Phytosterols open up new possibilities for water management in broad-acre crops

“Agriculture is based on crop production. We use it to feed us humans directly, or supply it to animals which, in turn, feed humans,” says Aymeric Molin, Co-Founder and COO of Elicit Plant. “It all starts with crop production. Yet, the driving force behind crop production is and always will be photosynthesis, and water is needed for this to work. As soon as water resources diminish, biomass production and yields are affected. This logically penalizes the entire system, clearly demonstrating the close link between water availability and agricultural productivity.”

Biosolutions market expert Dr Mark Trimmer adds that we can expect broad-acre crops all over the world to be increasingly confronted with episodes of water shortage. “Drought stress and heat stress for crops is becoming more and more common,” laments the CEO of Dunham-Trimmer. “We’re seeing it occurring in the US, in Europe, in Asia and Latin America on a more frequent basis and it’s causing significant production issues for growers in those areas.”

With this in mind, Dr Trimmer points to a lack of effective tools available to growers to deal with these kinds of stresses. According to the specialist, very few products on the market have the capacity to help crops cope with a prolonged decline in water resources. He notes that irrigation is still an option, of course, but there is less room for maneuver today because of restrictions and regulations. “Varietal selection and choosing crops better suited to dry conditions offer effective leverage but with unpredictable results, and they need to be considered well in advance of the season,” he explains. “Compared with these traditional solutions, phytosterols, along with their advantages, look set for a bright future!”

CEO of LLAINCO agro & Sirius Agrobusiness Consulting, Dr Francesc Llaurado knows the situation in southern Europe like the back of his hand. The Mediterranean arc is facing severe drought. “There are few solutions for using less water,” confirms the Catalan entrepreneur. “We can set up intelligent irrigation systems, manage water inputs more accurately, or constitute greater water reserves. I personally believe that we need to focus on reducing the plant’s demand for water, and this is what phytosterols are capable of doing.”

Phytosterols are biomolecules present in plants that deliver a message activating the plant’s natural defenses. Elicit Plant has overcome a major technological obstacle and succeeded in eliciting these properties by spraying phytosterols onto plants, enabling them to adapt preventively to water shortage using physiological protection mechanisms. Among other reactions, partial stomata closure reduces evapotranspiration. This reduces the amount of water needed for growth, without affecting photosynthesis.

“When it comes to lack of water for broad-acre crops, many companies are trying to improve on products they already offer,” points out Pam Marrone, a recognized specialist in biosolutions for over 30 years, winner of numerous awards and founder of the Biological Products Industry Alliance, a trade association that brings together over 100 companies. “For example, we’re seeing products with seaweed extracts, humic acid, amino acids and so on arriving on the market. In reality, what we truly need today are companies like Elicit Plant, dedicated to developing solutions to primarily maintain performance in conditions of water shortage.”

Agriculture is on the front line of climate change, and is often singled out for that. Yet agriculture is the first to suffer the consequences of climate change. “Like us all, farmers are part of the problem, but they are also – and above all – part of the solution,” asserts scientist and glaciology expert Heidi Sevestre. “Science must support agricultural by proposing solutions. We need to ensure that the world’s ‘breadbaskets’ continue to feed a planet that will soon be home to 10 billion people.”