Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 25 BIOSTIMULANTS nearer to the optimum. “Future technologies and precision agriculture will all help. But the one area never really looked at is plant health enhancement. How can we better exploit the genetic potential of the plant, to increase yields and to get a better return on investment?” he challenged. “When you look at biostimulants, it’s how we can make fertiliser use more e cient, how we can get more out of crop protection by making the plant healthier. Plant health enhancement has the potential for signi cant returns for the grower.” He highlighted that biopesticides simply o er a substitution product for existing crop protection products, albeit with possible gains for environmental and consumer interests. Biostimulants, however, have far bigger potential to make a di erence and the real growth area to investigate, Rob said. “Biostimulants need to be considered an integral part of the growing cycle and total inputs,” he said. “Maximum e ect is obtained by understanding their mode of action, deciding on the desired bene t, and applying at the correct timing.” He cited in potatoes, depending on the timing of application, biostimulants can be seen to have had three distinct e ects. Early applications can increase the number of SYNGENTA has publicly stated that as a company its future lies in reduced pesticide use per crop, but ensuring every application is made more e ectively, to deliver better results from fewer inputs. Biostimulants are a key element for future sustainable agriculture and food production, it suggested. Earlier this year the company bought Valagro, a global market-leader in biostimulants and speciality nutrients in the biologicals market that is expected to double in size in the next ve years. e Group’s chief executive, Erik Fyrwald, said the acquisition ties in with Syngenta’s strategy to provide growers with additional complementary choices of products and technologies to e ectively and sustainably care for crops by managing resistance, enhancing soil health, reducing residues in crops, and addressing consumer demands. “ e investment also forms part of our $2 billion commitment to help farmers address the e ects of climate change and improve agricultural sustainability,” he said. As an agronomy tool, David King believes research needs to focus on results of using both biostimulants and crop protection together. “ e more we understand about the science behind the biostimulants, the better growers and agronomists can make use of the bene ts in di erent situations. ➜ INVESTMENT IN COMPLEMENTARY OPTIONS