The adoption of biological crop inputs in the U.S. has had a bumpy journey, but bio-based crop protection products and inoculants are gaining awareness throughout the U.S. amid challenging farm economics, creating an innovation opportunity for ag suppliers.
On July 23, market research firm Stratovation Group hosted a webinar, sharing insights from its report that surveyed over 600 U.S. row crop farmers (corn, wheat, and soybean growers) on their attitudes and perceptions of biologicals. This report follows similar research in 2024 and 2022.
Overall, farmers are largely familiar with biologicals, and half said that they use bio-based products. Farmers’ usage of biological products remained relatively flat from 2024 to 2026 at 52%, 3% lower than in 2024, Stratovation Group reported.
Nearly all (90%) of farmers were familiar with biological products, compared to 83% who said the same in 2022, according to the report. Similarly, 84% of farmers were aware of microbials, compared to 75% who said the same in 2022.
Additionally, biopesticides experienced the largest percentage increase in awareness, growing from 44% of farmers who were aware of the product in 2024 to 59% in 2026, Stratovation Group reported. Awareness of biostimulants and biofertilizers grew to 84% and 69%, respectively, for a 11% increase since 2024.
Economic gains, soil health benefits, and proven agronomic efficiency were among the top reasons for purchasing a biological, with 26%, 17%, and 15%, respectively, saying that was their number one purchase driver. Of the 300 farmers using biologicals, 87% were seeking a two-fold return on investment from a biological, the report found.
Despite the awareness and general use, farmers that used and then stopped using biologicals did so because of effectiveness and cost reasons. More than half of 53 farmers (57%) said they stopped using them because they were not worth the cost, and 47% said that the products did not work.
Major ag suppliers double down on biological innovation
The growing awareness of biological products comes as major ag suppliers continue their investments in the category across product classes. For instance, Bayer partnered with Aphea.Bio to co-develop a bioinsecticide targeting sap-sucking insects.
In July, fertilizer supplier Mosaic’s biological division, Mosaic Bioscience, partnered with French start-up Elicit Plant to develop a biological for canola that can help conserve water. In May 2026, Mosaic invested in UK-based start-up SugarRox’s Series A round to commercialize its biostimulant based on a plant sugar.
Crop protection giant Corteva continues to emphasis its biological portfolio as a growth opportunity, highlighting Brazil as a key market. Brazil’s dynamic farming system of multiple seasons allows for faster research and development of biological products, the company’s biological business partner discussed during the 2026 World Agri-Tech conference in São Paulo, June 23-24.
Brazil has become a major biological home for ag suppliers and start-ups alike, with peptide-based biological company Micropep, seeking regulatory approval for its products in Brazil and Paraguay first.
