The Biostimulants World Congress returned to Barcelona for its 8th edition at the beginning of December. More than 1,500+ attendees descended on BCN in the almost certain knowledge they would get ROI, whether it’s from the scientific or commercial tracks. Here’s a taster of what happened, and if you were able to attend get ready for the next edition in Sacramento, California, which will be a first time for the BSWC inthe Golden State.
This wrap-up begins at the ending – or rather the closing summary by Professor Patrick Brown, Scientific Committee Co-Chair and Distinguished Professor at University of California, Davis. Before drawing out some salient points from presentations from the 3-day programme, Professor Brown started on an upbeat note: “The science that I heard at this conference is tremendously better than any previous and we have been on that incremental gain over the last eight biostimulant congresses since we started in 2012.”
He went on to outline some of the challenges around academic research in biostimulants, which are still striving for legitimacy in some quarters. But his summary gave a concise and illuminating view into how far that research has come, and how it can help guide regulators in the coming years.
The four-day event began with a day of workshops before the main conference programme began, along with the opening of the sold-out trade exhibition and a poster exhibition. As well as the usual science and commercial tracks in the conference, there was an Innovation stage on the exhibition floor that gathered enthusiastic audiences to hear pitches for new products.
The opening session finished with the presentation of the Farmer’s Award. The winner was Alfonso
Sanchez Priego, a farmer from Spain who uses trichoderma-based products for soil health and disease suppression in melon and watermelon. The award, sponsored by Syngenta Biologicals, is now in its 4th edition and included a panel discussion with Paula Nuévalos who is both a farmer in Valencia as well as a social media influencer with a network of young farmers in Spain (see section). There was also an award for the best student poster (see section).
The science that I heard at this conference is tremendously better than any previous and we have been on that incremental gain over the last eight biostimulant congresses since we started in 2012.
The scientific sessions were well attended with enthusiastic questions from the audience.
BSWC Scientific Committee, from left to right.
Patrick Brown, Scientific Committee Co-Chair and Distinguished Professor at University of California, Davis
Marta Vasconcelos - Deputy Director of the Center for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry at Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP)
Petronia Carillo, Full Professor at University of Campania
Patrick du Jardin, Scientific Committee Co-Chair and Professor at University of Liège
Professor Pierdomenico Perata delivered an opening keynote to a packed auditorium.
Review of opening session By Leonardo Gottems in Barcelona The Biostimulants World Congress 2025 kicked off Tuesday, December 2nd, drawing over 1,500 participants from across the globe, signaling robust industry interest in the science and business of biostimulants. The sold-out exhibition space has attracted a diverse audience spanning veteran industry professionals and emerging young talent from Brazil, the United States, Asia, Europe, and beyond.
The congress opened with a keynote address from Patrick du Jardin, Professor and Head of the Plant Biology Laboratory at Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Belgium. Du Jardin emphasized two critical industry challenges: streamlining regulatory processes—both timeline and cost reduction—and unifying research and development pathways, particularly for drought-resistant technologies. A dedicated regulatory workshop during the pre-event underscored the sector’s focus on harmonizing standards across markets.
“We need to work with chambers, universities, and research institutions to deliver technology that truly solves problems—real solutions for what farmers are experiencing today,” Du Jardin stressed.
Professor Patrick du Jardin delivered the opening address.
Professor Pierdomenico Perata from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna delivered a groundbreaking keynote on RNA science in agriculture, outlining two distinct biostimulant approaches: direct RNA application to activate plant defenses or control pests, and formulations that stimulate endogenous RNA synthesis to enhance growth and stress resistance. Perata highlighted artificial intelligence’s transformative role in accelerating product development, enabling precise gene identification for pest control and plant health promotion.
“This is disruptive technology for the market,” Perata declared, emphasizing that RNA-based
If someone puts 10 companies in front of me and they're all feasible, then none of them are feasible.
Manel Cervera, Managing Partner and Chief Commercial Officer at DunhamTrimmer, presented a comprehensive global market analysis as part of the opening session.
(centre) Malek Abo Aljod, Managing Director, Middle East – Agronutrition
Vice Chairperson of India’s BASAI Sandeepa Kanitkar participated in the trade discussion.
solutions represent natural, green, and healthy innovations applicable to both biostimulant and biocontrol sectors. While acknowledging potential genetic manipulation concerns, he maintained the technology’s fundamentally natural and safe character.
Global Biostimulant Market Report One of the opening morning’s major papers was presented next, in the lecture by Manel Cervera, Managing Partner and Chief Commercial Officer at DunhamTrimmer, presenting comprehensive global market analysis alongside the highly anticipated launch of the 2025 Global Biostimulant Market Report.
Cervera’s presentation revealed a maturing market valued at $4.47 billion in 2024, projected to reach substantial growth through 2030 with a 9.9% compound annual
growth rate. Following turbulent years marked by pandemic disruptions (2020), supply chain chaos (2021), inflation (2022), and inventory misalignments (2023-2024), the market is transitioning toward normalized growth patterns.
