Helping biological Agricultural products

work better in the real world

Help design biology better for your farm

Person analysing soil in a garden or farm, with green plants in the background.

We’re exploring practical new ways to improve how biostimulants and biofertilisers are delivered and applied. By speaking directly with growers, advisers, researchers and agricultural businesses, we’re working to understand where current biological products succeed, where they fall short and what a more effective approach could look like.

Inside a modern greenhouse with sunlight streaming through a glass roof, showing rows of green plants growing under controlled conditions.

Biological potential is still untapped

Biofertilisers and biostimulants have the potential to support crop productivity, plant health and more sustainable agricultural practices.

However, performance can vary considerably between products, crops and growing environments. Product condition, storage, application methods, timing and local biological conditions all influence what ultimately happens in the field.

We’re investigating how biological inputs could be delivered and applied more effectively, reliably and practically within real growing systems.

Line drawing of a greenhouse with three plants inside, showing the growth stages of plants from seed to mature plants with leaves.

More consistent

Reducing the variability growers experience when using biological products.

A logo featuring a plant sprout growing out of a circular outline with roots and an arrow pointing to its base.

More effective

Helping more of the intended biological value reach the crop at the right time and in the right condition.

Outline of a sprouting plant with two leaves and a gear icon at the base, symbolizing growth and technical development.

More practical

Designing around real farm workflows, equipment and labour constraints.

Starting with the realities of the farm

We’re currently conducting research with growers and other agricultural professionals to understand how biological products are selected, stored, prepared and applied today.

Our initial work is focused on:

  • Current use of biofertilisers, biostimulants and biological crop-protection products

  • The results growers expect and experience

  • Practical challenges with storage, preparation and application

  • Existing on-farm biological practices, including composts and compost teas

  • Where growers believe current products or processes could be improved

Two farmers harvesting lettuce in a vegetable field, filling crates with lettuce leaves.

We want to hear from you

We’re particularly interested in speaking with growers, farm managers, agronomists, crop advisers and agricultural input specialists.

Experience with biological products is helpful but not essential. We also want to understand why some growers have chosen not to use them.

We would especially like to hear from people involved in:

  • Protected vegetables and fruit

  • Greenhouses and polytunnels

  • Irrigated horticulture

  • Nurseries and ornamental crops

  • Regenerative or organic growing systems

  • Compost, compost-extract or compost-tea applications

Help shape our research

Our short survey asks about your current growing practices and your experience of biological agricultural inputs. It should take approximately five minutes, and your answers will help us focus on problems that matter in practice.

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Supported by Carbon13

This initiative is being developed through the Carbon13 venture builder