REVIEW article
Front. Plant Sci.
Sec. Sustainable and Intelligent Phytoprotection
This article is part of the Research TopicStreamlining Digital Agriculture: Advances in Sensing, Processing, and Modeling for Accessible SolutionsView all articles
Next-Generation Biostimulants: Molecular Insights, Digital Integration, and Regulatory Frameworks for Sustainable Agriculture
Provisionally accepted
- 1University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
- 2Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
- 3Estacion Experimental del Zaidin, Granada, Spain
- 4University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
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The development of biostimulants is undergoing a critical evolution, shifting from empirical applications toward precisely engineered solutions. However, this transition is hampered by fundamental gaps, inclusive of: (1) the absence of temporal-technological frameworks connecting biostimulants development with broader agricultural revolutions, (2) insufficient mechanistic understanding linking molecular modes of action to precision application strategies, and (3) unclear regulatory frameworks and integration pathways for biostimulants within digital agriculture ecosystems (AI/IoT). This review synthesises the evolution of biostimulants through a generational framework (1.0-4.0) and examines their integration with Agriculture 5.0 technologies. We analyse classifications, molecular mechanisms, and regulatory frameworks while evaluating omics-driven precision biostimulants formulations for AI/IoT integration. Our analysis suggests that successful integration requires coordinated molecular validation, regulatory harmonisation, and digital platform development, providing researchers and policymakers with a roadmap for advancing biostimulants science from fragmented research toward systematic, technology-enabled solutions for climate-smart and sustainable agriculture, in line with SDGs 2, 13, and 15.
Keywords: Agriculture 5.0, biostimulants, omics, Climate-smart agriculture, regulation, PGPR, Seaweed extracts
Received: 22 Sep 2025; Accepted: 30 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Mashabela, Terefe, Kerchev, Sitole and Mhlongo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Manamele D Mashabela, manamelem@uj.ac.za
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