Global fertiliser manufacturer, Yara, has entered the rapidly-growing biostimulants market with the release of its new YaraAmplix range in Australia. 

Biostimulants are products that help to improve plant resilience and nutrient use efficiency in crops, independently of their nutritional value. 

Yara Australia country manager Tim Erbacher said plant stress is the greatest yield-limiting factor in all agricultural and horticultural crops.  

“It is estimated that even the best-performing crop, corn, typically expresses only 24 per cent of its yield potential,” Mr Erbacher said. 

“By comparison, wheat expresses about 13 per cent of its yield potential. 

 “These massive shortfalls are due to a range of biotic and abiotic stresses.” 

Biotic factors are living things within an ecosystem including plants, animals and bacteria. 

Abiotic factors are non-living components within an ecosystem such as water, soil, weather and climate. 

The YaraAmplix range of biostimulants includes more than a dozen formulations  scientifically proven to improve plant health and resilience. 

Specific benefits include improved nitrogen fixation, nutrient use efficiency, seed germination, root growth, photosynthesis, plant growth, flowering, fruit set, fruit development and shelf life. 

Three of these products, which can be applied as foliar or fertigation treatments, will be introduced to the Australian market immediately. 

Yara is also developing a number of biostimulants suitable for use in organic production systems.  

Mr Erbacher says the new range is complementary to Yara’s existing range of premium crop nutrition solutions. 

“Quality fertilisers deliver precise blends of plant-available macro and micronutrients,” he said. 

 “Biostimulants help plants to make the most of a balanced crop nutrition program by improving its nutrient use efficiency and ability to cope with changing seasonal conditions and other stresses. 

“Used in combination, quality crop nutrition products and biostimulants can help to increase crop yield and quality, working in harmony with nature.” 

Mr Erbacher the biostimulants category is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the fertiliser market. 

“Biostimulants are rapidly becoming a standard input in crop nutrition programs.

“At the moment, most of the discussion around biostimulants is focussed about what’s in them or how they are produced, but the only thing that counts is whether they actually do what they say they do. 

“These products have undergone rigorous trials and crop safety tests throughout the world. 

 “It is this combination of ingredients, testing and world-class manufacturing processes that make YaraAmplix biostimulants both different and effective.” 

He said the launch of the YaraAmplix range is proof of the company’s vision to ‘grow a nature-positive food future’. 

“As a global leader in crop nutrition, Yara is committed to helping transform the way food is produced. 

“We want to be part of an agricultural future that feeds the world without harming the planet. 

“We have to maintain or increase productivity while reducing emissions. 

“This is going to require the adoption of systematic, outcome-based, sustainable farming inputs and practices that work in harmony with nature.” 

Yara markets a comprehensive range of crop nutrition products in Australia, including YaraMila NPK compound fertilisers, YaraLiva calcium nitrate fertilisers, YaraRega soluble NPK compound fertilisers, YaraTera soluble NPK and straight fertilisers, YaraVita foliar micronutrient fertilisers and now, YaraAmplix biostimulants.