Innovation in agriculture: proof in the field supports acceptance and adoption

Throughout time, agriculture has known how to harness new inventions. From the plow to Big Data, its history is marked by innovation. Nevertheless, adopting these innovations has often been a lengthy process.

“There is an interest in innovation, but the farming world is still cautious about change,” confirms Margaux Vilaseca, Market and Purchasing Manager for Foliar Nutrition and Biostimulants at AXSO. “Many farmers are not ready to invest until they are fully convinced. The effectiveness of an innovation needs to be demonstrated before it can be adopted on a larger scale.”

“First and foremost, farmers want to secure their income,” asserts Philippe Lecuyer, Caliance Development Manager for the Breton cooperative Eureden. “They cannot invest in something new that works one year but not the next. Our members expect solutions that are durable and offer a guaranteed return on investment.”

Cooperatives in action to support innovation

As a key player in the agricultural world, cooperatives play an active role in the adoption of innovation. Three French cooperatives – Terres Comtoises, Dijon Céréales and Bourgogne du Sud – have joined forces to form Alliance BFC, with one of their aims being to “find solutions for adapting to climate change, such as water resource management,” explains Christophe Richardot, head of the alliance.

“At Alliance BFC, we have set up an R&D hub with a team of thirty or so data experts, in conjunction with the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment. We also train our technical sales staff to lead innovation in the field. We raise awareness among our members during technical visits and day events, as well as through training.”

The cooperative alliance is also conducting field tests. Frédéric Imbert, the alliance’s R&D Director, supervises over 200 trials a year in both microplots and large farming plots.

“This enables us to judge the effectiveness of the various technologies offered by suppliers, including Elicit Plant,” he explains. “When the results are conclusive, our technical teams disseminate the technology in the field.”

Elicit Plant relies primarily on a strategy of large-scale trials to demonstrate the effectiveness of phytosterols in protecting crops from lack of water. The aim is to use full-scale experiments to illustrate the quality of the results obtained.

Phytosterols proven effective on three continents

More than 500 field trials have been conducted since 2019, on different crops and in several countries in Europe, and North and South America. Elicit Plant enables the R&D departments of cooperatives and technical institutes to test its products by means of various partnerships.

The results are clear to see: Elicit Plant’s flagship product, Best-a solution against drought stress on maize,saves up to 20% water, and yields are secured by the unique way it works. For corn, average gains are 590 kg per hectare. In optimal conditions, yield gains can total up to 2 metric tons per hectare! Two other solutions, Eligrain-a for drought stress on barley and EliSun-a for drought stress on sunflower, have recently been placed on the market, and their effectiveness is just as conclusive.

Adopting innovation can sometimes be a long process, but the farming world have now taken phytosterols on board. Elicit Plant is well on the way to success. Its products are being approved in an increasing number of locations, and more and more farmers are adding phytosterols to their crop growing schedules. Easy to use, natural and effective, phytosterols guarantee improved yields and meet farmers’ needs. Widespread use now seems only a matter of time.