What are biostimulants?

• The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has withdrawn approval granted for 11 biostimulants derived from animal sources, citing ethical and religious concerns raised by Hindu and Jain communities.

• The products, made from animal-based protein hydrolysate, were previously cleared for use on crops, including paddy, chilli, tomato, cotton, cucumber, soybean, grapes and green gram, based on approval from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) earlier this year.

• These 11 biostimulants were approved earlier and were selling in the market. 

What are biostimulants?

• Biostimulant means a substance or microorganism or a combination of both whose primary function when applied to plants, seeds or rhizosphere is to naturally stimulate physiological processes in plants and to enhance its nutrient uptake, growth, yield, nutrition efficiency, crop quality and tolerance to stress.

• Currently, there is a comprehensive regulatory framework for biostimulants through amendments to the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985 (FCO), with recent updates in 2024 and 2025.

Nine categories of bio-stimulants have been included in the FCO:

1) Botanical extracts, including seaweed extracts

2) Bio-chemicals

3) Protein hydrolysates and amino acids

4) Vitamins

5) Cell free microbial products

6) Antioxidants

7) Anti-transpirants

8) Humic and Fulvic acid and their derivatives

9) Live micro-organisms excluding bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides

• In case of a new biostimulant, the manufacturer is required to make an application with chemistry, bio-efficacy, toxicology, heavy metals, pesticides data etc.

• The pesticide limit has been increased from 0.01 ppm to 1 ppm.