AgroPages-Hot bio-stimulants gain traction in Latin American market-Agricultural news

Wu Dapeng

According to Micro Market Monitor in its latest report, “Latin American Bio-stimulants Market Analysis and Forecast to 2019,” the global bio-stimulants market is projected to reach US$2.91 billion by 2021, with a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 10.4% from 2016 to 2021. In terms of area of application, the bio-stimulants market is projected to reach 24.9 million hectares by 2021 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.7% from 2016 to 2021.

As an important part of the global market, the Latin American bio-stimulants market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 17.5% during the forecast period of 2014 to 2019. Plant bio-stimulants contain substance(s) and/or micro-organisms whose function, when applied to plants or the rhizosphere, is to stimulate natural processes that enhance nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, and crop quality. Bio-stimulants have no direct impact on pests and therefore do not fall within the regulatory framework for pesticides.

Bio-stimulants have evolved into major agricultural resources for sustainable crop production. These products were previously used primarily for the cultivation of horticultural products, but they have now become essential for all key row crops, such as rice, wheat, corn, sugarcane, and soybeans. Acid-based and extract-based bio-stimulants are the main types available in the market, with acid-based bio-stimulants being the most common in Latin America.

The Latin American bio-stimulants market is dominated by Brazil, which held 42% of the region's market share in 2014, followed by Argentina. In Brazil, the adoption of sustainable farming practices and organic ingredients to improve the quality of the produce has driven the market, resulting in a high market value.

These key players have been exploring the Latin American market by adopting various strategies, such as new product launches, expansion, and investment, in the last five years. AgroPages has determined that most of the international bio-stimulant suppliers in Latin American markets are from Europe, such as AgriTecno, Atlántica Agricola, Daymsa, Tradecorp, and EDEN Modern Agriculture from Spain; Biolchim, Valagro, Chemia, Green Has Italia, ISAGRO, ILSA Group, and ITALPOLLINA from Italy; BioAtlantis from Ireland; COMPO GmbH from Germany; Agrinos from Norway; and AGROLOGY from Greece. On the other hand, there are still some active players from other regions, such as Earth Alive and ACADIAN SEAPLANTS LIMITED from Canada; BRANDT from the United States; Rural Liquid Fertilisers from Australia; International Panaacea Ltd from India; Kelpak from South Africa; ICL-Specialty Fertilizers from Israel; Leili Marine Bioindustry Inc. from China; and Rizobacter Argentina S.A. from Argentina.

Well-established back-end and frontend operations at these companies, impressive product portfolio launches, and the acquisition of active ingredient processors are projected to further stabilize their position in the Latin American market.

Dynamic companies

Product Name	Functions	Technology
MEGAFOL®	Anti-stress and growth activator. When applied to combat stress, its synergistic action between betaine and amino acids allows the plants to quickly and easily overcome the stress and improve growth.	Contains a line of vitamins, amino acids and proteins, betaine and growth factors.
RELEASEED®	Enhances germination energy, root development, and vigorous and early growth. In leguminous crops, it also helps improve nitrogen fixation in the roots.	Innovative solution for seed treatment; the result of the experience and technology of Valagro GEAPOWER.
VIVA®	Improved and balanced growth. Improves both the developing roots' environment and the plant's root system. Moreover, treated plants show increased fruit setting and good uniformity in ripening and fruit size.	Contains polysaccharides, proteins, polypeptides, amino acids, humic acids, hormone precursors, and vitamin complexes.

