Emissions from the agricultural sector comprise 9% of the total US greenhouse gas emissions (White House, 2023). Agricultural biological products—including plant biostimulants, plant growth regulators, plant inoculants, biofertilizers, biopesticides, and others— offer innovative technologies that protect and enhance natural plant processes.
These products can positively impact climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural sources, enhancing carbon sequestration, and conserving and replenishing soil health.
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agricultural Sources:
- Biological products can improve crop productivity and nitrogen utilization, thus reducing the amount of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer needed and the amount of excess nitrogen (in the form of N2O) available for volatilization on or leaching from the application site
- In addition to symbiotic nitrogen fixation, other mechanisms such as CH4 oxidation and regulating plant growth reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Manufacturing of biological products (e.g., extracts from seaweed, microbial fermentation, etc) lends itself to a low carbon footprint
- Biologicals indirectly reduce climate impact from agriculture because they can improve crop quality leading to a longer shelf-life, thus reducing food waste
Carbon Sequestration:
- Biological products can aid in carbon decomposition and sequestration by removing/transferring atmospheric CO2 and storing it in biomass or soil
Conserve and Replenish Soil Health:
- Increase organic matter content in soil
- Promote nutrient management practices/aid in nutrient use efficiency
- Restore beneficial bioactivity or healthy nutrients to the soil
- Limit or eliminate runoff or leaching of soil nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen into groundwater or other water sources
