1. The Rising Challenge of Water Scarcity in Agriculture
Water scarcity is rapidly becoming one of the most critical challenges in global agriculture. Increasingly erratic weather patterns, prolonged droughts, and growing competition for freshwater are making it harder for farmers to maintain productivity. According to the United Nations, agriculture accounts for nearly 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. However, a significant portion of this water is wasted due to inefficient irrigation and suboptimal plant uptake.
Consequently, improving Water Use Efficiency (WUE) has shifted from being a sustainable aspiration to an economic imperative. To maintain food production without exhausting water resources, farmers require innovative solutions that enhance how plants absorb, retain, and utilise water. Brandon Bioscience, a pioneer in marine biotechnology, offers a solution rooted in nature and perfected through science.
2. What Is a Water Efficiency Biostimulant?
Biostimulants are naturally derived products that support plant growth and resilience by influencing physiological and biochemical processes. Unlike fertilisers, they do not directly supply nutrients but stimulate the plant’s natural systems to optimise the use of existing resources.
A water efficiency biostimulant is formulated to help plants perform better under conditions of limited water. These biostimulants enhance water uptake, retention, and internal distribution, enabling crops to sustain growth and productivity even during drought or when irrigation is restricted. Brandon Bioscience’s ISKAMAR® exemplifies this innovation. Developed using the proprietary PSI® Technology, ISKAMAR® is designed to help crops overcome water stress and achieve higher yields.
3. Meet ISKAMAR®: The Biostimulant for Water-Limited Conditions
ISKAMAR® is a premium biostimulant powered by PSI®433 Precision Technology. Its formulation includes marine carbohydrates such as oligosaccharides, calcium, and organic acids. These bioactive compounds work in synergy to support crops during water scarcity.
Through PSI® Technology, ISKAMAR® targets specific stress responses in crops, activating the plant’s internal mechanisms to improve water efficiency and resilience in the face of drought or limited irrigation.
4. The Science Behind ISKAMAR®: How It Works
ISKAMAR® functions through a clearly defined mode of action. It stimulates root development, enhancing nutrient channel activity and increasing the plant’s capacity to absorb water. Simultaneously, it improves Relative Water Content (RWC), a physiological indicator of drought tolerance that signifies better water retention within plant tissues.
ISKAMAR® also optimises the transport of calcium and carbohydrates throughout the plant, ensuring that nutrients reach the most critical areas. Furthermore, it improves stomatal function, allowing the plant to regulate water loss through transpiration more effectively while maintaining photosynthetic efficiency. These combined effects enable crops to not only survive but thrive under water-restricted conditions.
5. Proven Results from Field Trials
Field trials and growth room experiments consistently validate ISKAMAR®’s performance. A notable example comes from trials on potato crops during a season of severe drought. ISKAMAR® treatment resulted in a 16.1% increase in marketable yield compared to untreated crops.
Additional trials have demonstrated other benefits, including increased chlorophyll content, improved photosynthetic capacity, enhanced root structure, and greater plant vigour during water-limited periods. These findings highlight the biostimulant’s tangible value for growers facing environmental and climatic stress.
6. Integrating ISKAMAR® into Your Farming Practice
ISKAMAR® is designed for easy integration into existing agricultural routines. In scenarios where water stress is anticipated, it is recommended to apply a foliar spray of 2 to 4 litres per hectare in advance, followed by 1 litre every 14 days during the stress period. For farms employing deficit irrigation strategies, applying 3 litres per hectare during key growth phases such as vegetative, flowering, and fruit set stages is advised.
It is suitable for a wide variety of crops, including vegetables, soft fruits, grapes, cereals, and tree fruits and nuts. When applied at the right time, ISKAMAR® significantly improves plant performance and reduces reliance on supplementary irrigation.
7. More Than Just ISKAMAR®: Brandon’s Water Efficiency Range
While ISKAMAR® is a flagship solution, Brandon Bioscience offers a full suite of complementary products for resilience.
BLOCSAL® is a precision‑engineered biostimulant, combining Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed and protein hydrolysate, developed with PSI® 475 technology to help crops withstand salinity stress. It works by bolstering osmotic adjustment (through accumulation of proline and sucrose), reducing sodium uptake, enhancing potassium retention, and activating stress‑tolerance genes; in trials, this resulted in average yield increases of around 23 % under saline irrigation conditions
PSI®362, although primarily focused on nitrogen use efficiency, also contributes to water efficiency by stimulating root biomass and nutrient uptake, leading to more balanced growth under stress.
8. Economic and Environmental Benefits for Growers
Biostimulants like ISKAMAR® are not only agronomically effective but also economically beneficial. Farmers experience improved yield per unit of water used, allowing for greater profitability with limited irrigation resources. Reduced water usage also leads to lower costs for pumping, energy, and labour.
From an environmental perspective, ISKAMAR® helps reduce agriculture’s water footprint, fosters soil health, and mitigates erosion. It aligns with global climate goals by enhancing input efficiency and minimising water waste.
9. Why Precision Biostimulation Is the Future of Farming
In an era of increasing climate unpredictability, traditional inputs are no longer sufficient. Precision biostimulation represents a transformative approach that focuses on harnessing natural resilience and activating targeted biological responses instead of relying on large volumes of fertiliser.
Brandon Bioscience’s PSI® Technology ensures every product is thoroughly validated for performance, consistency, and biological efficacy. This approach guarantees that growers receive solutions that work not just in research trials, but in the field.
As farming progresses towards sustainability and profitability, precision biostimulants will play a crucial role in achieving these objectives. They empower growers to produce more with less, while safeguarding long-term environmental health.
10. Smarter Water Use Begins at the Root
Water is no longer a plentiful or guaranteed resource. Yet with Brandon Bioscience’s ISKAMAR® and its portfolio of biostimulants, farmers no longer need to choose between environmental responsibility and crop performance.
Whether cultivating tomatoes in drought-prone regions or seeking more efficient water use in intensive farming systems, ISKAMAR® provides a proven pathway forward. Supported by rigorous science and real-world results, it enables growers to increase yield, conserve water, and build resilience for future challenges.
Smart farming starts with smart water use, and smart water use starts with Brandon Bioscience.
