FIGURE 1.

Possible scenario in valorization chain of biostimulants from waste streams. Food industries and growers generate substantial amount of waste material and they are seeking methods to valorize as it costs to process the by-products. Food industries have the capacity to transport the by-product out of sites. Growers, however, usually lack the logistic means to process the by-products. Thus, a limiting factor for growers to valorize the crop residues is the cost of transport. As the first step toward valorization, Company a has the expertise in extraction and formulation from by-products. Company C–E, and G are heavily involved in the production and marketing of biostimulant products and they invest in registration and distribution. In spite of the ability to produce bioactive ingredients, these companies might still need assistance from Company a in extraction and formulation. Company C–E are also selling biostimulants to intermediate companies (Company F), who produce seeds, substrates or fertilizers. It is likely that one new biostimulant will be marketed as substrate, soil improvers or seed-coating. The ultimate target groups of biostimulants are crop growers. The proved efficacy of one biostimulant from growers will inspire the identification of chemical structure by Company B, carrying out synthesis of analogs. Consequently, it provides further knowledge into the valorization chain since the extraction and formulation can be designed to isolate the targeted bioactive ingredients.