Algae biostimulants: A critical look at microalgal biostimulants for sustainable agricultural practices

For the growing human population to be sustained during present climatic changes, enhanced quality and quantity of crops are essential enable food security worldwide. The current consensus is that we need make a transition from petroleum-based bio-based economy via development sustainable circular biorefinery approaches. Both macroalgae (seaweeds) microalgae have been long considered rich source plant biostimulants with an attractive business opportunity in agronomy agro-industries. To date, well explored. In contrast, microalgal whilst known positive effects on development, growth yields crops, their commercial implementation constrained by lack research cost production. review highlights knowledge potential biostimulatory compounds, key sources quantitative information algae. Specifically, provide overview prospects advance crop production quality. Key aspects such as specific biostimulant caused extracts microalgae, feasibility co-cultures later co-application other biostimulants/biofertilizers highlighted. An knowledge, recent advances achievements extraction techniques, application type, timing, market regulatory also discussed. Moreover, involved approaches covered, as: integration waste resources high-throughput phenotyping -omics tools isolating novel strains, exploring synergistic interactions illustrating underlying mode action. Overall, this future biostimulants, algal biochemical components behind these traits finally bottlenecks successful commercialisation for agricultural practices.