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The potential of Biologicals
Understanding and unlocking how Biologicals can help Canadian farmers.
What are Biologicals?
There is no shortage of challenges for Canadian farmers. Weed, pest and disease issues are always present, regulatory and consumer pressures affect available solutions, and climate instability presents daily concerns.
Amidst all these challenges, Canadian farmers are asked to continue to provide safe, high-quality food for a rapidly growing global population. The agriculture industry is presented with a significant challenge: we must find new, innovative ways to mitigate weed, pest, disease and climate pressures, while increasing overall productivity.
It is here that the growing Biologicals category may provide some of the key solutions farmers need to increase yield, while also unlocking new ways to tackle on-farm challenges.
The rising influence of Biologicals in agriculture
Agriculture is facing one of its most significant transformations in decades, driven by the demand for sustainable, innovative solutions to support increased on-farm productivity. Among these solutions, biological products - comprising of materials naturally found in the environment, such as beneficial bacteria or enzymes derived from natural sources - are becoming essential tools for farmers looking to enhance productivity, manage stress, and adapt to climate, regulatory, and consumer changes.
Projections show that by 2035, Biologicals could make up 25% of the total global crop protection market ,with an anticipated market size of $30 billion annually (in context, the 2023 herbicide market size is approximately $33 billion)
Biologicals are defined as biocontrol, biostimulants, biofertilizers
Corteva BI Internal Analysis, Dunham Trimmer, AgBioINvestor AgBioInvestor’s Future of Agriculture Report, Sept 2022
While Biologicals currently occupy a smaller share of the market, three major drivers are expected to fuel rapid adoption over the next decade:
Sustainability and regulatory changes
Across the globe, farmers are focused on feeding a growing population while managing the change in society and consumer preferences, policies, and regulations, prompting the agriculture industry to explore alternative solutions to improve plant productivity.
Biological products are being developed to meet these new standards by minimizing environmental impact while supporting plant health.
R&D investment and innovation
The agriculture industry has seen a steady increase in R&D investment, especially in Biologicals. This commitment to innovation is enhancing the range of effectiveness, and applicability of Biologicals, making them more reliable and accessible for Canadian farmers.
Complementary agronomic benefits
On-farm adoption of Biologicals will ultimately be driven by product efficacy. As profitability continues to be a top driver, the pressure is on for growers to maximize their return on investment. Biologicals provide a unique opportunity to enhance the efficacy of current practices, by providing complementary solutions that allow farmers to reap benefits from both biological and conventional products.
Abiotic stress: how to tackle the threat to your yields
Canadian farmers are no strangers to the threats posed by pests, diseases, and weeds – collectively known as biotic stressors – that can devastate crops if left untreated. However, most Canadian farmers now agree that abiotic stressors – non-living environmental factors – are the biggest crop challenge they face each year. This includes stressors such as temperature extremes, hail damage, and nutrient deficiencies, which are all viewed as uncontrollable and unpredictable challenges.
Pod drop in canola due to heat blast
Biotic stress
Biotic stress refers to negative effect on crops from other living organisms including weed, disease and insect pressures.
Abiotic stress
Abiotic stress refers to the negative effect of inorganic factors on crops, including heat stress, cold stress, water limitations or drought, phytotoxicity, hail damage, nutrient loss and deficiency, and hormone limitations.
Abiotic stress refers to the negative effect of inorganic factors on crops, including heat stress, cold stress, water limitations or drought, phytotoxicity, hail damage, nutrient loss and deficiency, and hormone limitations.
From biotic to abiotic: a shift in priorities
Abiotic stress has become even more pressing with the rise in climate variability, which has led to prolonged droughts, unpredictable frosts, and extreme heat waves. Canadian farmers are increasingly affected by this environmental instability, adding to the stress of their day-to-day operations, and robbing them of potential productivity. Managing abiotic stress requires a shift from reactive to proactive approaches, especially as the impact of these stressors is expected to intensify.
