How Disruptive Technologies Are Reshaping the Biologicals Industry: Insights from Experts

In an era where sustainable agriculture has become a global imperative, biologicals — from biopesticides to biostimulants and soil health solutions — are emerging as critical tools for farmers worldwide. But what's driving the rapid advancement of these solutions? According to industry experts, disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are fundamentally transforming how biological products are discovered, developed, and deployed in the field.

The AI-Powered Transformation of Biologicals R&D

"Agriculture is on the brink of a revolution driven by disruptive technologies," notes Claude Flueckiger, Founder of Flueckiger Consulting. These innovations are driving tremendous progress across biologicals, crop protection, soil and plant health, seed technologies, biofertilizers, and water management.

At Futureco Bioscience, AI is already embedded in workflows, driving efficiency, precision, and scientific rigor. Rafael Juncosa, CEO and President, explains that "AI allows us to rapidly process, filter, and extract relevant insights" from overwhelming volumes of scientific literature. This technology is "particularly valuable in regulatory dossier preparation, where AI accelerates data compilation and analysis, ensuring compliance while significantly streamlining the approval process."

Beyond literature review, Juncosa highlights how "AI plays a crucial role in screening active ingredients, proteins, DNA, and RNA, allowing us to curate a more precise set of active ingredients candidates with the highest potential for efficacy and sustainability."

Dr. Pam Marrone, Co-founder & Executive Chair at Invasive Species Corporation, outlines several specific applications where AI and ML are driving innovation:

- More efficient analysis of field data to assess which biologicals work best and why

- Assessing phenotype and genotype changes when biologicals are applied

- Genome mining for microbial biopesticide and biostimulant discovery

- Discovering novel pesticidal proteins and peptides

- Optimizing fermentation processes

- Enhancing formulation development

Marrone notes that these approaches "allow practitioners to be more efficient at discovery and development of new biologicals or assessing current products, reducing resources and time." However, she cautions that quality datasets remain essential: "As one investor told me, 'Data eats algorithms for lunch.'"

Real-world application examples demonstrate this transformation in action. Sarah Myers, VP Marketing at Agmatix, shares how their company "has developed proprietary technology to harmonize and standardize agricultural data, addressing the industry's data inconsistency challenge." By utilizing Amazon Bedrock's generative AI capabilities, Agmatix enhances data-driven tools that enable researchers and marketing teams to analyze trial data more effectively.

Myers cites GG Biologicals as a case study, where adopting Agmatix's Trial Management and Insights platform transformed field trials through live data collection, centralized coordination, and real-time data visualization. This digital approach "reduced errors, improved efficiency, and enabled the creation of clear, visualized reports," allowing GG Biologicals to "confidently demonstrate product performance to customers and investors, accelerating product validation and strengthening market adoption."

Ron Baruchi, President & CEO of Agmatix, summarizes this impact: "AI and machine learning are transforming biologicals R&D by turning complex trial data into actionable insights in real-time. With tools like our GenAI analytics and integration with Amazon Bedrock, companies can streamline trials, ensure data accuracy, and quickly demonstrate product efficacy to drive market success."

Biologicals for Climate Resilience: The Most Promising Solutions

As climate change disrupts traditional growing conditions, biologicals are becoming increasingly critical for agricultural adaptation and resilience. Our experts highlighted several promising approaches.

"Microorganisms!" exclaims Dr. Marrone. "There are many companies and researchers that have shown quantitatively that certain microorganisms (alone or in mixtures) can sequester carbon or shift the soil microbiome to enhance C-sequestering microorganisms." She cites numerous examples, including Groundwork BioAg, Loam Bio, Andes, Pluton Biosciences, Indigo Ag, Locus Ag, and Biome Makers.

Additionally, Marrone points to companies like Pivot Bio, Azotic, Switch Bioworks, and Bioconsortia that are "using naturally occurring, gene edited, or engineered microorganisms to fix nitrogen and reduce chemical fertilizer usage." Plant and seaweed extracts can also "change the microbiome beneficially" or "signal plant beneficial microorganisms to colonize the roots."

