Meet the Biostimulant Innovator of the Year Award Winner & Finalists

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From Italy to the United States, three growers are redefining the future of agriculture. Meet John Buck, winner of the inaugural Biostimulant Innovator of the Year Award, and finalists Stefano Marcenò and Taylor Braungardt  — proof that innovation starts with curiosity.

Tradition Meets Innovation on Ohio Soil

John Buck’s relentless curiosity fuels biostimulant success at Buck Farms.

John Buck remembers the moment he realized farming couldn’t stay the same. “Dad said we can’t continue doing the same thing we’ve been doing,” Buck recalls, standing on the edge of his 2,000-acre corn and soybean farm in New Bloomington, Ohio. “We’ve always been out on the forefront.”

That spirit of curiosity and willingness to embrace change has propelled Buck Farms into the national spotlight, earning Buck the inaugural Biostimulant Innovator of the Year Award, sponsored by Valent BioSciences.

Buck is a third-generation farmer, his roots running deep into the Ohio soil. But his approach is anything but old-fashioned. With a commitment to sustainability, Buck is trying to return to no-till farming — a decision that not only preserves soil health but also nurtures the environment for future generations.

The Biostimulant Journey Begins

Buck’s introduction to biostimulants came early in his career. “Back in 1997 and 1998, I started working for a chemical fertilizer company out of college, and that’s when I first heard about biostimulants,” he says. “As I leaned into it more, I learned about a company from Israel that was pushing the forefront on biostimulants. I was one of the first out there, and when you get involved, others start to learn about it, too.”

For over a decade, Buck has partnered with biostimulant companies, running on-farm trials to explore these products’ potential to unlock the soil’s natural power. Buck’s farm is a living laboratory, where tradition and technology meet. He meticulously tracks, measures and validates the performance of biostimulants across his fields, leveraging precision ag tools and running side-by-side trials to see what really works. “If you don’t have proof of it, it’s only a thought process,” he says. “One farmer used a product on every acre and thought it wasn’t making money, but he never left a spot untreated to compare. You must evaluate it properly, and that takes effort.”

His data-driven approach has consistently delivered remarkable results: enhanced plant health, increased yields, improved nutrient uptake and greater resilience during drought conditions. “A sick animal requires medication, but a healthy one doesn’t need anything extra. It’s the same with plants. If you give them what they need from the start, they’ll thrive,” Buck explains.

Solving Real-World Challenges

Buck’s commitment to sustainability is especially important in a region where water quality is a constant concern. “My farm sits on the continental divide. I can send water to both Lake Erie and the Gulf of Mexico at the same time,” Buck explains. “We’re in the Lake Erie watershed, so phosphorus runoff and algae blooms are real issues. A lot of phosphorus is in the soil, but it’s unavailable to plants. That’s where mycorrhizal biostimulants and other products come in. They help break it up and get it into the plant, instead of down the river.”

Buck’s passion for innovation extends beyond his own fields. He’s served on the Ohio Soybean Association, Ohio Soybean Council, North Central Soybean Research Program and the Ohio-Israeli Agricultural Committee, sharing what he’s learned with other farmers. “When I work with someone, I spend more time on education than anything else,” he says. “It’s not about selling a product. It’s about helping them figure out what works for their soil and their crops. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution.”

Recognition and Looking Ahead

John Buck with daughter, Harlie.

For Buck, the recognition from Valent BioSciences is more than a personal achievement. “I’m glad it’s something people are starting to take notice of,” he says. “This is something I value on my farm, and I know it can change the game for others, too.”

As biological solutions continue to evolve, Buck sees a future where more farmers embrace innovation — not just for bigger yields, but for healthier soils and a more sustainable legacy. “It’s not about finding an easy button,” he says. “It’s about asking the right questions, trying new things and always learning. That’s what keeps this farm — and our soil — thriving.”

Sowing Innovation in Sicily’s Ancient Olive Groves

How Stefano Marcenò blends family tradition and biostimulant science to
future-proof Sicily’s olive legacy.

Stefano Marcenò remembers the moment it became clear that biostimulants could transform his olive groves. It was during a season of unrelenting heat, the kind that turns Sicilian soil to dust and tests every farmer’s endurance.

Stefano Marcenò

Yet as he walked the rows of trees at Società Agricola MBTF, his family’s olive farm, he noticed something that surprised him: the biostimulant-treated trees were thriving. Their leaves were glossier, and their fruit was more resistant to drought stress. “That was when I realized innovation wasn’t a threat to tradition,” Marcenò says. “It was a way to protect it.”

Now a finalist for the inaugural Biostimulant Innovator of the Year Awards, sponsored by Valent BioSciences, Marcenò is leading a quiet revolution in the fields of Sicily — one that honors the past while preparing for the uncertainty ahead.

A Heritage of Olives, A Vision for Tomorrow

For generations, the Marcenò family has cultivated Nocellara del Belice olives in the rolling hills of western Sicily, where olive oil is more than a crop; it’s a way of life. But while the family’s roots run deep, Marcenò was not content resting on the laurels of the past. “I wanted to manage the farm in a way that respected biodiversity and the natural balance of the ecosystem,” he says. That mindset put him at the crossroads of tradition and science.

His professional life has helped shape that vision. As a shareholder in a phytochemicals and agricultural products distribution company, Marcenò has long worked in the space where research meets the realities of farming. “I’m in constant contact with agronomists, technicians and farmers,” he says. This connection gave him early insight into the emerging role of biostimulants and motivated him to bring those innovations home to his groves.