For the most part, the agriculture industry has been focused on managing biotic stressors such as disease, insects, and weeds. While these are critical pests, addressing abiotic stressors is crucial if we are looking to increase productivity on every acre, and is currently underserved.
Untreated | Treated with Biologicals
Biological products offer a promising solution by enhancing crops’ resilience to these stress factors. For example, nitrogen efficiency biostimulants can maximize crop potential by increasing nitrogen availability, resulting in healthier and more resilient plants, while reducing dependency on nitrogen uptake from the soil. By incorporating these products into crop management plans, Canadian farmers can better cope with environmental challenges - optimizing crop performance and reducing losses due to climate unpredictability.
The yield gap and the need for new approaches
Understanding the “yield gap”, or the difference between actual crop yields and the maximum potential attainable yield under ideal conditions, highlights the need for improving plant productivity. This difference between actual yield and attainable yield is the result of both biotic and abiotic stressors.
A rising global population and decreased availability of land require Canadian farmers to continue to produce more with less. Maximizing productivity by improving plant health is the best path forward to achieving on-farm profitability.
Despite advances in technology and crop genetics, yield increases have slowed, and in some cases plateaued, over the past decade. Historically, technical innovations like synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and advanced machinery drove yield increases. Farmers need new, innovative approaches to sustainably achieve higher productivity.
How Biologicals help close the yield gap
Biologicals offer a unique way to boost your yield potential by optimizing plant health, improving stress tolerance, and increasing nutrient efficiency.
Optimizing productivity
Biologicals can improve plant performance by unleashing their full potential – enhancing the physiological processes and minimizing stress.
Next level of crop management
Biologicals give you the ability to take crop management to the next level, giving you the peace of mind to manage the unpredictable, helping you unlock new levels of on-farm potential.
Sustainable production
Biologicals are here to create the highest impact for everyone, and everything involved – the farm, the environment and our planet, the government, and society.
Canadian farmers can use Biologicals to close the yield gap by addressing the fundamental needs of crops that traditional inputs may not fully meet.
By focusing on the physiological processes within plants, Biologicals offer a targeted approach that complements existing practices. With Biologicals, farmers have the potential to reach previously unattainable yield levels, making their operations more profitable and resilient.
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Sign up todayCategories of Biological products and their applications
The Biologicals category is diverse, encompassing a range of product types with distinct functions and benefits. It is a broad term, and historically little has been done to effectively communicate how this range of products fit within a farm operation. Understanding the purpose of each type of biological product will help farmers make informed decisions based on their unique crop management needs.
Different Biological products and their uses
Biostimulants: enhancing growth and resilience
Biostimulants are designed to improve plant health and support growth by enhancing the plant’s natural physiological processes. These products can increase nutrient efficiency, increase plant metabolism, mitigate stress, and support root development, all of which contribute to stronger, more resilient crops. By stimulating critical processes like photosynthesis and nutrient absorption, biostimulants help plants improve the use of nutrients, growth, and response to environmental stresses. Regardless of how an individual biostimulant works, the ultimate goal is improving plant health and vitality. Canadian farmers who often face temperature and moisture variability can benefit from biostimulants to stabilize yields and improve crop quality.
Biocontrol products: sustainable pest management
Biocontrol products provide an alternative mode of pest protection to crops. When used with conventional pest control products, Biologicals can help farmers reduce their environmental footprint, spray less frequently, and manage resistance. Some products provide direct control of pests, while others work by equipping plants to better defend themselves against pests and prevent damage. Biocontrol products can be part of an integrated pest management approach, offering an effective way to manage pest pressures sustainably.
Growth regulators: optimizing crop development
Growth regulators are biological products that influence the growth stages of crops, promoting improved plant structure and supporting uniform maturity. By optimizing crop architecture, these regulators make it easier to manage harvests and can improve yield quality. For example, growth regulators can help crops develop stronger stems, reduce lodging, and ensure more uniform fruiting. These benefits are especially valuable for farmers growing crops with high demands for uniformity in quality and size.
