The global biostimulant market is expanding rapidly. Yet for many brands and distributors, the real challenge is no longer simply whether they have a product, but whether that product can build clear differentiation. As claims around rooting, stress tolerance, quality improvement and yield enhancement become increasingly similar, products without original active ingredients or technical barriers are more likely to fall into price competition.

Against this backdrop, functional biostimulants with a defined source, patent protection, field validation and a foundation for international market access are becoming an important choice for global brands seeking long-term competitiveness. Pollen polysaccharides, developed by Chengdu New Sun Crop Science Co., Ltd. (New Sun) based on the value-added utilization of rapeseed pollen, represent one example of this direction.

Pollen polysaccharides are plant-derived biostimulants extracted and refined through a biological enzymatic process. Their main components include water-soluble carbohydrates such as polysaccharides, oligosaccharides and monosaccharides, together with abundant amino acids, minerals and trace elements. These components support comprehensive plant regulation, including stronger rooting and seedling establishment, improved stress tolerance, and enhanced yield and quality.

Unlike simple blended formulations, New Sun’s pollen polysaccharides are built around natural plant-derived active substances. Through original extraction and preparation technologies, they form a stable product system that has been continuously studied and validated across application scenarios such as growth promotion, stress management, quality improvement and higher crop marketability. In this sense, pollen polysaccharides are not only a single product, but also a functional active ingredient system that can support differentiated brand development.

Global layout of New Sun pollen polysaccharides

From Rapeseed Pollen to Original Active Ingredients: Differentiation Beyond Formulation

The research and development of New Sun’s pollen polysaccharides began in 2019. During studies on rapeseed pollen extracts, the R&D team identified their application potential in promoting crop growth and enhancing adaptation to stress conditions. This led to systematic product development and a global intellectual property strategy.

Rather than stopping at empirical screening, New Sun’s R&D process has advanced from biological function evaluation of rapeseed pollen extracts to macromolecular structure analysis and functional mechanism studies. This deeper research approach has helped transform pollen polysaccharides from a natural extract into a more clearly defined, science-based active substance system.

At present, New Sun has deployed more than ten patents related to pollen polysaccharides in China, the United States, Brazil, Japan and other markets, while also advancing PCT international patent applications. These patents cover active components, preparation processes and specialized formulations. For global partners, this means pollen polysaccharides are not merely another formulation option, but an original active ingredient with technical recognition and long-term product line development value.

In an increasingly crowded biostimulant market, the value of patents should not be understood only as a technical endorsement. They can also become a brand asset, helping distributors and brand owners establish a clearer product story, more stable differentiation points and more sustainable pricing power.

Field Validation: From Rooting and Seedling Vigor to Yield, Quality and Stress Management

The commercial value of a biostimulant must ultimately be proven in the field. Around pollen polysaccharides, New Sun has continued to combine theoretical research, third-party bioassays and multi-region field trials to verify performance across different crops and application scenarios.

Since 2021, New Sun’s R&D team has published related studies in professional agricultural journals, systematically explaining the mode of action, growth-promoting performance and stress tolerance effects of pollen polysaccharides. At the same time, domestic and overseas field trials, together with third-party bioassay reports, have further validated their application value in promoting rooting and seedling vigor, improving crop growth, enhancing fruit marketability and strengthening crop adaptation under stress.

In a third-party tomato bioassay conducted in a commercial greenhouse in Spain, the 3% pollen polysaccharide treatment increased average fruit weight and fruit diameter compared with the untreated control. Its fruit diameter performance was close to that of the reference treatment, indicating clear application potential in improving the commercial value of fruit and vegetable crops.

Harvested tomato fruits from the final sampling of the Spanish bioassay

Comparison of fruit weight and diameter among different treatments in the Spanish bioassay

In field and economic crop trials in China, pollen polysaccharides also demonstrated multi-scenario adaptability. In pak choi, they improved leaf length, leaf width and fresh weight performance. In maize seed coating, they promoted seedling growth and helped strengthen stalk development. In wheat full-season management, they supported stable yield improvement. Under drought stress, they also helped enhance drought tolerance performance in cotton.

These results indicate that the value of pollen polysaccharides is not limited to one crop or one single claim. Instead, they can support more targeted application programs according to different regions, crops and brand positioning.

International Certification and Registration: Bringing Technical Assets Closer to Market

For biostimulant brands targeting global markets, technical innovation is only the first step. Registration, certification and compliant market access also determine whether a product can truly enter the market. While advancing pollen polysaccharide R&D, New Sun has continued to build a stronger international qualification system.

Since 2022, New Sun has successively obtained EU organic certification for 0.2% pollen polysaccharide aqueous extract, as well as EU registration certificates for 3% and 5% pollen polysaccharide soluble concentrate products, laying a foundation for access to Europe and other high-standard markets.

Since 2025, 3% and 5% pollen polysaccharide soluble concentrate products, as well as related root fertilizer products, have successively obtained registration certificates in Vietnam, Ecuador, Egypt, Kenya and other countries. These registrations cover major agricultural production regions across Asia, Africa and South America, supporting the further transition of pollen polysaccharides from laboratory achievements to global field application at scale.

EU registration certificates for 3% and 5% pollen polysaccharide soluble concentrate products

From Single Products to Solutions: Higher-Value Choices for Global Brands

Supported by global patents, international certifications, mature products and field data, New Sun is building a product matrix represented by pollen polysaccharides and other natural active substances, under the technical framework of its GeneNavX™ panoramic biostimulant innovation platform. This product matrix covers multiple key stages, including crop growth regulation, root development, stress management, nutrient uptake and quality formation.

For global partners, New Sun aims to provide technical product development support rather than simple manufacturing services. Around pollen polysaccharides and other natural active substances, the company can work with brand owners to develop differentiated biostimulant solutions, including core active ingredients, mature formulation options, fertilizer enhancement solutions and customized application programs. The goal is to help partners build product lines with stronger recognition and market competitiveness.

This also means that the commercial value of pollen polysaccharides comes not only from their functional performance, but also from the original technology, patent barriers, compliance foundation and application program capabilities behind them. For brands seeking to move beyond low-price competition and build high-value biostimulant products, patented natural active ingredients such as pollen polysaccharides are becoming a new growth lever.

Partnering with Global Brands to Create New Value for Green Agriculture

From the start of R&D in 2019 to today’s progress across patents, certifications, registrations and field applications, New Sun’s pollen polysaccharides have followed an innovation pathway from natural resource development to global market application.

As plant-derived biostimulants, pollen polysaccharides align with the long-term global trends of input reduction and efficiency improvement, better crop quality and sustainable agriculture. They also provide brand owners with a new technical option to break through homogeneous competition.

Looking ahead, New Sun will continue to deepen the basic research and application development of pollen polysaccharides, promote product technology iteration and expand application scenarios. Together with global partners, New Sun aims to develop more science-based, application-ready and market-competitive biostimulant solutions that create more stable field value for growers worldwide.