What are biologicals?
Biologicals offer additional solutions to strengthen plant resilience, improve soil health and reduce residues. Using biological crop protection products in combination with chemical crop protection products can extend the lifespan of crop protection products and reduce their use. Biostimulants can contribute to plant health and make them more resilient to stresses, such as heat and drought.
Subdivision of biologicals
Biologicals are a broad category of crop protection and crop reinforcement products that are derived, or inspired by nature. We divide the category of biologicals into different groups:
- Biocontrols - also called biological crop protection products.
- Biostimulants - that help improve soil health, crop growth and productivity.
- Marcobiologicals or Natural enemies – invertebrates like ladybirds, predatory mites or nematodes that hunt pest insects.
What are biocontrols?
Biocontrols are products based on natural materials used to control fungal and bacterial diseases, pests, nematodes and weeds.
What are biostimulants?
Biostimulants are products applied to plants, seeds or the root environment with the intention of stimulating the natural processes of plants. These include nutrient use efficiency, crop quality or tolerance to abiotic stresses, such as extreme hot or cold temperatures.
Biofertilisers are a type of biostimulant. These are microbe-based products used for nitrogen fixing, phosphorus solubilisation, improving nutrient availability and uptake, and promoting plant growth and soil health.
What are marcobiologicals or natural enemies?
Macrobiologicals can be naturally occurring, or introduced into (primarily covered and protected) growing situations to feed on pest insects and reduce their populations.
