This year’s Bioestimulants Europe took place in Madrid on January 29 and 30. The key topics to be discussed in this edition were:
- Review of the regulatory landscape.
- Crop stress mitigation, from drought to diseases.
- Strategies for the introduction of biostimulants in the market.
- Microbial biostimulants: overcoming formulation challenges.
- Innovations in vertical farming for sustainable urban production.
- Exploring animal-derived biostimulants: benefits, challenges and innovations.
Dr. Elisa Capellán, CEO of Kaeltia Consulting, attended as a sponsor of the event and as a guest speaker at a conference marked by information and contact between some of the most relevant companies in the sector.
This year’s presentation focused on explaining the key differences between the European regulatory frameworks for biostimulant products and biocontrol products: Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 and Regulation (EC) 1107/2009, respectively.
Both plant health biostimulants and pest and disease biocontrol products are essential in the transition towards a more sustainable agriculture, less dependent on inputs of synthetic origin that often present higher (eco)toxicity.
Among the main differences we find that the number of studies to be generated, their cost and complexity, the time required for the procedures, the fees charged by the Authorities and the time to market are much higher in the case of a biocontrol product compared to a biostimulant.
It is expected that, in the not too distant future, as it is an urgent need for the biocontrol sector, since farmers need more sustainable tools, the authorization process of this type of product will be more agile and will reduce time and costs.
In addition to the expert presentations, attendees had the opportunity to explore innovative solutions, interact with industry representatives in search of synergies to achieve a more sustainable agriculture with the joint efforts of all.