Meeting Climate Change Head On

In Sicily, climate change is not theoretical; it’s visible in the parched soil and unpredictable seasons. “One of the greatest challenges in recent years has been climate change, which makes it harder to maintain production standards using methods that are environmentally sustainable,” Marcenò says.

He’s clear-eyed about the pressures farmers face and believes biostimulants are an essential part of the solution. His approach is methodical, blending rhizosphere bacteria, mycorrhizae, amino acids, seaweed extracts and humic substances into his care regimen.

“These tools help the plants stay resilient, supporting them through the entire growth cycle, especially when the weather turns extreme,” he explains. The results are clear: healthier, more adaptable trees, stronger yields and a grove that seems to breathe easier, even in the toughest conditions.

A Company Rooted in Community

Marcenò sees his farm not just as a business, but as a platform for shared learning. “We’re building something that respects the environment, supports the health of the olive tree and shows other farmers that tradition and science can thrive together,” he says.

When asked about the most meaningful change he’s seen, he doesn’t point to one big moment. “It’s not about a single result,” he says. “It’s about the cumulative resilience of the plants — how they face stress now with more strength.”

And that’s the story of his land, really. Under Marcenò’s care, these centuries-old olive groves are still growing, giving and evolving. With his roots in history and his gaze fixed forward, Marcenò reminds us that tradition isn’t fragile. In fact, it grows stronger when nurtured by progress.

To thrive, “it is necessary, especially initially, to put away any skepticism of biostimulants,” Marcenò says. “You must focus on your long-term strategy and firmly believe in what you’re doing.”

Blending Family Legacy and Biological Innovation

Taylor Braungardt is taking his families’ fields into the future, using biostimulants and data to help crops and farmers adapt to uncertainty.

Taylor Braungardt

When the skies opened this past spring, dumping cold rain across his fields and delaying growth, most farmers braced for the worst. But for Taylor Braungardt, owner of Braungardt Ag in Bowling Green, Missouri, it was also a chance to see something remarkable unfold beneath the soil. While some plants struggled, others that were coated with a seed treatment enriched by biostimulants stood taller, grew faster and formed roots nearly double the size of the untreated crops.

“It’s like giving plants an aspirin,” he says. “They’re still under stress, but they handle it better while they recover.”

That’s the kind of practical, real-time observation that makes Braungardt a standout as a finalist for the inaugural Biostimulant Innovator of the Year Award sponsored by Valent BioSciences. He’s not just experimenting with biological tools; he’s learning their language, watching how they help his crops perform under pressure and advocating for their broader use as an “insurance policy” for unpredictable seasons. His blend of curiosity, trial-and-error grit and deep respect for what plants can do under the right conditions shows why he’s helping shape the future of farming — one tough season at a time.

A Legacy Rooted in Curiosity

Braungardt’s journey began on the family farm. After college, where Braungardt focused on animal science and cattle nutrition, he and his family took over a retiring neighbor’s ag retail business. “We learned quickly that the biggest thing when we entered the market was education,” he says. “We had to fight weed resistance, build chemical programs and keep up with a fast-evolving industry.” His brother’s background in agricultural systems management complemented his own, creating a partnership grounded in both experience and education.

Science In the Soil

For Braungardt, innovation starts beneath the surface. He uses advanced soil sampling to evaluate both nutrients and biology to pinpoint productivity gaps on every acre, ensuring that every application is targeted and effective. “I want real measurements,” Braungardt says. “We do plant tissue samples throughout the season to see if more nutrients are in the plant compared to others not treated.” This careful approach means he’s not just throwing products at a problem; he’s diagnosing and treating each field with surgical precision.

Biostimulants, such as mycorrhizal fungi and beneficial bacteria, play a central role in his program. “The process of feeding cow microbes in a cow’s stomach is identical to how microbes work in the soil,” he says. Understanding that connection helps us feed our crops better.” He’s quick to point out that not every product fits every acre; his focus is on learning where biostimulants work best and where they don’t.

Testing, Teaching and Trust

Braungardt’s farm is both a business and a living laboratory. He runs in-season tissue sampling to spot nutrient deficiencies and uses biostimulants in tandem with micronutrients, especially during stressful growing conditions. “Adding a biostimulant with a foliar micronutrient has proven success and positive ROI when feeding the crop what it needs at the right time,” he says. In tough seasons, he’s seen root mass double and plants mature faster with the right biostimulant treatments, sometimes making the difference between a good year and a great one.

But Braungardt doesn’t keep his findings to himself. He hosts annual field days, inviting more than 250 growers to walk his plots, see results firsthand and ask questions. Weekly five-minute videos keep his network informed and engaged, offering a transparent look at what’s working and what isn’t. “We’re not trying to give a sales pitch,” Braungardt says. “We’re trying to educate and be genuine about what happened and the yield it made. The biggest driver of our business is that everyone has a thirst for knowledge.”

A Vision for the Future

Braungardt Ag has evolved from a local supplier to a regional resource for consulting, direct farm deliveries and hands-on education. Braungardt’s approach is holistic: he considers soil biology, nutrient ratios and plant signals as part of a complex system. “God built a plant to not have to have these products, but it’s not a perfect world,” he says. “In some places, plants are doing it naturally. But in the middle, where we can add a biostimulant and enhance the program, we bring the plant closer to its natural state.”

For Braungardt, being named a finalist for the Biostimulant Innovator of the Year Award is both humbling and motivating. “I don’t do this for recognition,” he says. “Hopefully, we can continue to help people understand as we’re learning. It’s an exciting industry to be a part of and I can’t wait to see what we will learn next.”

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