b'We Should All Be Striving for Above and Beyond HOLLY LITTLECHANGE,it is said, is the only true constant. One ofRESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, ACADIAN PLANT HEALTHthe changes in our current era is the groundswell in hlittle@acadian.ca acceptable behaviors.We should care a whole lot lessacadianplanthealth.comabout being seen to do the right thing, and a whole lot more about actually doing the right thing, whether or not its seen, simply because its the right thing.At Activate Ag, were doing our best to live that motto. Wherever we can, were making decisions inBiostimulants Work by line with the spirit of new or coming regulations and guidelines, rather than simply following or manipu-lating them. This is not new for us: for example, wePressing a Plants Gas Pedalcommitted to ensuring APEOs (Alkylphenol ethoxy-lates) would not be used in our products many years ago, even though it was not a regulatory approvalWHEN IT COMESto biostimu- understand whats happening. Are requirement. Our current intentions are to push harder:lants and understanding theirthere changes in gene expression we fully intend to go deeper into the green space inmode of action, theres a lotin the plant that help us understand meaningful ways. scientists dont fully understandthe mode of action? Do those There is growing concern that companies areyet. Mode of action with biostimu- changes in gene expression tie making claims about themselves or their productslants is a topic thats very complex,into the phenotypic qualities were that have not been substantiated, or in some casesbecause these are not simpleseeing in the plant, and does that are not even true. Therefore, when we go out intoactives; rather, theyre multiplehelp explain it?the marketplace, were committed to ensuring ouractives that can interact with dif- Stage 3. We need to know if products have verifiable standards. We will begin withferent growth stages, differentthose changes in gene expression what is required by new regulations as new regula- plant species and under differenthave an effect on the metabolism tions are still being implemented. We then intend toenvironmental conditions. of the plant. Are there changes in exceed the limits of what is required and further pushIn order to develop newmetabolites and antioxidants that the boundaries of what is possible. We see ourselvesbiostimulants, we have to pos- help the plant, for example?as frontrunners, pushing ahead of regulation in thesess a full understanding of eachSeaweed extract biostimulants direction befitting the spirit in which the regulationsingredient. We screen our existingenhance the natural growth and are intended. products, studying how plantsstress-resistant mechanisms within Going above and beyond not only resonates withrespond differently under differentthe plant. These products arent customers and the wider community, its building anconditions. By doing this, weveartificially shifting gene expres-ever stronger and committed Activate Ag team, wherelearned that plants are like carssion to cause a different outcome we know our individual contributions are buildingand the challenges they face in thefrom what wed normally see in the something proven, meaningful and authentic. We inviteenvironment are like heavy traffic. plant; seaweed extract stimulates you to join us! We work to understand thesethe natural processes within the processes in a few different stages. plant and enhances the growth Stage 1. In our early-stageand stress-resistant pathways screening, well often look at theand mechanisms that are already phenotypic traits of plants. Do theypresent.grow larger when exposed to theIf you apply synthetic chemis-biostimulant? Are they less wilted?try, its like a steering wheel that SIMON WATT These things dont tell us mode ofis moving the plant in a certain CHIEF TECHNOLOGY &actionthey simply show us thedirection. With a biostimulant like INNOVATION OFFICER,effect of the biostimulant on theseaweed extract, youre really just ACTIVATE AG LABS plant. pressing on the gas pedal, so the simon@activateaglabs.com Stage 2. Once we see a con- plant is going in the direction it activateaglabs.com sistent and reliable effect on thewould naturally go in, but simply phenotypic qualities of the plant,doing it a little bit faster.well look within the plant to try to 16/ SEEDWORLD.COMLATAM'