2 - Biostimulants: an introduction

Abstract

As a chemical class, biostimulants are a new product category, distinctively different from fertilizers or pesticides. Their application in agriculture has been steadily increasing in the last decade and research is actively growing. This chapter provides an introduction to the basic biostimulant categories, their definitions, and mechanisms of action. Furthermore, it presents a scientometric analysis of the current active research subfields and a comprehensive description of the European legislative framework.