Product Name	Functions	Technology
FOLICIST	Improves flowering and fruit setting and prevents stress from abiotic agents.	ATCA, folic acid, glycine betaine, and seaweed.
NOV@	Stimulates root development and nutrient uptake.	Presence of phyto-saponins, which improve nutrient absorption, and fulvic acids, which stimulate root development.
NOV@GR	Improves root development, soil structure, and nutrient availability. Allows the plant to overcome post-transplanting stress.	High uniformity of granules (2mm) produced under the patented HUMICRON®.
SUNRED	Promotes coloration uniformity and ripening of fruits without altering firmness.	Based on vegetal extracts.
FYLLOTON	Promotes the synthesis pf proteins, energy saving and increase plant growth and metabolic activity	Amino acid complex of vegetal origin, Ascophillum Nodosum seaweed extract
KRISS	Bio-promoter of fruit enlargement, stimulates cell division and improve plant metabolism	Trigonella extracts, corn germ extract, Ascophyllum Nodosum seaweed extract, vegetal amino acids, arginine, uptake bio-enhancer

Product Name	Functions	Technology
Phylgreen Range	Bio-stimulant products that activate the plants' metabolism, especially during critical growth stages, and are specifically designed to overcome environmental stress situations (salinity, drought, frost, etc.).	Range based on Ascophyllum nodosum extracts obtained by the Gentle Extraction method, which preserves the seaweed's original active ingredients.
Chelates Range	Most efficient way to correct and prevent micronutrient deficiencies via foliar or soil applications.	EDDHA, EDTA, and DTPA chelates with a maximum level of chelation, great compatibility, and instantaneous solubility.
Delfan Plus/Delfan 24	Anti-stress bio-stimulant for adverse climatic conditions and critical periods of crop development due to a fast and efficient recovery of the crops after its application.	Solution based on 100% biologically active and functionally free L-α-amino acids.
Ruter AA	Exclusive rooting and growth stimulation solution that activates the root system and boosts plant development during the initial stages of crop growth.	Solution of essential macronutrients, micronutrients, and free L-α-amino acids optimally balanced for the earliest phases of the vegetative cycle.

Product Name	Functions	Technology
Alga600	1. Stimulates root growth and reduces transplant shock 2. Promotes vigorous growth during seedling stage 3. Strengthens shoot elongation and plant development. 4. Improves both abiotic and biotic stress resistance. 5. Improves flowering and fruit set, uniform fruit color and size. 6. Promotes early ripening of fruit and prolongs shelf life.	Seaweed extract; two patent “Algen” “Kelmost”;organic matter and potassium alginate
Softguard	1.Improves crop immunity, prevents crops from fungal, bacterial and virus infections 2.Accelerates plant wound healing 3.Stimulates plants to release antibiotics and enzymes against soil born diseases, destroying nematode egg shells	Chitosan oligosacchride(molecular weight ≤3000Dalton)
Leili 2000	Rapidly correct micronutrient deficiencies. Promotes development and growth of shoot and roots. Strengthens anti-stress capability. Increases fruit set ratio, preventing flower and fruit dropping.	Seaweed Extract Compound Liquid Fertilizer. Rich in full spectrum of chelated micronutrients, which rapidly correct micronutrient deficiencies.

Product Name	Functions	Technology
BSN Seed Priming Fertiliser	Imbibes nutrient inside the seed to feed the embryo high levels of phosphorus and essential trace elements required for germination and early growth. Stimulates larger root growth and early vigor in the plant.	SDS delivery technology, which allows a broad-spectrum combination of nutrients to penetrate the seed and imbibe inside it for use at germination.
Ultra Foliar Fertiliser	Delivers to the plant a high concentration package of 12 nutrients, including large amounts of plant-available phosphorus. Stimulates greater root growth and is designed to provide phosphorus for large yields and high quality.	NDS delivery technology uses hydrogen to safely transfer 12 nutrients in high concentrations through the leaf and cell walls. Low pH phosphorus-based technology, including HBS, which allows for a formulation of 12 nutrient elements in a plant-available form.
Universal Dip Nutrient Chargers	Used in plant parts or root dipping and soaking – a nutrient charger replaces spaces with a package of 13 nutrients. Stimulates greater germination and root development, improves strike rate, and stimulates more vigor and resistance to disease agents.	Broad-spectrum formulation that can safely transfer 13 essential nutrients. UniDip charges tissue with ionic forms of nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, plus trace elements.

