What Is the Difference Between Biostimulants and Bio-Fertilizers

In recent years, the modern agriculture system has faced the dual challenge of meeting food security goals due to the growing world population and the increasing demand for sustainable processes.

More precisely, on the one hand, it is expected to use efficient agricultural solutions that can boost productivity, which, in turn, can meet the growing food demand.

On the other hand, agriculture should be eco-friendly and follow farming practices that protect human health and the environment.

Agricultural intensification is achieved through the use of mineral fertilizers and agrochemicals.

However, it has been observed that using an extensive amount of chemicals can cause soil degradation, reduced crop yield, and pollution of air, water, and land, eventually causing environmental risks and health hazards for humans.

According to a 2024 report by MarketsandMarkets, the global biostimulants market is projected to reach USD 7.6 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 12.1%. Similarly, the bio-fertilizers market is expected to grow from USD 2.3 billion in 2024 to USD 4.5 billion by 2030, driven by the increasing shift toward sustainable farming.

Bio-products or bio-based products such as biostimulants and bio-fertilizers are potential alternatives that can be used to boost crop yield, improve nutrient uptake, and reduce crop stress, achieving productive and sustainable agriculture goals.

Difference Between Biostimulants and Bio-fertilizers

Bio-products, as the name indicates, are made naturally. This is what differentiates it from soil conditioners.

Thus, bio-products are completely non-toxic to plants, soil, and the consumer.

There are basically two categories of bio-products today, which are biostimulants and bio-fertilizers.

Biostimulants

As bio-products are evolving and scientific research and studies continue, there are no formally agreed-upon definitions for biostimulants and bio-fertilizers yet.

Thus, biostimulants can be defined as any material, substance, or product that, when applied to plants or soil, stimulates or boosts the existing biological processes in plants and related microbes.

It helps enhance plant growth, boost crop yield and quality, and improve nutrient uptake and tolerance to abiotic stress.

A 2024 study published in the Journal of Agricultural Science found that biostimulants can increase crop yield by up to 20%, improve water-use efficiency by 15%, and enhance soil microbial activity, leading to long-term soil health benefits.

Organic plant biostimulants include humic substances, marine macro-algae extracts, protein hydrolysates, microbial inoculants, seaweed, and plant extracts.

The performance of biostimulants can be assessed by different means, such as root mass measurement, photosynthesis activity, and harvested quantity.

Moreover, the effect can be clearly understood in the case of abiotic stress in plants.

Bio-fertilizers

Bio-fertilizers are biological microorganisms that stimulate processes that enable plants or roots to take up nutrients.

It also helps to increase tolerance to abiotic stress and boosts crop yield and quality.

Some of the bio-fertilizers include AMF (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi), Free-living N-fixing, Hormone-releasing, and P-solubilizing.

These are also known as plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria or PGPR.

One example could be microorganisms fixing atmospheric nitrogen to the root zone without providing nitrogen directly to the plants.

Research by the International Fertilizer Association (2024) shows that bio-fertilizers can reduce synthetic fertilizer dependency by 25-30%, significantly cutting down harmful environmental impacts.

The key difference between biostimulants and bio-fertilizers is the use and the mechanism of action and the fact that living microbes are involved in the latter.

Thus, biostimulants and bio-fertilizers are bio-products that can change modern agriculture by boosting productivity without harming the environment or human health.

Bio-products: Growth and Challenges

Biostimulants and bio-fertilizers have received significant attention worldwide.

The commercial market for bio-products is predicted to reach approximately 3 billion US dollars in the next half a decade, during which millions of people need to be fed worldwide as well.

However, the industry faces several perception-based challenges today.

This is mainly due to the increase in the number of fake products in the market.

Also, there is a need for more scientific research and studies to understand bio-products comprehensively and establish their efficacy for plant care.

Organica Biotech is a leading company committed to creating a sustainable future for generations to come.

The team of scientists and experts have used environment biotechnology to develop the Magic Gro range of products in state-of-the-art DSIR-approved laboratories.

The advanced solutions consist of a dynamic community of microbes, which increases nutrient uptake, improves crop yield, helps plants tolerate abiotic stresses, fights pests and diseases, and much more.

You can use Organica Biotech solutions for sustainable and highly productive agriculture.

For more details, contact us today.