From Soil Biology to On-Farm Practice: Understanding Biostimulants and Biofertilizers.
Farmers Dalila and Adrian, from Listening Skies in Plainfield, MA,mixing Indigenous Microbes (IMO3) from the farm into carb and carbon sources
Healthy soils are living systems. Beneath our feet, diverse microbial communities regulate nutrient cycling, soil structure, plant health, and ecosystem resilience. As more farmers transition toward organic and regenerative practices, interest is growing in tools that support these biological processes directly—particularly biostimulants, biofertilizers, and on-farm biopreparations
At their core, these inputs are not about replacing fertility programs, but about enhancing biological function. Biostimulants and biofertilizers work by stimulating microbial activity, improving nutrient efficiency, and supporting plant stress tolerance—often at very low application rates. Rather than acting as direct nutrient sources, they help unlock the soil’s existing capacity to feed crops.