Rethinking biostimulants: toward a functional framework for resilient agriculture

Relying only on composition-based definitions is no longer enough. Biostimulants should be evaluated based on their effects in plants, specifically, how they act and the measurable outcomes they deliver. Importantly, this shift does not mean fewer controls or weaker standards. On the contrary, it strengthens the incentive to define and validate mechanisms of action, improves transparency, supports research, and keeps regulation closer to real agronomic practice.