On the first day, there was a panel on sustainable agriculture that was skilfully chaired by Arne Pingel
Regional analysis highlighted Brazil’s position as the second-largest global biological market and fastest-growing biostimulant market, accounting for approximately 50% of Latin American demand despite recent deceleration. China demonstrated technical sophistication and ambitious internationalization strategies, while the United States exemplified channel domination through consolidated distribution networks. Europe, despite its regulatory leadership and circular economy priorities, faces competitiveness challenges from emerging players.
Cervera identified critical dynamics reshaping the industry: global champions emerging through business-to-business models, local companies capturing leadership positions, upstream vertical integration by major distributors, and continued mergers and acquisitions as primary growth drivers.
Market concentration data revealed that just four companies control 25% of market share, while 19 companies account for 50%.
The report underscored commoditization pressures on major substances like amino acids, humic acids, and seaweed extracts, while identifying abiotic stress management as potential leverage for row crops and cereals—themes resonating strongly with du Jardin’s opening emphasis on climate adaptation solutions.
John Carrigan, The Yield Lab
Theodora Nikolakopoulou delivered updates from the European Commission/ DG Grow.
Francois Lamoureux President at CXC (left) and Donald L. Smith CEO, BioFuelNet Canadaand Distinguished James McGill Professor
Marta Vasconcelos - Scientific Committee Member - Deputy Director of the Center for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry, Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) chaired the science track with a theme of Plant Biostimulants, Plant Nutrition and Soil Health
Commercial and Strategy highlights One of growing features of the Congress has been the number of panels forming a part of the Commercial and Strategy track, as well as the workshops. During the workshop day, there was a panel on Global perspectives on enabling access to biostimulants, which touched on how a HS code might work and be used in quantifying bio-input trade. Another panel in the workshop day looking at nitrogen-fixing bacteria. On the first day, there was a panel on sustainable agriculture ably chaired by Arne Pingel. Another panel looked at a biostimulant distribution model in the MENA region, involving Agronutrition and AlgaEnergy.
In keeping with the tradition of the BSWC, the Congress tries to arrange it’s first-day evening reception at a stunning venue. This year it was the Maritime Museum in Barcelona.
Professor Patrick Brown delivering the closing remarks to the Congress.
The Innovation Stage attracted enthusiastic audiences who could ask questions to the companies pitching.
An investment panel featured John Carrigan from The Yield Lab who outlined some of the reason why he might invest in a company. For Carrigan, the price has to be right, and also “where we can see the role ahead of us just with some clarity.” He has a number of biological companies in the crop protection space in his fund. He emphasised the need for differentiation: “If someone puts 10 companies in front of me and they're all feasible, then none of them are feasible.” Carrigan explained that he needs that point of differentiation to pick a winner and see a clear advantage.
Marcus Meadows-Smith from BioConsortia shared his thoughts on the panel on social media. “Agtech is navigating one of the most selective funding cycles we’ve seen in years. With nearly 60% of global VC investment now flowing into AI, capital for agriculture, especially pre-EBITDA companies, has tightened. Early-stage saturation, fewer exits, and tougher fundraising have reshaped the landscape,” he wrote.
Closing the Congress The congress concluded with closing remarks by Patrick Brown, Scientific Committee Co-Chair and Distinguished Professor at University of California, Davis.
Professor Brown began by setting out the challenge that industry and academia still face in getting broader recognition. The number of academic papers on biostimulants has been growing. When showing a slide of the number of academic papers over the last 20 years, Professor Brown 1600 publications in that period on Biostimulants, there were 18,000 on plant hormones, 24,000 on plant secondary metabolites and 15,000 on breeding.
With such a number of publications, Professor Brown hopes that more of these specialists in plant signalling and plant metabolites to be attracted
to work with biostimulants. “We are getting this crossover,” he said, “and we're getting people who were metabolite scientists now thinking there's something here for me to be involved in.”
These scientists can help with areas where there are still struggles with fundamental understanding.
Overall, Professor Brown was upbeat: “The science that I heard at this conference is tremendously better than any previous and we
have been on that incremental gain over the last eight biostimulant congresses since we started in 2012.”
Yearbook 2025 The 2025 edition of the popular Yearbook was distributed at the Congress. Containing the best of New AG’s coverage throughout the year, the Yearbook also contains original features that enhance the experience of delegates, such as Manel Cervera from DunhamTrimmer sharing the take-aways from his Keynote presentation. A digital version of the Yearbook will be available from January on the New AG International website. ●
Swedish agtech firm Arevo has raised an additional €7.3 million to accelerate the scale-up of its sustainable fertiliser alternative, arginine phosphate, and expand into new international markets. The funding, completed with existing investors, follows a €6.8 million round in March 2024 led by Industrifonden and Fort Knox.
Arevo’s technology uses arginine phosphate, an amino-acid-based form of nitrogen that binds naturally to soil particles. The innovation builds on research by Professor Torgny Näsholm at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and offers a low-impact alternative to conventional fertilisers. Read more HERE.
