Biostimulants World Congress & EBIC: Shaping the Future of Biostimulants
November 2024
2024 Biostimulants World Congress
The 2024 Biostimulants World Congress (BWC), co-organised by EBIC and Informa, brought the global biostimulants community together in Miami from 12–15 November. As the world’s largest biostimulants event, the Congress featured over 1,000 attendees, 100+ exhibitors, and a packed agenda of keynote speeches, expert panels, scientific presentations, and invaluable networking opportunities.
A Tipping Point for the Biostimulants Industry
Professor Patrick Brown’s keynote set the tone for the event, highlighting the remarkable progress of the biostimulants sector while identifying the challenges it faces. With 1,600 biostimulant-related publications in 2023, the industry is growing, yet still lags behind more established areas such as plant hormones (18,000 publications) and secondary metabolites (24,000 publications). Professor Brown also underscored the unrealised potential of 166 billion bioactive molecules catalogued in databases, pointing to opportunities for future innovation.
Importantly, Professor Brown’s observations about efficacy beyond abiotic stress align with EBIC’s advocacy for the functional definition of biostimulants under the EU Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR). The FPR defines biostimulants as products that stimulate plant nutrition processes independently of their nutrient content, aiming to improve nutrient use efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance, quality traits, or nutrient availability. This functional framework highlights biostimulants’ capacity to solve specific, measurable challenges, an essential step in gaining broader recognition.
EBIC at the Forefront
As co-organiser, EBIC was integral to the Congress’s success, providing thought leadership and insights into regulatory frameworks, market development, and industry trends.
- Regulatory Workshop (Tuesday, 12 November):
- Delivered by Kristen Sukalac, this session explored the regulatory opportunities created by the FPR. Kristen emphasised how clear regulatory frameworks are essential for fostering innovation and expanding global markets for biostimulants. View Kristen’s presentation here.
- Thought Leadership Talk (Thursday, 14 November):
- David Barton’s presentation underscored EBIC’s role in driving market development. He highlighted the importance of creating pull factors such as CAP incentives and crop insurance rebates, which can accelerate adoption. David also stressed the need for consistent data aggregation to support measurable claims and build trust across the value chain. View David’s presentation here.
Positioning Biostimulants for the Future
- The Congress reinforced the need for the biostimulants industry to focus on specificity, differentiation, and credibility.
- From Generic to Specific Claims:
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- Farmers need clarity on how biostimulants address tangible problems—such as phosphorus deficiency, drought stress, or compaction—rather than broad claims like “soil health” or “crop resilience.” This aligns with the FPR’s requirement for function-based claims, which enhance marketability and trust.
- Combating Commoditisation:
- Dunham Trimmer, highlighted the risks of biostimulants becoming commoditised. EBIC’s emphasis on function-based claims and unique modes of action ensures biostimulants remain innovative and indispensable rather than interchangeable inputs.
- Realising the Potential:
- The vast opportunities identified by Professor Patrick Brown, combined with EBIC’s leadership, point to a bright future. By focusing on targeted problem-solving and measurable outcomes, the industry can unlock its potential while meeting the needs of global agriculture.
Looking Ahead for the Biostimulants World Congress
The BWC 2024 showcased the biostimulants sector’s growing influence while highlighting the work that lies ahead. EBIC’s contributions as co-organiser, thought leader, and advocate for the industry reinforced its commitment to ensuring biostimulants are recognised as vital tools in sustainable agriculture.
From shaping regulatory frameworks to advancing market development, EBIC continues to lead the charge in driving innovation and credibility for the biostimulants industry. The Congress served as a reminder of the immense potential within the sector and the importance of collaboration to realise it.
2025’s Biostimulant World Congress will take place in Barcelona, Spain from 1-4 December.