An analysis of the biostimulants market was performed based on several sources and studies, the direct market knowledge, the participation to several international events and the expectations deriving from the ongoing debate on the future European regulations on BS. The resulting picture is clearly indicating a constant growth and development of the BS market in the next 7 to 10 years all over the agricultural areas of the world. The “traditional” BS (Aminoacid, Sseaweed extracts, Humic acids) will remain relevant but new categories of BS are emerging.
In parallel, Landlab has identified the most suitable sources of active compounds. The new category of biostimulants will be extracted from food grade plants, which can be sustainably cultivated by Landlab or purchased on the market, as confirmed during the feasibility assessment. Extraction will be “green", based on food grade components and chemicals solvents free. As a result the final products, rich in bioactive phytochemicals, should be also considered as "food grade” and thus harmful to humans and the environment and effective in enhancing plant responses to critical conditions.
Landlab has identified, characterized and standardized the concentration of the main active compounds within the selected sources and produced the first prototypes in laboratory. Raw material characterization, extractions methodologies definition and application, analytical methods set up, flow chart build-up, have been performed in cooperation with the University of Padua, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences.
Efficacy of the prototypes was then tested against two main critical conditions: water lack (drought) and Nutrients Use Efficiency: in both cases the tests confirm that the new generation of BS will: enhance the resistance to the abiotic stresses, with 15-20% compared to untreated plants; increase the yield up to 10% ; keep the yield less variable when critical conditions happen.
Based on a comparison with competing products on the market, the expected life-spam of the new products was also assessed, resulting to be quite long thanks to their genuinely innovative character and further development potential.
Gathered insights and results were used to fine-tune ou business plan and marketing strategy and to plan next steps, identifying resources and collaborations needed to complete the project. After a careful assessment of the IPR protection offered by current and perspective regulatory framework and after having excluded the existence of blocking factors, Landlab got to the conclusion to submit for patenting the whole chain source-process-products.
