Increasing Global Population and Focus on Boosting Crop Yield to Surge Demand for Biostimulants
Biostimulants are natural or synthetic substances
that aid in reducing the dependency on fertilizers. These substances are
applied to seeds, plants, and soil in order to increase plant growth,
resistance to water and abiotic stresses. Increasing global population has led
to focus on boosting crop yield. According
to projections by Population Reference Bureau (PRB) included in the 2018 World
Population Data Sheet, the world population is expected to reach 9.9 billion by
2050, up 2.3 billion or 29% from an estimated 7.6 billion people in 2018.
Moreover, according to according to Food and Agriculture Organization,
worldwide food demand is expected to increase by 70% by 2050.
Decrease in arable land in various regions has led
to has led to various challenges in the agricultural sector. According to the
study ‘Will Limited Land, Water, and Energy Control Human Population Numbers in
the Future’, published in the journal Human Ecology, the amount of arable land
available per person will decrease to 1500m² by 2050 from 4000m² in 1961. In
such scenario, use of in small concentrations can favor the good performance of
the plant’s vital processes, and allowing high yields and good quality
products. However, unlike fertilizers and pesticides, these products are not
regulated and are sold without a certification of their efficacy. This has
prompted various governments to implement regulatory guidelines for
biostimulants. In July 2020, the government of India was expected to announce
guidelines to regulate the biostimulants
market in the country. Earlier, in July 2019, Europe witnessed several changes
regarding definition and classification of these substances. The European Union
had become the first governing body in the world to recognize plant
biostimulants as a distinct category of agricultural inputs.
Although the market for biostimulants is expected to
witness significant growth in the foreseeable future, there are several
challenges in achieving the objective. It is a general conclusion that the
market for biostimulants is not based on science, as these substances are often
thought to be recycled waste products sold on the basis of pseudoscience and
marketing. To overcome this situation, it is important to understand various
aspects of plant metabolism and productivity constraints in order to boost
adoption of biostimulants.
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