Biocides are chemical or biological substances intended to control harmful organisms, including insects, rodents, algae, fungi, and bacteria. In the European Union, the approval of biocidal active substances and biocidal products follows a two-stage regulatory process in which risks to human health, animal health, and the environment are assessed before products are placed on the market.
Biodiversity, or biological diversity, refers to the variety of all living organisms and the ecosystems to which they belong. It encompasses ecosystem diversity, species diversity, and genetic diversity within species. Biodiversity is fundamental to life on Earth and provides numerous ecological, economic, social, and ethical benefits. However, human activities such as habitat destruction, overexploitation of natural resources, climate change, and the introduction of alien (invasive) species pose serious threats to biodiversity.
Bioenergy is energy derived from biomass of various origins, including forest biomass, short-rotation woody crops, and waste and by-products from agriculture, industry, and households. It can be used to generate electricity and heat, as well as fuel for transport. Bioenergy is utilized in the form of biogas, biomethane, vegetable oils, and solid biofuels such as wood chips and straw pellets.
Biofertilisers are products containing living microorganisms that enhance plant growth by increasing the availability and uptake of nutrients through natural biological processes. They may contain beneficial bacteria, fungi, or other microorganisms that promote biological nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilisation, nutrient mobilisation, and beneficial interactions with plant roots. Their application improves soil biological activity, enhances soil fertility, and supports sustainable crop production while reducing the need for synthetic mineral fertilisers.
Biofuels are fuels produced from renewable biological feedstocks such as sugarcane, soybean, maize, sugar beet, wheat, and oilseed rape. They may be produced as biodiesel, bioethanol, biogas, or solid biofuels. Biofuels are classified into first- and second-generation biofuels. First-generation biofuels are produced from sugars, starches, and vegetable oils and may compete with food production. Second-generation biofuels are produced from agricultural and forestry residues and other lignocellulosic feedstocks, and therefore do not compete with food production.
Biopolymers are naturally occurring polymers composed of monomers such as amino acids, nucleotides, and sugars, and they play essential roles in living organisms. Examples include proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides such as cellulose and starch. Biopolymers are important renewable raw materials for the production of bioplastics derived from sources such as wood, cereals, potatoes, sugarcane, and oilseed crops. Many biopolymers are biodegradable and play a significant role in the development of sustainable materials.
Biostimulants are natural substances or microorganisms that beneficially influence plant physiological processes and promote plant growth and development. They are commonly derived from seaweed extracts or other natural sources. Their application improves crop yield, vigour, quality, and post-harvest shelf life. Biostimulants are particularly effective under abiotic stress conditions such as drought and extreme temperatures. They enhance plants' ability to utilize nutrients efficiently and stimulate natural physiological processes without directly supplying nutrients.
Boron is an essential micronutrient required for cell wall formation, regulation of plant water relations, and the synthesis of starch and sugars. Because the range between boron deficiency and toxicity is very narrow, fertilisation must be carefully adjusted to crop requirements. One of the most common methods of boron application is foliar fertilisation using boron-containing fertilisers.
Brown soils are soils with a characteristic Ah/Bv/C profile. They are characterised by the accumulation of humus in the Ah horizon and by the processes of browning and clay formation (brunification and claying) in the Bv horizon. These are well-developed soils which, depending on their properties and parent material, are suitable for grassland and arable crop production. Brown soils develop from a range of parent materials and soil types, including Rankers, Regosols, Rendzinas, and Pararendzinas.
Bt proteins are insecticidal proteins produced by the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis and are used as biological agents for pest control. They act by binding to receptors in the digestive tract of susceptible insects, damaging the gut lining and causing the insects to die. Approximately 170 different Bt proteins have been identified. Through genetic engineering, genes encoding Bt proteins can be introduced into cultivated crops, providing resistance to specific insect pests. Bt proteins are not harmful to humans. Bt maize and Bt cotton are widely cultivated in several countries.
