Context: A critical consideration in biologicals R&D
Today I want to discuss what I believe to be one of the most important aspects of successful biological product usage: context.
I believe there are a number of “contexts” that should be considered when researching, developing, and using biological products. Agriculture itself is massively impacted by these areas of context, so being blind to these areas could lead to you researching or implementing a biological product with a proverbial one eye closed.
Context is so important to successful research and product implementation, particularly in the dynamic and complex area of biologicals research. What might seem like a good timing for application may be different in two crop species depending on what *that* crop is doing during that same developmental stage. Sure, both crop types might be primarily setting out roots and growing leaves during early vegetative growth stages. However, if your product elicits stress responses for abiotic stress priming, one crop may be particularly sensitive to that kind of priming during this stage, and “overreact” with a hypersensitive response that hinders growth. Another crop species may be just fine, and benefit from this priming. The developmental stage or “time context” is extremely relevant to the end result of the product on the plant.
In a similar fashion to my recent article “54 questions to ask about your biological or biostimulant”, the purpose of this article is to spark questions for you to ask yourself about the biological product you’re researching/developing/using and hopefully help you get clear definition and direction.
If there’s enough interest to warrant further discussion, let me know and I can go into more detail on any number of these areas of context and provide additional resources or information. If you would like a bit more individualized support, figure out next steps or action items in your research pipeline, or discuss blind-spots you may have in your current research portfolio, book a free consultation with me here to learn more about my individualized consulting offerings.
Here is a list of my thoughts on areas of context you might want to consider and explore in your biologicals research:
Time Context - Crop growth stages, time of year, product life cycle
What stage of life is your crop in?
What time of year is it there?
How long does the crop in that stage?
What is the crop doing while it’s there?
How long does your product persist on the plant or in the soil?
What is the durability of your product or the product effects?
Space Context - location of the crop and the product
What are individual aspects of the field/farm location that may impact plant nutrition, stress, or quality metrics?
Where is the product being applied? (Foliar, in-furrow)
Is there a systemic response to your product or a localized response?
Biological context - biological functions and happenings of the crop
What biological mechanisms are occurring when you apply your product? (i.e. - photosynthesis, carbon fixation, gas exchange, water uptake, nutrient uptake and assimilation, hormone signaling, etc.)
How might your product influence biological mechanisms occurring in the plant? What stage of these mechanisms are impacted?
Genetic context - genetic capacity and seed variation
What gene stack does your crop variety have that may make it more or less impacted by the effects of this product?
Are there genetic limitations that impact product efficacy? (i.e. - Certain crop genotypes may not have the genes required to respond to or amplify the biological product’s effects, such as specific pathogen recognition mechanisms or variability in amino acid metabolism effects).
What kinds of genetic regulation, such as epigenetic modifications, post-transcriptional modifications, siRNA, etc., may amplify or dampen the effects of your product?
Neighbor context - what are the plant’s “neighbors” doing?
What is the soil microbiome like?
What is the above-ground microbiome like?
Is there added sensitivity or hardiness given to the plant via your product that may make it more/less susceptible to product drift?
Production context - what is the goal of producing the crop and how does this product help reach that goal?
Is the goal of this crop purely volume of yield? How does the product alleviate yield-limiting factors?
Are there quality metrics that affect the value of the crop produced? (colors, flavors, time of harvest, size, consistency, etc.). How does the product support these quality goals?
Into what type of cropping system is the product being integrated?
Financial context - Is the product affordable and does it give sufficient ROI?
Given the rate and application frequency, is it affordable for the grower to use this product?
Does the product deliver enough of a value increase to either yield or quality metrics to ensure sufficient return of grower investments?
Could the product influence the necessary rate or efficacy of other products being used in the production system that may add to its ROI?
Environmental context - Does the product have off-target effects or offer environmental benefits?
Are there effects on off-target crop, insect, animal, or microbe species?
Is there an opportunity for this product to alleviate an environmental concern that may be present with currently used products?
Predecessor context - What came before the crop?
What was planted prior to this crop? Are there deficiencies or pressures that the current crop that the product might support? Are there opportunities to maximize benefits from previous crops?
What long-standing problems or opportunities with this field/cropping system/grower might your product help alleviate or amplify?
Successor context - What’s coming after the crop?
What is being planted after this crop? Is the next crop facing deficiencies or pressures that the product might support? Are there opportunities to maximize benefits from previous crops?
What are the long-term goals of this grower/cropping system? Are there long-term effects of your product that may help support these goals?
Pressure/stress context - What kinds of pressure is the crop dealing with or going to deal with?
What types of pathogens, pathosystems, or pests are crops going to face that your product may help mitigate or control? What types of biotic stressors are not influenced by your product’s effects?
What types of abiotic stresses are crops going to face that your product may benefit? What types of stress responses are not influenced by your product’s effects?
Nutrition context - What is the nutritional status of the crop?
How might your product help in nutrition uptake, assimilation, or efficiency?
What are the nutritional requirements for your product’s effects to occur? How do deficiencies impact it’s efficacy?
Water context - what is the water status of the crop?
How might your product aid in water uptake or water use efficiency?
At what points in the season is water deficiency most impactful of yields/yield quality in the target crop? How could the effects of your product support WUE during key timepoints?
Is water deficiency detrimental to the application or efficacy of your product?
