From Metabolite to Yield: How Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Explain the Real Effect of a Biostimulant

One of the main challenges in the biostimulant market is that products are often described in terms of what they do, but not why they do it. In an increasingly demanding agricultural context, that difference is critical. For agribusiness, it is no longer sufficient to state that a biostimulant “improves growth” or “helps mitigate stress.” Today, it is essential to understand what happens inside the plant, which processes are activated, and how that activation translates into a measurable agronomic outcome. This is where two key tools shaping the evolution of the sector come into play: Metabolomics and transcriptomics.

Beyond the Ingredient: Understanding the Mode of Action

A biostimulant does not act because of what it “contains,” but because of the biological response it triggers. That response occurs at two fundamental levels:

• Metabolic Level: Which active molecules are present and how they interact with plant metabolism.
• Genetic Level: Which genes are activated or regulated after application and which functions they control.

Effective biostimulants are those capable of inducing specific metabolic and genetic responses aligned with the targeted agronomic objective.

Metabolomics: Identifying Which Molecules Matter

Metabolomics is the large-scale study of metabolites present in a product or generated in the plant after application. This approach makes it possible to go far beyond generic ingredient lists.

What Metabolomics Brings to Biostimulants 

• More than 500 metabolites have been identified in certain foliar technologies.
• These metabolites are obtained through exclusive biosynthesis processes, not as random by-products.
• Each group of metabolites performs specific functions related, for example, to:

• • Growth.
  • Metabolic efficiency.
  • Stress tolerance.

Transcriptomics: Measuring the Plant’s Real Response

Transcriptomics analyses which genes are activated or regulated after the application of a biostimulant. It is one of the most direct ways to verify whether a product is truly influencing plant physiology. This technique makes it possible to understand the effect of formulations on the plant:

• Transcriptomic trials show the induction of hundreds of genes after the application of certain technologies.
• In foliar technologies, the induction of 533 genes related to growth and stress response has been reported.
• In root technologies, genes directly involved in, for example:

• • Auxin response.
  • Root elongation.
  • Formation of lateral roots and root hairs.
  • Cell division and expansion (cyclins and expansins), are activated.

This provides something essential: Evidence of mode of action. The objective is not to observe a final effect, but to demonstrate that the product:

• Intervenes in specific metabolic pathways.
• Activates known physiological processes.
• And does so in a manner consistent with the results observed in the field.

From Genetic Activation to Agronomic Outcome

The real value of metabolomics and transcriptomics emerges when they are linked to practical outcomes.

Example: Foliar Growth and Stress Resilience

In the foliar technologies described, the activation of genes related to:

• Photosynthesis.
• Antioxidant systems.
• Energy metabolism.

Is associated with:

• Greater vegetative growth.
• Improved tolerance to abiotic stress.
• Improved water-use efficiency.

Example: Root Development and Living Soil

In the case of root technology, genetic activation is complemented by a prebiotic effect:

• Increased soil microbial activity (for example, through enzymes such as dehydrogenase, phosphatase, and β-glucosidase).
• Improved organic matter decomposition.
• Greater availability of nutrients such as phosphorus.

The result is a more developed root system, with a greater capacity to absorb water and nutrients, and a biologically more active soil.}

Why This Approach Makes a Difference in the Market

From an agribusiness perspective, working with metabolomics and transcriptomics offers clear advantages:

1. Consistency Between Science and Results

When the effect observed in the field is supported by metabolic and genetic activation, the product no longer relies solely on empirical trials.

2. Defensible Technical Arguments

Being able to explain:

• Which genes are activated.
• Which processes are stimulated.
• And why this improves yield or stress tolerance, reduces uncertainty and strengthens credibility with growers.

3. A Solid Foundation for Specialization

This approach enables progress toward biostimulants designed for specific stresses or plant responses, as each formulation can be developed to activate targeted pathways.

From Research to Product Design

These tools are part of a key technological process in the development of biostimulant solutions:

• Digital Phenotyping: To visually and quantitatively validate plant responses under controlled conditions.
• Precision Fermentation: To reproducibly produce specific metabolites.
• Precision Formulation: Combining molecular data, trials, and predictive models.

This integrated approach reduces development timelines and improves the reliability of the final product.

Conclusion

In a market saturated with biological solutions, the difference no longer lies in the number of ingredients, but in the understanding of the mode of action. Metabolomics and transcriptomics make it possible to:

• Identify which molecules are truly relevant.
• Demonstrate how the plant responds.
• And design biostimulants aligned with real physiological processes.

This approach provides confidence, consistency, and a solid technical foundation on which to build commercial and agronomic decisions without assuming unnecessary risk.