Plant biostimulants can strengthen EU resilience and nutrient use efficiency, says EBIC
April 2026
At the High-Level Dialogue on securing a sustainable, competitive and fair EU fertilisers system held in Brussels on 13 April 2026, the European Biostimulants Industry Council (EBIC) highlighted the key role of plant biostimulants in improving nutrient use efficiency and strengthening the resilience of European agriculture.
Represented by its Vice-President Marco Rosso, EBIC emphasised that Europe’s challenge is not only access to nutrients, but how effectively those nutrients are used in practice. Plant biostimulants, as innovation-driven solutions, can play a central role in enhancing system performance and supporting farmers in increasingly variable conditions.
Plant biostimulants are already widely used across European agriculture. They do not supply nutrients directly but improve how efficiently crops use the nutrients available to them. By enhancing nutrient uptake and utilisation, these products help increase agronomic efficiency while reducing losses. Many of them improve crop tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought and heat, contributing to more stable yields.
“Improving nutrient use efficiency is one of the most immediate and effective ways to strengthen both farmer competitiveness and the resilience of the EU fertiliser system,” said Marco Rosso, Vice-President of EBIC.
Discussions also focused on the conditions needed to scale solutions across the EU. A key priority is establishing an enabling regulatory framework that supports innovation while ensuring farmers have access to effective tools. This includes the effective implementation of the EU Fertilising Products Regulation and maintaining coherence across related legislation, particularly regarding components such as animal by-products and micro-organisms.
Participants also highlighted the importance of supporting both supply and demand. While manufacturers need workable conditions to bring innovative products to market, farmers require stronger advisory support, better understanding of plant biostimulants, and targeted policy incentives to encourage uptake. Together, these measures can significantly improve nutrient efficiency and the overall sustainability and competitiveness of the EU fertiliser system.
EBIC welcomes the High-Level Dialogue as an important step in recognising the contribution of plant biostimulants within plant nutrition. Looking ahead, EBIC stands ready to contribute to ongoing policy discussions and to support the development of practical measures that enhance nutrient use efficiency and strengthen Europe’s agricultural resilience.