In modern agriculture, the question is no longer whether we can produce enough food, but whether we can do it sustainably, profitably, and in harmony with the environment. At the heart of this challenge lies nutrient use efficiency (NUE), the ability of crops to capture and utilize nutrients applied through fertilizers. One of the most promising tools to increase NUE is the use of biostimulant technologies partnered with exiting fertilizer technologies. When these new high-performance fertilizers are combined with best farming practices, farmers can continue to deliver the calorie demands of a growing population while maintaining a sustainable environment.
Biostimulants are products produced from natural sources such as seaweed extracts, microbial inoculants, humic acids, and protein hydrolysates, work by enhancing a plant’s physiology and improving the soil environment. When paired with nutrients in the form of fertilizers, they enable crops to take up more nutrients, tolerate stress more effectively, and convert those nutrients into higher yields. In short, biostimulants help unlock the full potential of every pound of fertilizer applied, and thereby increasing overall NUE.
The climate benefits can be profound. Inefficient fertilizer use leads to nutrient losses into the atmosphere as nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas nearly 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide, or via leaching and runoff, which can have negative impacts on water quality. By boosting nutrient uptake and reducing losses, biostimulants paired with fertilizers lower the emissions footprint of farming without compromising yields. This makes them a climate-smart solution while maintaining productivity.
Equally important is the impact on soil health. Overuse or inefficient use of fertilizers can disrupt microbial communities and degrade soil structure. Biostimulants actively support beneficial microbes, improve root growth, and enhance the cycling of organic matter in the soil. This results in healthier, more resilient and productive soils that retain nutrients and water more effectively, and a crop with root systems capable of accessing that improved nutrient reservoir.
For farmers, the business case for adopting biostimulants as a part of their fertility programs is compelling. Fertilizer represents one of the largest production costs, totaling up to half of the per acre production costs of row crops. Here, wasted nutrients directly reduce profitability. By integrating biostimulants with fertilizers, growers can achieve higher yields while reducing nutrient inputs. This means better margins, stronger return on investment, and a production system that is less vulnerable to fluctuating fertilizer prices.
Encouragingly, the biostimulant industry itself is projected to at least double in size over the next decade, a sign that adoption of these technologies is accelerating and that improvements of fertilizer NUE will grow. The opportunity is clear: building fertilizers with biostimulant technologies creates multiple wins: greater NUE, reduced environmental impacts, and stronger profitability. As the agricultural industry looks for ways to feed the world, this integrated approach should no longer be seen as an optional add-on but as a cornerstone of modern, sustainable crop production.
Christopher Gee, Ph.D.
National Agronomy and Development Director
TIMAC AGRO USA
