Abstract: Biostimulants are a category of biological agents that include specific microorganisms and a variety of mixed substances. Although they are not directly related to nutrients, they can significantly promote plant growth, enhance the absorption and utilization of nutrients by plants, and at the same time, improve the plant's resistance to stress. A large amount of literature indicates that biostimulants will become a driving force for achieving sustainable agricultural development. Therefore, this article reviews the development history and the latest research achievements in the field of biostimulants both domestically and internationally. The literature indicates: (1) The concept of biostimulants was first proposed in 1944, and its definition gradually became clear by 2017. Researchers believe that these are substances that stimulate the plant growth process, unrelated to nutrient content, and can improve the nutrient utilization efficiency of plants, tolerance to abiotic stress, and the availability of limiting nutrients in the soil or rhizosphere. Due to its connection with sustainable agriculture, its discovery is hailed as the opening of a ‘new era for sustainable agricultural development.’ In 2007, foreign research began to preliminarily classify biostimulant products, and in 2015, the classification system was further improved. The raw materials and preparation technologies of biostimulants are diverse, and the methods of preparing new types of biostimulants using various types of waste and recyclables are increasingly common, showing application prospects. (2) International applied research findings show that biostimulants have multiple empirical cases that reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and increase crop yields. Biostimulants produced from agricultural waste are new products of agricultural waste recycling. (3) Research on biostimulants in China began in 2015, with initial research mainly focusing on increasing agricultural output. Recent research has expanded to new technologies for extracting biostimulants from activated sludge in sewage treatment plants. This technology not only achieves the recycling of resources but also completes product safety assessments and field safety application verifications. This is an innovative achievement made in China in the integration of environmental protection and agricultural development. (4) The European biostimulant regulatory system has shifted from decentralized to unified, from pesticide management to fertilizer management, which has promoted industrial development. The experience of the European Union is of great reference for China´s development of the biostimulant industry. To solve the problem of agricultural non-point source pollution in China, biostimulants can be used to reduce nutrient loss at the source, achieving a win-win situation for agricultural development and environmental protection. It is recommended to strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation, establish a regulatory system similar to Europe's, develop a green agricultural economy; at the same time, research should be conducted on the role of biostimulants in the recycling of organic waste, build regional development models, and formulate standards and guidelines for safety evaluation and effect assessment.