Introduction

This document was prepared by the experts of CEN/TC 455 “Plant Biostimulants”. The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) was requested by the European Commission (EC) to draft European standards or European standardization deliverables to support the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of 5 June 2019 laying down rules on the making available on the market of EU fertilizing products (“FPR” or “Fertilising Products Regulation”).

This standardization request, presented as M/564, also contributes to the Communication on “Innovating for Sustainable Growth: A Bio economy for Europe”. The Working Group 5 “Labelling and denominations”, was created to develop a work program as part of this request. The technical committee CEN/TC 455 “Plant Biostimulants” was established to carry out the work program that will prepare a series of standards. The interest in biostimulants has increased significantly in Europe as a valuable tool to use in agriculture. Standardization was identified as having an important role in order to promote the use of biostimulants. The work of CEN/TC 455 seeks to improve the reliability of the supply chain, thereby improving the confidence of farmers, industry, and consumers in biostimulants, and will promote and support commercialisation of the European biostimulant industry.

Biostimulants used in agriculture can be applied in multiple ways: on soil, on plant, as seed treatment, etc. A microbial plant biostimulant consists of a microorganism or a consortium of microorganisms, as referred to in Component Material Category 7 of Annex II of the EU Fertilising Products Regulation.

This document is applicable to all microbial biostimulants in agriculture.

The Table 1 below summarizes many of the agro-ecological principles and the role played by biostimulants.

Table 1 — Agro-ecological principles and the role played by biostimulants [1]

Increase biodiversity
By improving soil microorganism quality/quantity

Reinforce biological regulation and interactions
By reinforcing plant-microorganism interactions
- symbiotic exchanges i.e. Mycorrhizae
- symbiotic exchanges i.e. Rhizobiaceae/Faba
- secretions mimicking plant hormones (i.e. Trichoderma)
By regulating plant physiological processes
- for e.g. growth, metabolism, plant development…

Improve biogeochemical cycles
- improve absorption of nutritional elements
- improve bioavailability of nutritional elements in the soil
- stimulate degradation of organic matter

This document defines the general rules for the preparation of samples, initial suspensions and subsequent dilutions for microbiological examination of plant biostimulants.

Any special diluents or practices required in specific standard methods take priority over the general rules listed in this document.

WARNING — Persons using this document should be familiar with normal laboratory practice. This document does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to ensure compliance with any national regulatory conditions.

IMPORTANT — It is absolutely essential that tests conducted in accordance with this document be carried out by suitably trained staff.

PD CEN/TS 17708:2022

Plant biostimulants. Preparation of sample for microbial analysis

Published:

30 Jun 2022

Withdrawn:

29 Nov 2024