Biologicals work differently. Instead of forcing control over nature, they help maintain balance. – Whitney Rottman
Before diving into why I believe biologicals are the future of agriculture, let me clarify: I’m not against chemistry-based products. There’s a place for both chemistry and biological solutions in modern farming.
However, farmers need choices, and those choices must fit their unique operations. Agriculture is far too diverse for a one-size-fits-all approach. What works on one farm or even one field might not work in another. It’s time to shift our thinking.
What makes biologicals so compelling?
To answer that, comparing them with traditional chemical solutions is helpful. I often think of chemistry-based products as barriers—they’re like sandbags holding water back, trying to control or stop something from happening.
Biologicals, on the other hand, are more like boats navigating those same waters. They don’t resist the ecosystem; they move with it, adapt to it, and work within it.
This shift in mindset is critical. Ecosystems are dynamic, constantly striving for balance. When we push them too far in one direction, problems arise—like pests decimating a monoculture or soils no longer being able to sustain growth without synthetic fertilizers.
Biologicals work differently. Instead of forcing control over nature, they help maintain balance.
What’s exciting about biologicals, especially microbial-based products, is their ability to adapt in real time. When you introduce living organisms, like microbes, into a living ecosystem, they don’t just sit there. They interact with their environment, sensing changes and responding accordingly.
Think of them as a Swiss Army knife compared to the flat-head screwdriver of chemistry. They are versatile, dynamic tools that don’t fight against their environment but instead support and adapt within it.
What Exactly are Biologicals?
In this context, they refer to a broad range of products derived from living organisms:
Microbes
Insects like ladybugs
Plant-based metabolites
Enzymes and hormones
These are nature’s own solutions, produced at industry scale through various processes like precision fermentation.
As agriculture continues to evolve, we need technologies that can evolve alongside it. Rather than forcing the Earth to bend to our will, embracing its complexity and working within it is time. Biological products provide the flexibility and adaptability that modern farming needs.
That’s why biologicals matter. They don’t just solve short-term problems—they build long-term resilience and sustainability. That’s the future we should be aiming for in agriculture.
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