The Issue

Applied to soils or crops, biostimulants enhance biological processes that help plants use nutrients more efficiently, grow stronger, healthier plants and better withstand stress such as drought, salinity, or disease.

Currently there is no regulation of biostimulant product use in Australia. Historically some products have been promoted to growers with very limited scientific evidence. Grower experiences have been very mixed, with a high level of skepticism amongst, farmers, agronomists and rural merchants.

However, the evidence base for the use of some biostimulant products in agriculture continues to build. 

In an effort toward improving transparency and consistency in biostimulant labelling, Fertilizer Australia has developed a voluntary Code of Practice (CoP) for the labelling of biostimulants. The current version of the code covers microbial based products, humic substances, plant extracts and protein hydrolysate biostimulants. The intention is to add other biostimulant categories in subsequent versions of the code.

This industry-led initiative is designed to support growers, agronomists, and rural advisors by promoting clear, accurate, and consistent product information in a market that’s growing rapidly, but often lacks clarity. Until now, there’s been little standardisation in how these products are described in Australia, which create opportunities for confusion in the minds of users.

Fertilizer Australia’s new CoP aims to change that, making it easier for growers to understand what biostimulants contain, and how to use them effectively.

Fertilizer Australia acknowledges the following businesses who have financially contributed to the development of the Biostimulant Labelling CoP:

• Acadian Plant Health
• Advanced Nutrients
• Agrichem
• Agrobest
• Biogenesis Algae Innovation
• BiOWiSH Technology
• Corteva Agriscience
• Elemental Enzymes
• Great Southern Biology
• Haifa Australia
• Incitec Pivot Fertilisers
• Kelpack
• Loam Bio
• Metagen
• Nutrien Ag Solutions
• Omnia Specialities Australia
• Yara Australia
• Yates Hort & Ag

In addition, there are many other private and public sector organisations that have generously contributed staff time to review the CoP and offer suggestions.