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Can Biostimulants Help Tackle the Microplastic Crisis? Exploring how biology and innovation can restore polluted soils.
What Are Biostimulants?
Biostimulants are organic or microbial compounds that enhance the natural biological activity of the soil. Unlike traditional fertilizers, they don’t add nutrients directly - they stimulate plants and microorganisms to use existing nutrients more efficiently.
Biostimulants are organic or microbial compounds that enhance the natural biological activity of the soil. Unlike traditional fertilizers, they don’t add nutrients directly - they stimulate plants and microorganisms to use existing nutrients more efficiently.
Microplastics - once seen as an ocean issue - are now deeply embedded in the world’s soils.
From agricultural films and compostable packaging to wastewater sludge, these particles have found their way into farmlands across the globe. According to the FAO, agricultural soils may contain more microplastics than marine environments, posing a long-term threat to soil fertility, biodiversity, and food safety.
But there’s a growing field of research that may hold a solution - biostimulants.
These natural or biologically derived substances can do more than improve plant growth. They can activate microbial processes that help break down microplastics, turning polluted soil into a self-healing ecosystem once again.
From agricultural films and compostable packaging to wastewater sludge, these particles have found their way into farmlands across the globe. According to the FAO, agricultural soils may contain more microplastics than marine environments, posing a long-term threat to soil fertility, biodiversity, and food safety.
But there’s a growing field of research that may hold a solution - biostimulants.
These natural or biologically derived substances can do more than improve plant growth. They can activate microbial processes that help break down microplastics, turning polluted soil into a self-healing ecosystem once again.
Common types include:
When applied correctly, these biostimulants revitalize the soil microbiome - creating an environment where beneficial microbes can thrive and naturally process pollutants, including microplastics.
- Humic and fulvic acids - improving soil structure and nutrient absorption.
- Amino acids and peptides - supporting root development and microbial balance.
- Microbial inoculants - such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Actinobacteria, known for their role in biodegradation processes.
When applied correctly, these biostimulants revitalize the soil microbiome - creating an environment where beneficial microbes can thrive and naturally process pollutants, including microplastics.
How Biostimulants Support Microplastic Degradation
Recent studies show that certain soil microorganisms can partially degrade plastic polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). However, their efficiency depends on environmental conditions and microbial activity.
This is where biostimulants come in:
Recent studies show that certain soil microorganisms can partially degrade plastic polymers such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). However, their efficiency depends on environmental conditions and microbial activity.
This is where biostimulants come in:
- They boost microbial metabolism, providing carbon sources and enzymes that accelerate breakdown.
- They stimulate biofilm formation, helping microbes attach to plastic surfaces and initiate degradation.
- They improve aeration and soil structure, which enhances oxygen exchange - crucial for oxidative degradation of plastics.
From Pollution to Productivity: The BioCycle Labs Approach
At BioCycle Labs, we view agricultural waste and pollution as resources waiting to be transformed.
Our Agri-RENEW modular systems integrate nutrient recovery, wastewater treatment, and biostimulant production - creating a full-cycle, regenerative process.
Here’s how it works:
At BioCycle Labs, we view agricultural waste and pollution as resources waiting to be transformed.
Our Agri-RENEW modular systems integrate nutrient recovery, wastewater treatment, and biostimulant production - creating a full-cycle, regenerative process.
Here’s how it works:
- Manure and slurry are separated and processed through biological treatment.
- Valuable nutrients are recovered as organic fertilisers.
- The byproducts are converted into biostimulant-rich solutions, containing active microbial compounds that improve soil biology.
Why It Matters
- Environmental impact: Soil microplastic pollution affects water retention, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity. Biostimulant application can reverse part of this damage naturally.
- Agricultural value: Healthier soils mean better yields and long-term sustainability - without increasing chemical inputs.
- Regulatory alignment: With the EU tightening restrictions on microplastic contamination and fertilizer use, biological solutions like Agri-RENEW help farmers stay compliant while improving efficiency.
The Future of Soil Health
The microplastic crisis highlights a simple truth: sustainability starts with the soil.
Technological fixes alone aren’t enough - we need biological intelligence built into every stage of agriculture.
By combining science, circular design, and microbiology, systems like Agri-RENEW show how waste can become value again - and how the same biological forces that built life on Earth can now help us heal it.
The microplastic crisis highlights a simple truth: sustainability starts with the soil.
Technological fixes alone aren’t enough - we need biological intelligence built into every stage of agriculture.
By combining science, circular design, and microbiology, systems like Agri-RENEW show how waste can become value again - and how the same biological forces that built life on Earth can now help us heal it.