The Role of Biostimulants in Climate Smart Agriculture

High temperatures and erratic precipitation patterns were a major point of discussion in agriculture this summer. El Niño conditions heading into 2024 are expected to further impact farms, making rain less predictable and temperature more variable. Coming out of a summer where the average global temperature in June through August was the highest on record, the news of more unpredictability is not encouraging; however, incorporating tools like biostimulants, into your strategy can help safeguard your crop from weather variability.

Growers are adding biostimulants from Acadian Plant Health™ to their crop management plans to boost resiliency and adaptability to weather variability in annual and perennial crops. As crops are exposed to abiotic stress from frost, excessive water, heat, and drought, Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed biostimulants have been widely adopted in crop management practices to improve plant growth and resiliency while also improving soil health. Acadian’s biostimulants with BioSwitch™ technology stimulate natural processes in plants to enhance nutrient uptake and use efficiency, mitigate abiotic stress, and help support the yield and quality of plants.

An increasingly important approach to climate proofing your farm is practicing regenerative agriculture. At its core, regenerative agriculture focuses on improving soil health. Because plant health starts with the soil, Acadian Plant Health has been researching how Ascophyllum nodosum based biostimulants are a pivotal tool for supporting the microbiome, soil structure, and overall contributions to soil organic carbon. Due to their proximity to plant roots, soil microbes directly aid in nutrient uptake while stimulating plant growth through the development of the root system.

″We see many opportunities for biostimulants in North America. The role biostimulants can play in not only mitigating environmental stress but also as a tool in regenerative agriculture. At Acadian Plant Health we are investing in more resources to ensure we can provide the research and the support to our customers as this market continues to grow,″ says Candace Azad, Business Excellence Vice President for North America.

Weather can have a major impact on the farm, so looking at your practices and using a biostimulant to limit your farm’s exposure has become increasingly important. When incorporating biostimulants into the farm’s crop plan, it is important to remember that they are most effective when applied preventatively.

For both specialty and broadacre crops, Ascophyllum nodosum biostimulants can mitigate environmental stress, and increase nutrient and water use efficiency. For perennial crops, Acadian also recommends applying biostimulants post-harvest to renew carbohydrate and nutrient reserves to encourage regrowth. When thinking about long-term resiliency on your farm, Ascophyllum nodosum biostimulants help to support soil health by enriching soil microbe development and boosting soil health which creates a better growth environment. Safeguard your crops against the volatility of weather patterns and begin preventatively building your farm’s resilience today.