Moving Forward with the Plant Biostimulant Act of 2025
The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) commends the House Agriculture Committee for highlighting the role plant biostimulants can play in advancing agricultural innovation, sustainability, and environmental stewardship during a recent hearing, “Past Breakthroughs and Future Innovations in Crop Production.”
“Biostimulants are among the most promising innovations in agriculture,” says TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch. “They help farmers do more with less by enhancing nutrient efficiency, improving soil health, boosting crop resilience, and promoting sustainability. These products are vital tools for farmers working to meet the world’s growing food needs while protecting the environment.”
In his testimony, Karl Wyant, Director of Agronomy for TFI member Nutrien Ag Solutions, calls biostimulants “tools that are increasingly vital for our growers to manage their day-to-day operations…”
“Plant biostimulants work by enhancing the plant’s or the soil’s natural processes — boosting nutrient release and uptake, improving stress tolerance to heat and cold, and supporting overall plant and soil health,” says Wyant.
Despite their growing importance, biostimulants face regulatory hurdles due to the lack of a clear federal definition, a problem addressed by the bipartisan Plant Biostimulant Act of 2025. Introduced by Representatives Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Jim Baird (R-IN) in the House and Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) in the Senate, this legislation would establish a clear, science-based federal definition for biostimulants, provide regulatory consistency across states, and align U.S. standards with global trading partners.
“Without a federal definition, inconsistency in evidence-based, regulatory qualification standards, and the risk of misclassification under federal laws like the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) remain,” Wyant told members of the committee. Congressman Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) added during the hearing that “we need smarter safer solutions….we must give our farmers the tools they need to succeed. I believe innovation is how we make the biggest move forward. We can use microbes to help us grow crops…but the path from laboratory to farm field remains too long and too uncertain.” Including the legislation in the upcoming Farm Bill would be a major step forward for American agriculture and would equip our farmers with the tools they need to meet the challenges of the future.
The Plant Biostimulant Act of 2025 will ensure American agriculture remains a leader in sustainability and productivity by encouraging broader adoption of sustainable farming practices, spurring private investment in biostimulant research and development, and helping the U.S. stay competitive with growers in Brazil, China, and the European Union.
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