Grainswest - Tech 2024

Tech 2024 Grains West 38 According to a recent report from MarketsandMarkets, the agricultural biologicals market is expected to nearly double from US$14.6 billion in 2022 to US$27.9 billion in 2028. A Stratus Ag Research farmer survey focused on biostimulant use and satisfaction, however, reveals that Canadian farmers remain skeptical. Widespread adoption has been constrained by several factors such as higher costs associated with biological products, limited third-party research and a lack of product-use knowledge. As well, major corporate players in the biologicals category face big challenges. As market competition grows, they must achieve consistent and reliable results in the field, navigate regulatory scrutiny and develop packaging that ensures product survivability. USE AND SATISFACTION Stratus Ag Research has tracked the use of biological products in Canada since 2022. In a recent survey, it asked farmers about their use of biostimulants. The survey defined biostimulants as products that contain substances or micro- organisms whose marketed function is to stimulate natural processes that enhance nutrient uptake, nutrient-use efficiency, BY MELANIE EPP BIOLOGICALS BOOM AS PRODUCTS PROLIFERATE, MANUFACTURERS SCRAMBLE TO CAPTURE MARKET SHARE FEATURE Lavie Bio has developed software powered by artificial intelligence that accelerates the development of microbiome-based products. Photo: Courtesy of Lavie Bio. S ubstantial growth in the biologicals market has been driven in part by stricter pesticide regulations and by farmers who wish to produce higher yielding, more resilient crops. Biologicals represent a broad category of plant protection products, including biostimulants, biopesticides and biofertilizers. The main difference between chemical products and biologicals is the latter are made of living or naturally occurring materials. Farmers use biologicals as stand-alone solutions or to complement chemical products in their integrated pest management programs to fight disease, insect pests and weed competition. They also use biologicals to improve plant health, some of which make nutrients more available.