At Futureco Bioscience, Juncosa identifies "biostimulants, microbial inoculants, soil regenerators, and advanced biocontrol solutions as some of the most promising tools for helping farmers adapt to shifting climate conditions while maintaining productivity and soil health." Their biostimulant products like Fitomaat and UltraV are "proving invaluable in enhancing crop resilience to drought, heat stress, and salinity."

Juncosa also highlights their Genomaat platform, which "integrates machine learning and soil metagenomic data for advanced agronomic analysis." This data-driven approach aligns with global initiatives like Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) promoted by the FAO and recommendations from the IPCC.

Flueckiger observes that disruptive technologies "enhance the development and field performance of biologicals" through precision application and by establishing resilience. He explains that integrating biologicals with new technologies presents "a breakthrough in strengthening self-regulating natural processes," enabling crops to recover from both biotic stresses (pests, diseases) and abiotic stresses (drought, salinity).

This combined approach, according to Flueckiger, "enhances soil health, plant vitality, and overall farm resilience and productivity," making biologicals "an indispensable cornerstone of resilient, sustainable, and highly productive agricultural systems."

Regional Regulatory Impacts on Commercialization

While technological innovation drives possibilities, regulatory frameworks significantly influence which biological solutions reach farmers and how quickly. Our experts highlighted stark differences between key markets.

Brazil emerges as a bright spot. According to Dr. Marrone, the country maintains "a commitment to efficient regulatory review and adoption of biopesticides, eclipsing the US in new active ingredient approvals. This means Brazilian farmers benefit first, whereas the US had been the first place to go to get the fastest approvals."

Juncosa concurs, noting that Brazil "has recognized the strategic role of biologicals in reducing chemical dependence and has developed a streamlined regulatory framework that allows for faster approvals without compromising scientific rigor." This opportunity prompted Futureco Bioscience to recently open a Brazilian subsidiary, enabling them "to work more closely with regulatory bodies, farmers, and industry partners to accelerate product adoption."

By contrast, Dr. Marrone expresses concern about the US regulatory environment: "The current US administration and majority Congress are keen on reducing the spending for the EPA... without understanding how low the resources already are to review all the many biopesticide innovations submitted to the Agency." She warns that increased timelines will deprive "farmers of the new innovations that can help them increase yields and ROI."

For biostimulants specifically, Marrone notes that "there is a national framework pending, which California approved. Now the other states all need to approve as well. This will bring predictability, quality and rigor to the US biostimulant market."

The European Union presents a mixed picture. Juncosa describes Europe as enforcing "some of the most stringent approval processes, often requiring extensive scientific validation and long timelines." However, he also notes that Europe is "leading the shift toward sustainable agriculture with policies like the Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy."

Dr. Marrone sees "a little more hope in Europe for Biocontrol (Biopesticides), as the recognition of the need for alternatives to restricted or eliminated chemical pesticides has gained steam among regulators and politicians." She adds that "the EU already has a good framework for Biostimulants."

Juncosa summarizes the strategic implications of these regulatory differences: "While these regional differences present challenges, they also create opportunities. The shift toward sustainable agriculture is undeniable, and biologicals are at the center of this transformation." Success, he suggests, "will depend on scientific excellence, regulatory agility, and the ability to anticipate and respond to changing policy landscapes."

The Path Forward

As disruptive technologies continue to advance, biologicals are poised to play an increasingly central role in global agriculture. AI and machine learning are accelerating discovery, development, and field optimization, while regulatory frameworks continue to evolve—albeit at different paces in different regions.

Flueckiger notes that despite technical progress, adopting these technologies "remains challenging for resource-limited farmers due to relative high investment costs." The industry's future success will depend on "demonstrating profitability and creating new revenue opportunities—such as ecological services or premium market positioning."

Nevertheless, as Juncosa concludes, "The future of biologicals will be shaped by companies that can navigate this complexity, establish credibility, and drive adoption through effective positioning and proven field performance." With climate pressure mounting and technological capabilities expanding, biologicals enhanced by AI and other disruptive technologies appear set to transform agriculture in the coming decade.

This article was published in the magazine of 2024 Annual Review. Follow this magazine to read more articles/stories.

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