The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has withdrawn approval for the sale of 11 animal protein-based biostimulants, citing religious and dietary sensitivities.
- The Agriculture Ministry’s notification (September 30, 2025) omitted 11 animal-derived biostimulants from Schedule VI of the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order (FCO), 1985.
- These included protein hydrolysate formulations used for green gram, tomato, chilli, cotton, cucumber, soybean, grapes, hot pepper, and paddy.
- The affected products were earlier cleared for use in paddy, tomato, chilli, cucumber, cotton, soybean, grapes, and green gram.
- Animal sources: bovine hide, tanned skin, chicken feathers, pig tissue, cod bones and scales, and sardine.
- These formulations were initially approved after ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) clearance earlier in the year.
What are Biostimulants?
- Definition (FCO, 1985): Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms that stimulate plant processes to improve nutrient uptake, growth, yield, quality, and stress tolerance.
- They act on the plant’s metabolism but do not provide nutrients directly (like fertilizers) or control pests (like pesticides).
- Application: Biostimulants are usually sold in liquid form and sprayed directly on crops.
- India’s Biostimulants Market Size: Valued at US$ 355.53 million (2024); projected to reach US$ 1,135.96 million by 2032 (Fortune Business Insights).
Feature |
Biostimulants |
Fertilizers |
Pesticides |
Function |
Stimulate natural plant processes |
Supply nutrients |
Control pests, weeds, or diseases |
Mode of Action |
Act on plant physiology or soil microbiome without directly adding nutrients |
Work by directly increasing soil or plant nutrient content |
Chemical/biological pest control |
Purpose |
Improve growth, yield, quality, stress tolerance |
Promote nutrition |
Protect crops |
Examples |
Seaweed extracts, amino acids, humic substances |
Urea, DAP (Diammonium Phosphate), MOP (Muriate of Potash) |
Insecticides, fungicides, herbicides |
Types of Biostimulants
- Humic and Fulvic Acids – Improve soil structure and nutrient absorption.
- Seaweed Extracts – Promote root growth and stress resistance.
- Protein Hydrolysates & Amino Acids – Enhance enzyme activity and metabolism.
- Microbial Biostimulants – Contain beneficial bacteria or fungi (e.g., Rhizobacteria, Mycorrhizae).
- Chitosan & Other Biopolymers – Improve plant immunity and resistance to pathogens.
- Inorganic Compounds – Contain trace elements that aid growth regulation.
Advantages of Biostimulants
- Enhance Nutrient Efficiency: Improve nutrient uptake and fertilizer use efficiency.
- Increase Yield and Quality: Promote better flowering, fruiting, and produce quality.
- Boost Stress Tolerance: Help plants withstand drought, salinity, and temperature stress.
- Eco-friendly: Reduce chemical use and environmental pollution.
- Support Sustainable Agriculture: Align with organic and climate-resilient farming goals.
Concerns Related to Biostimulants
- Unregulated Market: Many products were sold without quality control before 2021.
- False Claims: Some manufacturers made unverified performance claims.
- Lack of Standardization: Varied composition and uncertain efficacy.
- Testing Challenges: Difficult to scientifically quantify benefits.
- Safety Issues: Potential contamination if not produced under proper standards.
Regulatory Framework for Biostimulants in India
- 2011: The Punjab and Haryana High Court observed that any bioproduct claiming to substitute insecticides or fertilisers should undergo scrutiny before sale, prompting early state-level checks.
- NITI Aayog & Agriculture Ministry (2017): Began drafting a regulatory framework for biostimulants.
- Pre-2021: Biostimulants were sold freely for over a decade without any specific regulatory mechanism.
- Post-2021 Regulation: The government brought biostimulants under the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order (FCO), 1985, requiring companies to register and prove safety and efficacy.
- Transitional provision: Firms could sell products until June 16, 2025, if applications for approval were pending.
- Central Biostimulant Committee (April 2021): Constituted for five years, chaired by the Agriculture Commissioner, with seven members.
Significance and Implications
- Ethical and Cultural Sensitivity: Reflects the government’s responsive stance to religious and dietary beliefs, particularly among Hindu and Jain communities who object to animal-derived agricultural inputs.
- Regulatory Strengthening: Part of a broader effort to ensure quality, safety, and traceability in the agricultural input market.
- Impact on Agribusiness: Affects companies manufacturing or importing animal protein-based formulations.
- Research and Compliance: Necessitates fresh data generation on pre-harvest intervals and safety for future consideration.
- Environmental significance: Reducing unregulated bio-inputs ensures safer soil health and consumer safety.