Chairman's words

理事長 黃振文

In recent years, the increasing frequency of extreme climate events has posed significant biotic and abiotic stressors to crops during their growth cycles, severely impacting both productivity and quality. Enhancing crop resilience to these stresses has thus become a critical challenge that agricultural science and technology must urgently address to ensure stable and sustainable food production.

In response, the global research and industry communities have devoted considerable efforts to the development of environmentally friendly plant health products, including biofertilizers, biopesticides, and plant biostimulants. These technologies not only help mitigate the environmental impact of conventional pesticides and chemical fertilizers, but also promote healthy crop development and contribute to the long-term sustainability of agriculture. Among them, biofertilizers and biopesticides owing to their well-defined mechanisms and benefits have been incorporated into regulatory frameworks in many countries for effective governance and promotion.

Plant biostimulants (PBs), in contrast, offer a unique set of benefits by enhancing nutrient use efficiency in plants and their rhizosphere, improving plant tolerance to abiotic stresses, and elevating crop quality. Unlike traditional fertilizers that serve solely as nutrient sources or pesticides that control pests and diseases, PBs act through more complex mechanisms that regulate plant physiological processes. While PB products have been commercially available in numerous countries for years, comprehensive regulatory systems are still emerging in many regions, with only the European Union, the United States, and India having relatively mature legislation in place. Against this backdrop, our Society is committed to advancing research, development, and application of plant biostimulants in Taiwan—a mission we regard as both essential and urgent.

Since its establishment, the Taiwan Biostimulant Society (TBSS) has focused on the following core objectives:

1. Promoting the research, development, and practical application of biostimulant-related technologies in Taiwan;

2. Strengthening collaboration and knowledge exchange with domestic and international institutions to share the latest scientific findings and industry developments;

3. Facilitating market expansion and broader adoption of plant biostimulants;

4. Ensuring the development of biostimulant technologies aligns with environmental sustainability and industry needs.

To enhance communication among our members and support information sharing, the Society has launched the TBSS Newsletter, which features the latest global and domestic advancements in biostimulant science, product and technology profiles, member research achievements, outreach activities, and organizational updates. We hope this platform will foster collaboration and knowledge exchange across the community.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our members for your continued support and active participation. Looking ahead, we remain committed to driving innovation and sustainable development in plant biostimulant technologies, working together to advance Taiwan’s agriculture and safeguard ecological harmony.

Jenn-Wen Huang, Ph.D.

Founding President

Taiwan Biostimulant Society

ChungHsing New Village, May 7, 2025