Setting a High Bar for Biostimulant Crop Response

Why It Matters

Improved biostimulants can dramatically increase fertilizer efficiency, lowering costs and environmental footprints for growers, while positioning the industry for rapid innovation and adoption.

Key Takeaways

• Atlas bio‑catalyst boosts phosphorus efficiency from 15‑30% to higher yields.
• Field trials use side‑by‑side, strip, and precision planting methods.
• Not all biostimulants succeed; product‑farm fit requires data‑driven testing.
• Loveland’s Prologue delivers stable bacteria for phosphorus solubilization.
• Industry invests heavily; innovation needed to scale reliable biological solutions.

Summary

The interview at the Commodity Classic focused on Loveland Products’ biostimulant portfolio, highlighting the Atlas bio‑catalyst and the newer Prologue formulation. Ron Calhoun explained how traditional fertilizers deliver only 15‑30% of phosphorus to crops, and how Atlas’s biological chemistry can raise that efficiency, translating into measurable yield gains across diverse geographies and challenging seasons. Key insights included the need for rigorous on‑farm testing. Loveland employs side‑by‑side, strip, and precision‑planting trials to isolate product response, allowing growers to see real‑time data before committing. Calhoun warned that with roughly 250 firms entering the space, not every product will suit every system, emphasizing a data‑driven, collaborative approach to identify the right fit. He cited a memorable line: “Don’t get left on the sideline,” urging growers to engage early. The conversation also highlighted the technical hurdle of delivering live microbes at scale—most struggle to survive storage and mixing—while Prologue’s stable bacterial strain successfully solubilizes phosphorus weeks after application, a breakthrough many competitors still chase. The broader implication is a potential shift toward higher nutrient use efficiency, reducing fertilizer waste and environmental impact while boosting farmer profitability. As investment pours into biostimulant research, successful products like Atlas and Prologue could set new performance standards for sustainable agriculture.

Original Description

As interest in biologicals and biostimulants continues to grow, companies are working to turn emerging science into practical, measurable value on the farm.

In this report from Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas, Loveland Products senior portfolio manager Ron Calhoun says the opportunity lies in improving nutrient efficiency — particularly for inputs like phosphorus, where a significant portion of applied fertilizer is not immediately available to the crop.

Calhoun points to Loveland’s Atlas technology as an example of how biostimulants can enhance performance. Applied as an over-treat to fertilizers such as MAP, DAP, or potash, the product is designed to stimulate biological processes that improve nutrient availability in the soil.

While the science behind biologicals continues to evolve, Calhoun emphasizes the importance of on-farm testing. With hundreds of companies investing in the space, not every product will deliver the same results across all environments. Conducting side-by-side or replicated trials allows growers to evaluate performance under their own conditions and better understand where these tools fit.

Loveland’s approach has focused on both the chemistry created by biological systems and, more recently, on developing stable microbial products that can perform at a commercial scale. Products like Prologue incorporate gram-positive bacteria designed to survive storage, handling, and application, while remaining active in the soil weeks after application to support processes such as phosphorus solubilization.

The challenge, Calhoun notes, has been translating promising results from controlled environments into consistent field performance. However, ongoing advancements in formulation and delivery are helping close that gap.

Website: https://www.realagriculture.com/

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