as being part of a broadened definition of plant nutrition and soil fertility that looks at more than just the provision of nutrients.
EBIC has become a key voice in advocating for the use of plant biostimulants. Without EBIC, the opportunities for biostimulants in Europe would be significantly fewer. From helping define the term ‘biostimulants’ to achieving recognition in law, EBIC has driven progress. There is, however, still more to do and EBIC’s Mid-Term Strategy sets out our goals to 2027.
Since EBIC was established in 2011, we have grown into a robust organisation that collaborates with a wide network of industry leaders, policymakers, and environmental organisations. To play your part in promoting plant biostimulants and their role in sustainable agriculture, join EBIC now.