CSIC and Kheme Chemical: BIOBOOST project for stress-resistant crops

Key data

The Spanish agricultural sector, especially in semiarid zones, faces growing pressure from drought and environmental stress. The agreement between CSIC and Kheme Chemical, SL, published in the BOE of 27 October 2026, formalizes the BIOBOOST project: research that seeks to decipher the molecular mechanisms by which biostimulants improve crop resistance. It is not a subsidy agreement: it is a public-private collaboration with shared resources, responsibilities, and intellectual property.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution publishes the R&D&i agreement signed between CSIC, through the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Salamanca (IRNASA), and Kheme Chemical, SL, a Valencian chemical company belonging to Grupo F. Turia.

The project is called BIOBOOST and its scientific objective is to analyze, using omic techniques (transcriptomics and phenotyping), the molecular mechanisms by which biostimulants induce stress tolerance in plants. The contributions of each party are clearly differentiated:

The ownership of results and intellectual property generated during the project are regulated in the agreement itself, in accordance with what is established in the Science Law 14/2011. This means that rights over scientific findings and possible patents are distributed according to what was agreed between both parties, without the publication of the resolution in the BOE implying automatic transfer of rights to third parties.

Economic and operational impact

This agreement does not generate direct economic obligations for companies other than the signatories. However, it has relevant competitive and market implications for several sector actors:

• Biostimulant and agrochemical companies: Kheme Chemical gains access to CSIC scientific capabilities (transcriptomic analysis, IRNASA infrastructure) that it would be difficult to develop autonomously. This can accelerate scientific validation of its products and facilitate access to markets that require verified technical support.
• Competitors in the sector: The CSIC-Kheme alliance may generate results with intellectual property protection that condition access to certain formulations or analysis methodologies.
• Agricultural sector in semiarid zones: The results of the BIOBOOST project have direct application in improving crop resilience to drought and other environmental stresses, which can translate into new products available on the market in the medium term.
• Researchers and R&D centers: The agreement establishes a public-private collaboration model under Law 14/2011 that can serve as a reference for structuring similar agreements.

No specific economic amounts for the agreement have been published in the BOE resolution. Partial financing is the responsibility of Kheme Chemical, without specific figures being detailed in the available information.

Who does it affect?

• Agrochemical and biostimulant companies that compete with Kheme Chemical in the market for stress tolerance products in plants.
• Farmers and agricultural cooperatives in semiarid zones seeking solutions for drought-resistant crops.
• CSIC researchers and other public agricultural research centers, as a reference for public-private collaboration models.
• Companies in Grupo F. Turia and its ecosystem of suppliers and distributors, which may be affected by developments derived from the project.
• Investors and capital funds interested in the agtech and biostimulant sector, given that project results can generate intellectual property assets with commercial value.

Practical example

An agricultural input distribution company that works with Kheme Chemical products in semiarid regions of eastern Spain can anticipate that, in the medium term, its supplier's biostimulant catalog will incorporate formulations with scientific backing from CSIC-IRNASA, validated through transcriptomic analysis.

This has two practical implications: on one hand, greater technical credibility of the product with farmers and cooperatives; on the other, possible restrictions on use or commercialization if the results of the BIOBOOST project are protected by patents jointly registered by CSIC and Kheme Chemical under Law 14/2011. Understanding the scope of that intellectual property before signing new distribution contracts is a recommended preventive action.

What should companies do now?

1. Review your competitive position against Kheme Chemical: If you manufacture or distribute biostimulants for stress tolerance, analyze whether the results of the BIOBOOST project may affect your formulations or market positioning.
2. Monitor scientific publications and derived patents: Agreements under Law 14/2011 can generate joint CSIC-company patents. Follow IRNASA publications and Kheme Chemical patent applications in databases such as the OEPM.
3. Evaluate collaboration opportunities with CSIC: If your company operates in agrochemicals or biostimulants, this agreement is a replicable model. Contact the Office for Transfer of Research Results (OTRI) of CSIC to explore similar agreements.
4. Update distribution contracts: If you distribute Kheme Chemical products, review exclusivity and intellectual property clauses before renewing agreements, as developments from the BIOBOOST project may generate new commercial conditions.
5. Follow the regulatory evolution of biostimulants in the EU: Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 on fertilizers and biostimulants continues to develop. Scientific results from BIOBOOST may influence future product authorization criteria.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-22525