January/February 2023 - 17

BIOSTIMULANTS
The fertilizer exemption from FIFRA seems logical,
as fertilizers provide nutrients that help plants grow.
Unfortunately, plant biostimulants are a relatively new
crop category and are not explicitly excluded from
the old pesticide law. The result is plant biostimulant
products are stuck in a grey area where no laws exist to
regulate them correctly.
Understanding
what is defined
as a biostimulant
and how they
benefit plants is
essential to how
they are regulated.
Unlike fertilizers,
the benefits of
biostimulants are
unrelated to their
nutritional content.
When applied to
plants, seeds or soil,
plant biostimulants
help the plant achieve its maximum yield or growth
by reducing stress or improving plant nutrition. Plant
biostimulants cover a broad category of products,
including familiar products like microbial inoculants,
amino acids, seaweed extracts, plant extracts, and humic
and fulvic acids.
What is a biostimulant?
The current laws do not allow
product label claims to reflect
these observed benefits. The
divergence between label laws
and published research frustrates
manufacturers, and farmers,
as you can't advertise possible
product benefits.
So, what kind of product uses are considered a
biostimulant? The nuances of pesticide law exclusions
also rely on the intent of product use and claims.
For example, recent
research indicates that
humic and fulvic acid
help increase yields,
alleviate abiotic stress
from heat or salt, and
increase nutrient value
in some plants.
Generally speaking,
the current laws do
not allow product label
claims to reflect these
observed benefits.
The divergence
between label laws
and published research frustrates manufacturers, and
farmers, as you can't advertise possible product benefits.
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NATIONALNUTGROWER.COM 17

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January/February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of January/February 2023