Product Name	Functions	Technology
DISPER Cu Max	Activated copper for the prevention of fungal and bacterial diseases. It is 100% soluble and compatible with other agrochemical products, it does not produce vegetative stop, phytotoxicity, or stains.	WSG-FB: Water Soluble Granules with Fluid Bed technology, free of powder, with exclusive mechanism of self-dissolution, guaranteeing the absence of lumps and comprising specific pure, active ingredients and coadjuvants to improve chemical behavior.
DISPER Chlorophyl	Biostimulant of the chlorophyll function specifically designed to increase the vegetative development and enhance the protection against stress situations. This is a product among the DISPER "Crop Cycle" range: a line of products formulated with specific stimulant molecules scientifically chosen for each of the phenological stages.
DISPER Alghum	Exclusive combination of humic and seaweed extracts that improves the soil porosity, increases the water retention capacity and stimulates the root.
DISPER Size	Biostimulant specifically designed to enhance the fruit development and maturity processes. It improves the harvest in quantity and quality. This is a product among the DISPER "Crop Cycle" range: a line of products formulated with specific stimulant molecules scientifically chosen for each of the phenological stages.

Product Name	Functions	Technology
Aminocore Concentrate	Increases photosynthesis activity and chlorophyll content; increases plant stress resistance; Improves fruit set and quality ; improves efficiency of plant protection treatments; suitable to be used in liquid organic fertilizer blends	Made from enzymatic hydrolysed pharmaceutical source material it is a short chain peptides and L-α-amino acid-based liquid product for foliar application. Contains more than 15% L-α-amino acids.
Aminocore Complex	Increases photosynthesis activity and chlorophyll content; increases nutrient uptake and utilization rate of mineral nutrients; improves efficiency of plant protection treatments; rapid recovery from critical situations; improves fruit set and quality	Made from enzymatic hydrolysed pharmaceutical source material it is a short chain peptides and L-α-amino acid-based liquid product for foliar application. The product contains more than 15% L-α-amino acids, fulvic acids and plant extracts.

Product Name	Functions	Technology
Acadian	Acadian products stimulate plant development. This produces unique benefits for each crop and its stage of maturity.	The key active ingredients of ALGA from the finest seaweed plant, Ascophyllum nodosum.

Product Name	Functions	Technology
AGRIFUL	Promotes the development of root systems, improving plant nutrition. Anti-stress and detoxifying effect. Increases the population of beneficial microorganisms in the soil. Increases the quantity of root hairs.	Quick action root bio-stimulant with fulvic acid
TECAMIN	Activates plant metabolism and crop development. Anti stress and detoxifying effect. Carrier action.	Vegetal bio-stimulant balanced with free L-α-amino acids

Product Name	Functions	Technology
HUMA GRO® VITOL® (foliar)	Nutrient package that stimulates vegetative growth and fruit sizing. Provides energy for increased metabolism, growth and vigor. Improves plant recovery from stresses.	Complexed with Micro Carbon Technology®, a proprietary small carbon carrier that allows for greater plant uptake and rapid mobility within the plant structure.
HUMA GRO® BREAKOUT® (foliar)	Nutrient package that stimulates uniform bud break, uniform flowering, increased bloom and fruit set, and improved fruit size, quality and uniformity.
HUMA GRO® SOILMAX® (soil)	Soil activator that stimulates the beneficial soil microbiology which improve soil structure and soil fertility. SOILMAX increases soil biomass, improves water retention and water penetration, solubilizes inorganic nutrients for efficient plant uptake, and stimulates greater root mass development.	Complexed with Micro Carbon Technology®, a proprietary small carbon carrier that improves soil structure and stimulates the beneficial microbial activity in the soil. This balances the carbon-oxygen ratio, creating a carbon-rich soil that allows the soil and rhizosphere interface to be more active and fertile.
HUMA GRO® ENCAPSALT® (soil)	Soil activator with surfactant technology that stimulates the beneficial soil microbiology, improves soil structure and soil fertility, and diminishes salt stress in saline/sodic soils. ENCAPSALT reduces and removes excessive salts in the root zone, improving water and nutrient uptake.

