USA - BPIA supports Plant Biostimulant Act

The Biological Products Industry Alliance (BPIA) applauds the bipartisan introduction of the Plant Biostimulant Act of 2022 and thanks Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN) for sponsoring the bill. The act amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to establish a consistent national definition for the new agricultural product category of “plant biostimulant” and specifically excludes such products, which are not pesticides, from FIFRA regulation.

This legislation demonstrates that there is bipartisan support for establishing a clear path to market for biostimulants and to get these innovative agricultural products into the hands of American growers to help improve plant health, crop yield, and tolerance to abiotic stresses.

According to BPIA Executive Director Keith Jones, “Plant biostimulant products can increase the uptake and utilization of existing and applied nutrients, thus reducing the potential for nutrient runoff into rivers, lakes, and streams or loss to the atmosphere as greenhouse gasses.”

“The utilization of innovative plant nutrition technologies, such as plant biostimulants, and other sustainability management practices can be useful tools for enhancing carbon sequestration, conserving and replenishing soil health, reducing carbon emissions, and improving the nation’s water quality,” said Jones.

BPIA is hosting its 2022 Annual Meeting in Monterey, CA on May 17-18. During that meeting, there will be multiple sessions discussing the bill and looking at the current state of biostimulants in the United States including regulations, market expansion, and their role in plant health.

“We plan to have speakers from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR), and the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO) provide updates on the rapidly developing biostimulant industry to hundreds of attendees from BPIA’s over 145 member companies which range from innovative sole proprietors to international conglomerates,” Jones said.