Bio-stimulant: An innovative approach for climate smart agriculture

Abstract

Sustainable agriculture requires innovative approaches to enhance crop productivity while minimizing environmental pollution, especially with an escalating population. Bio-stimulants are the substances or microorganisms applied to plants gives promising solution by enhancing nutrient efficiency, stress tolerance, and crop quality. These organic materials and microorganisms improve nutrient uptake, growth, and resilience to environmental stresses, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic protectants. These are categorized as acids, microbes, plant-derived bioactive substances. Bio-stimulants support productive, resilient, and environmentally friendly farming. This review consolidates the current scientific understanding of bio-stimulants, examining their definition, modes of action, regulatory status, market dynamics, and potential to mitigate abiotic stresses such as salinity, drought, and extreme temperatures.