Porducts overview

Company	Product Name	Functions	Technology
Atlántica Agricola (Spain)	Razormin	Razormin is a bio-stimulant with a rooting effect and a well-balanced composition that induces, first, the growth of the root system and, later, root and vegetative development, produced by cellular division.	Contains free amino acids and polysaccharide components that favor nutrient absorption to induce plant development.
Atlántica Agricola (Spain)	Fitomare	Bio-stimulant effect promotes the sprouting, blooming, and setting of the fruit.	Based on seaweed extract (Ascophyllum nodosum) enriched with free amino acids and macro and microelements.
Daymsa (Spain)	NATURCOMPLET G	Mechanical application, improves soil structure, and increases organic matter content in the soil.	Active Leonardite humic acids in granular form.
Daymsa (Spain)	NATURAMIN WSP	Stimulates crop activities and overcomes stressful situations, such as bud breaking, droughts, plagues, and diseases.	Highly concentrated soluble amino acids.
Chemia (Italy)	BIOLINFA PLUS A®	Has an important fluidizing effect on xylem and phloem cells. The use of this product is particularly suited to those plants that, for various reasons, do not have a fully functioning vascular system.	Consists of a balanced mix of bio-stimulants, amino acids, nitrogen, and microelements.
Green Has Italia (Italy)	ALGAREN TWIN	Its particular ratio between auxins and cytokinins stimulates the plants to produce endogenous cytokinins that induce rooting and provide plants with plentiful flowering and fruit setting.	Contains extracts of Ecklonia maxima brown seaweed and yeasts.
	DRIN	It promotes the synthesis of proteins and other hormone and enzymatic precursors, stimulating the development and metabolism of plant organs.	Contains a high percentage of free amino acids that are promptly available to the vegetable tissues.
	VIVEMA	Vivema nourishes and strengthens plants, favoring the formation of more efficient new root hairs.	Contains a high percentage of vegetal extracts.

ISAGRO (Italy)	Siapton	Stimulates crop activities and overcomes stressful situations, such as bud breaking, droughts, plagues, and diseases.	Contains active amino acids-peptides.
ILSA Group (Italy)	ILSAGRADER	Favors the production of sugars in the plant and their transfer to the final product, improving the balance between aromas and flavors.	Based on polysaccharides, potassium, betaine, algae extracts, and other plant components.
ITALPOLLINA (Italy)	CLICK FRUIT	It stimulates metabolism, improves plant development, and increases yield and fruit quality. It also enhances crop resistance to climatic stresses.	Contains mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus intraradices), Trichoderma atroviride, and rhizosphere bacteria.
BioAtlantis (Ireland)	Alga Complex®	Improves seed germination, promotes root development, and increases bloom set and size of flowers and fruit. Broad application range including fruit crops, vegetables, and grass.	Extract of Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed, with added N, P, K, boron, manganese zinc, and copper.
COMPO GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)	Basfoliar	For foliar fertilization of intensive field crops and horticultural crops and for fertigation. The combination between the main nutrients, amino acids, and vitamins can further facilitate growth performance and vitality.	Liquid compound NPK–fertilizers and fertilizers of vegetable or marine faunal origin that supply essential minerals, phytohormones, amino acids, vitamins, carbohydrates, or potassium phosphate.
COMPO GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)	Vitanica®	The combination between the main nutrients and algae ingredients can further facilitate growth performance and vitality.	Liquid compound and combined organic-mineral NPK–fertilizers with algae extracts (kelp) for revitalization and strengthening of the plants.

