Use of bio activators to replace agro chemicals

Biostimulants are defined as "containing substances and/or micro-organisms to stimulate natural processes in order to improve nutrient absorption and efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, and crop quality" according to the European Biostimulants Industry Council (EBIC, 2012), which creates a legal framework for marketing and the regulation of these products. In the last two decades, the possible use of biostimulants to improve crop production though sustainable agriculture have attracted the interest, not only of the farmers, but also of the scientists as it could represent a tool to combat damaged farmland and the uncertainties of climate change. The objective of the research project I pursued during my PhD training was to select the plant growth-promoting bacteria, a specific category of biostimulants, among a collection of environmental isolates