This breakdown of biological product categories highlight that Biologicals are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, Biologicals offer solutions based on specific goals and unique crop needs – whether they aim to boost plant performance, build resilience, or protect yield potential. Using these products strategically allows for customized solutions that fit the unique requirements of each crop and growing environment.
Contact a Biological Innovation Manager today
Our team of Biological Innovation Managers are dedicated to offering solutions based on your crop challenges. That’s why we’re dedicated to delivering highly effective solutions that complement current farming practices, while addressing the evolving needs of modern agriculture.
Contact UsOur commitment to Biological innovation and farmer success
As a leader in agricultural innovation, Corteva Agriscience is dedicated to advancing biological solutions that align with the needs of modern farmers. Recognizing that Biologicals must deliver consistent and proven results, Corteva brings to market only products that are backed by scientific research and extensive field testing. This approach is rooted in a commitment to provide products that not only further improve yield, but also support farmers meet the demands for affordable, abundant, high-quality food.
Corteva’s biological products are designed to make a tangible on-farm impact, helping overcome challenges like abiotic stress, rising operational costs, and consumer demand for sustainable practices. By investing in R&D and ensuring regulatory compliance, Corteva Biologicals offer farmers reliable solutions that complement existing crop protection strategies. This dual focus on scientific rigor and farmer success reflects Corteva’s broader commitment to sustainable, profitable agriculture.
Corteva only brings products to market that are supported by scientific rationale and understanding. We utilize extensive field sciences expertise to evaluate and select products with consistent and proven performance. Additionally, we ensure the application of regulatory and stewardship principles for all our products.
Practical Tips for Farmers Incorporating Biologicals
For Canadian farmers considering the integration of Biologicals into their practices, here are some key takeaways for maximizing the benefits of these products:
Identify specific needs
The Biologicals category represents a diverse product set and is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Start by assessing your farm’s unique challenge such as pest pressures, nutrient availability, or susceptibility to extreme temperatures. Choosing the right type of biological product – be it a biostimulant, biocontrol, or growth regulator – can target every essential need for your farm’s longevity and increase each season’s yield.
Combine with conventional practices
Biologicals work best when used alongside traditional inputs, such as fertilizers and synthetic crop protection. By complementing conventional practices with Biologicals, farmers can achieve a balanced approach to crop protection and nutrient management.
Monitor and adjust
The efficacy of biologicals may vary based on soil conditions, weather, nutrient availability, and crop type. The performance of any product should be measured throughout the season. Regular monitoring and adjustments can help optimize outcomes and ensure that the products are working effectively and providing maximum benefits.
Stay informed on product innovations
Thanks to significant R&D investment and focus, the Biologicals market is rapidly evolving with new products and technologies being developed regularly. Staying informed about these advancements can help you select the most effective solutions for your farm.
Learn how Biologicals can boost farm productivity
Our team of Biological Innovation Managers are dedicated to offering solutions based on your crop challenges. That’s why we’re dedicated to delivering highly effective solutions that complement current farming practices, while addressing the evolving needs of modern agriculture.
Contact UsEmbracing a Biological future in Canadian agriculture
For Canadian farmers, the integration of Biologicals offers a forward-thinking solution to the challenges of modern agriculture. Biologicals provide additional tools for managing both biotic and abiotic stresses, enhancing nutrient efficiency, and supporting plant health in ways that complement conventional farming practices. With the ongoing support and innovation from industry leaders like Corteva, Biologicals are set up to play an increasingly vital role in agriculture, offering farmers a path toward improved productivity and profitability – keeping each farming operation strong today, tomorrow and for generations to come.
As the Biologicals market continues to grow, farmers who adopt these products can stay ahead of regulatory changes, meet consumer expectations for sustainable practices, and ensure resilience of their operations in a changing climate. By embracing Biologicals, Canadian farmers are not only enhancing their current productivity but also investing in the future of farming.
Learn more about Biologicals
Learn how these innovative solutions can boost crop health, enhance sustainability, and maximize your yields.