Agrinos (Norway)	HYT A-VitaComplex	A soil-applied proprietary liquid solution that promotes a highly productive microbial system in the soil to support plant health and yield.	Produced by a fermentation process utilizing a consortium of microbes that creates a highly productive microbial system in the soil.
	HYT B-AminoVita	A unique nutrient solution that increases the activity of multiple critical metabolic pathways in the crop.	Contains carbon, nitrogen, true protein, and amino acids.
	HYT C-MaisRaiz	A nutrient powder derived from organic, biologically extracted chitin, which supports crop productivity and soil health.	Contains organic, biologically extracted chitin and other crucial plant nutrients.
Earth Alive (Canada)	Soil Activator^TM	Patent-pending bio-fertilizer and bio-stimulant designed for organic and conventional agriculture. It is composed of a blend of naturally occurring soil microorganisms with a proprietary synergistic active.	Strains of Bacillus and Pseudomonas.
Earth Alive (Canada)	ALGA liquid	Improves seed germination, promotes root development, and increases bloom set and size of flowers and fruit. ALGA liquid seaweed helps plants establish more quickly and grow healthier.	ALGA liquid seaweed contains vitamins, natural chelating agents, and amino acids. The key active ingredients of ALGA come from the finest seaweed plant, Ascophyllum nodosum.
BRANDT (USA)	BRANDT® Uptake	Enhances crop quality and yield potential, improves soil conditions, and enhances nutrient uptake.	Non-alkaline extracted humic acid. The patent pending formulation has a very low pH formulation.
BRANDT (USA)	BRANDT® Seaweed Max	Stimulates plant metabolites, improves enzymatic reactions in cells, and improves cell membrane permeability.	Seaweed extract, derived from Ascophyllum nodosum, in combination with humic acid.
International Panaacea Ltd (India)	PREMIUM PHOSPHOFIX	It solubilizes available phosphorus in the soil for the plant through acid formation. Helps in promoting root growth and winter hardiness. Stimulates tillering, etc.	Phosphate solubilizing bacteria.
	PREMIUM POTASH ACTIVA	It mobilizes available potash in soil for the plant. Improves drought resistance. Stimulates early growth. Increases protein production. Improves the efficiency of water use. Improves resistance to diseases and insects.	Potash mobilizing bacteria.
	SIRON	It improves the availability of sulphur and iron in the soil. Improves crop yield. Helps in strong growth. Reduces plant stress.	Sulphur and iron solubilizer.

Kelpak

(South Africa)

Kelpak

Contains a very high auxin to cytokinin ratio. This auxin domination stimulates vigorous primary and secondary root development in the plant, thus enhancing the plant's own hormone production, leading to an improved crop yield.

Derived from the seaweed species Ecklonia maxima (kelp), it is a natural and unique source of auxins and cytokinins.

ICL-Specialty Fertilizers

(Israel)

SeaMax

Helps the plant produce longer roots and greater root mass and improves the quality of growth (shoot weight).

Based on high-density Atlantic Ascophyllum nodosum.

Rizobacter (Argentina)

Microstar PZ®

Indicated at planting as a starter, and next to the seed fertilizing the crop, it favors access and rapid availability to the nutrients applied in the absorption area of the root.

Combines in its formulation the microgranular technology in a chemical mixture, supplying N, P, S, and Zn.

AGROLOGY S.A

(Greece)

Dyna-XGel® Black Line

Foliar fertilizer that combine ease of use, high concentrations, high efficacy and improved translocation through the plant and anti-stress mechanism, in a unique gel form, helping farmers increase their yield and improve the quality of their harvest.

S^3®: Innovative gel formulation technology, combining the benefits of liquid and solid fertilizers.

E²DA^®: Unique nutrient mobilization system the enhances nutrient uptake and translocation.

Stress Control System: Combination of organic molecules for increased resistance to abiotic stress.

Nodius F-Kin®

Foliar super-stimulant for improved flowering, fruit setting and increased yield. Stimulates cell division, enhances the cell’s osmotic potential, increasing size and firmness of the fruit.

E²DA^®: Unique nutrient mobilization system the enhances nutrient uptake and translocation.

Combination of organic molecules with Cytokinin-like effect

Mixture of amino acids polysacharides and proteins.