Plant biostimulants and their potential role in achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals

Social Impact Statement Plant biostimulants are substances that are obtained from a variety of sources and are applied in minute quantities to enhance plant growth and vigor. In this review, we detail how the use of plant biostimulants may contribute to efforts to achieving a number of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We describe how the incorporation of plant biostimulants could have both environmental and societal benefits, from increasing food security, potentially improving soil health, and enhancing economic cooperation. However, to fully exploit the potential of plant biostimulants, consistency in performance as well as a broader awareness is essential to their adoption and integration into common agricultural practices. Summary Plant biostimulants (PBs) have been shown to increase crop yield, quality, improve nutrient uptake and tolerance to abiotic stress. They have previously been proposed as innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture, with the global market currently exceeding $3 billion and projected to triple within the next decade due to climate change challenges and growing awareness of their potential. The Sustainable Development Agenda, adopted by world leaders in 2015, set out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 targets and 330 indicators to be achieved by 2030, providing a blueprint for a fairer and more sustainable society. Interest in PBs has expanded significantly in recent years, and they are increasingly described as environmentally friendly tools that can be integrated into conventional agricultural practices to improve crop performance. Their use can directly support societal‐based SDGs: Zero Hunger (SDG 2) and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), and environmental SDGs: Climate Action (SDG 13), Life Below Water (SDG 14), and Life on Land (SDG 15). They may also indirectly contribute to Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17). PBs promote a more sustainable approach to agriculture by mitigating abiotic stress, increasing nutrient use efficiency, and enhancing soil health. This article highlights how PBs can contribute to achieving some of the SDGs and international climate targets such as the Paris Climate Agreement while also underscoring the need for more systematic and coordinated research to strengthen the evidence base, optimize their effectiveness, and support wider adoption.