Find out the ambitions for the company, when Luke Hutson, Chief Analyst for New AG International, sat down with Niklas Åström, Arevo’s CEO. Åström begins by talking about arginine, which in an oversimplified way can be thought of as a natural form of nitrogen. The company’s first product came from the forestry industry. Around 6 years ago the company expanded into agriculture, and is now involved in granules, seed coating, foliar spray. As well as being a food source for the plant, the arginine activates the microbes in the soil, says Åström. The product promotes longer root hairs growth, enabling greater uptake of nutrients. Interestingly, arginine is also used as a human supplement for bodybuilders. Åström says the focus is seed coating and outlines the markets where the company is conducting field testing. ●
Niklas Åström, Arevo’s CEO
Listen to interview with Niklas Åström below
Keynote reflection By Julia Gaude (Humboldt University of Berlin)
Professor Patrick du Jardin (Agro-Bio Tech – University of Liège) kicked off the Biostimulant World Congress 2025 in Barcelona. He called the event a meeting point for science, regulation, and real farming experience. Right away, he urged everyone to stay open-minded, reminding us that good ideas can come from anywhere, even a simple citizen-science test, like Franz Bender’s (Agroscope) buried-cotton-underwear test for checking soil life.
The opening keynote was delivered by Professor Pierdomenico Perata (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa). His talk focused on RNA and its new role in agriculture. He explained that small non-coding RNAs can shift how plants use nutrients and react to stress. For instance, miR399 affects phosphate uptake. Perata also pointed out that as these products develop, rules need to keep up, especially for natural versus synthetic products.
Manel Cervera (Dunham Trimmer) provided an overview of current market trends. He said both microbial and non-microbial biostimulants are on the rise worldwide. Brazil is moving fast, China is stepping up as a supplier, and Europe is still pretty selective, but it shapes a lot of the global conversation. Companies, he said, have to keep adjusting.
Data and methods were major topics throughout the event. Professor Eike Luedeling (INRES – University of Bonn) warned that we only hear about studies with big results, not the ones where nothing much happens. That makes it harder to know what actually works. Solid experimental design is a must, he said, if we want to get real answers.
Professor Giuseppe Colla (University of Tuscia) shared updates on protein hydrolysates. He said peptides from these products can alter plant metabolism, improve nutrient use, and even affect the microbiome. But, as he stressed, you need the right dose and formulation to see benefits.
“Professor Eike Luedeling warned that we only hear about studies with big results, not the ones where nothing much happens. That makes it harder to know what actually works.”
Technology was another thread running through the event. Professor Sonia Negrão (University College Dublin) spoke about imaging and AI tools for tracking plant stress. Professor Petronia Carillo (University of Campania) explained how biostimulants can help plants deal with heat and oxidative stress. Both agreed: pairing technology with biostimulants could make crops more resilient.
Professor Patrick Brown (UC Davis) gave the summary address. He said biostimulants can help crops handle stress, but they are just one part of the big picture. Soil care and smart management matter a lot, too. Research into plant signals and the microbiome is moving ahead. Brown finished by saying progress depends on good science, sharing data, and people working together—something the Congress clearly encouraged. ●
Poster Exhibition reflection By Giuseppe Rizzello (University of Bologna)
Professor Ying Chung Jimmy Lin and Professor Ying-Lan Chen from the National Taiwan University and National Cheng Kung University, respectively, while studying the role of peptides in plant physiology discovered a multispecies signalling peptide in angiosperm plants. This molecule, named as Angiosperm Sap Peptide (ASAP), exerts a signalling function on lignin biosynthesis and on the salicylic acid-mediated immune response. Further studies demonstrated its biostimulant effect on crop growth and stress resilience.
A researcher from the University of Verona, Stefano Ambrosini and his team have focused on the reason why an animal derived biostimulant can be sensed by plants. After showing the biostimulant effect of a representative peptide derived from a collagen based protein hydrolysate, it was found that plants can recognize animal derived peptides thanks to some homologs of mammal collagen receptors.
A research project, conducted by Uggetti Enrica from the Technical University of Catalonia, addressed sustainability by evaluating the use of urban wastewater as substrate for microalgae cultivation. Water was biologically treated and separated from the biomass, which biostimulant efficacy was tested subsequently comparing two extraction methods, physical and chemical. Finally a plant positive response to treatments highlighted wastewater suitability with no significant differences between the two tested methods.
Richard Anthony Ang, a researcher from the University of Western Australia investigated the claims’ reliability of some soil bacteria inoculants sold in Perth province. The results showed a mismatch for the microbial composition, which was sometimes accompanied by the presence of undesirable species. Furthermore, it was found that the formulation also influences the microbial community and can increases product efficacy due to the presence of nutrients. ●
Clockwise from top left: Petronia Carillo, Guiseppe Crolla, Pierdomenico Perata, Sonia Negrao, Eike Luedeling
