When Climate Strikes, This Technology Helps Crops Fight Back

As southern Europe scorched under an unforgiving sun this June, the heat and drought that swept across Italy and Spain did more than shatter records — they tested the limits of modern agriculture. Growers watched helplessly as crop stress mounted and yield potential dropped, particularly in high-value fruit like table grapes. But on one vineyard in Bari Province, Italy, something unusual was happening.

Two rows stood side by side. Both bear the same grape variety, planted on the same soil, tended under the same sky. Yet the difference is as clear as it was striking: one row drooped under the weight of heavy, full clusters of grapes; the other showed visible signs of stress — sparse clusters, fewer berries, and uneven development.

The only variable? A new product from Acadian Plant Health’s Abiotic Stress Management (ASM) line.

Resilience When Nature Doesn’t Cooperate

This summer’s trials in Italy are more than demonstrations. They are proof points of how biostimulant innovation is stepping in where traditional inputs fall short. Designed specifically for stress-prone conditions, Acadian’s ASM product primes crops to perform under temperature extremes, salinity pressure, and inconsistent water availability.

At the heart of this breakthrough is formulation technology — a stable, effective, and highly compatible seaweed-based composition. Unlike typical applications that offer a short-lived boost, the ASM product initiates a cascade of physiological responses within the plant that help it preserve function under duress.

In the treated vines, that response translated into more consistent flowering, better fruit set, and notably higher berry retention — even under 40°C heat and reduced irrigation by 30%.

A Tool for a Climate-Smart Era

“What growers are facing today isn’t just another bad season,” says Enrico Boccaletti, Vice President, Global Portfolio. “It’s the new normal. What we’re delivering is a real, field-tested tool to build crop resilience right where it matters — at the point of establishment and during critical growth phases.”

The ASM formulation integrates seamlessly with existing crop protection programs and nutrient schedules, a critical feature as input compatibility becomes a grower priority.

Back in Italy, the grape clusters tell the story better than data tables ever could. Full, uniform, and harvest-ready — the treated crop offers a glimpse of what viticulture can look like when stress isn’t the final word.

Looking Ahead

As Europe and other major fruit-producing regions continue to grapple with extreme climate variability, Acadian’s ASM portfolio stands at the forefront of a shift. No longer is resilience a passive hope — it’s something farmers can plan for, dose by dose.

“Innovating for resilience is the future of agriculture,” says Boccaletti. “And we’re not just ready — we’re already in the field.”