Irrigation Controllers Market Assessment, By Product Type [Smart Controllers, Tap Timers, Basic Controllers], By Irrigation Type [Drip Irrigation, Sprinkler Irrigation], By Application [Agriculture, Non-Agricultural], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast

Irrigation Controllers Market Assessment, By Product Type [Smart Controllers, Tap Timers, Basic Controllers], By Irrigation Type [Drip Irrigation, Sprinkler Irrigation], By Application [Agriculture, Non-Agricultural], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F

Global larvicides market is projected to witness a CAGR of 4.98% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 965.50 million in 2023 to USD 1423.88 million in 2031. The market is growing steadily due to the importance of controlling pests at an early larval stage, especially in public health and agriculture. One of the factors driving the market is the rising incidence of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue, Zika, and West Nile virus, which has consequently led to the increased need for efficient solutions in the control of mosquitoes. The scope of usage of larvicides is expanding due to the growing focus of governments and health agencies on controlling disease outbreaks in the tropics and developing countries. In August 2024, The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) conducted an aerial application of mosquito larvicide through 3,000 acres of Great Swamp in South Kingstown and Chapman Swamp in Westerly. The application took place between 7 AM and 7 PM and involved helicopter dropping pellets that kill mosquito larvae into the designated wetlands.

In agriculture, the use of larvicidal agents is on the rise, particularly due to the need to control the damaging effects of insect larvae on crops. Farmers are using these remedies to shield their crops from damage and minimize losses due to attacks by pests such as flies and gnats. Moreover, the trend toward the application of eco-friendly pest control has increased the demand for biological larvicides, which control larvae via microorganisms or phytochemical extracts. These products are perceived as less hazardous to the environment and to non-target organisms as compared to chemical larvicides.

Moreover, technology continues to modernize new formulations with longer residual effects and precision application techniques that are able to expand the market. In October 2024, researchers from the UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL) and the Florida Museum of Natural History developed precision larvicide applications, with the use of AI and innovative geospatial technology, including LiDAR, as a new instrument to assist target mosquito breeding locations more precisely than existing techniques. This will lead to lesser use of larvicide, which will benefit mosquito control programs by saving money and protecting the environment.

Shift Toward Biological Solutions to Catalyze Market Expansion

The shift towards biological solutions in the larvicides market is gaining momentum with increasing environmental concerns and safer and sustainable pest management practices. Biological larvicides made of naturally occurring substances such as bacteria like Bacillus thuringiensis, fungi, or plant extracts are used to control insect larvae while being harmless to the environment and non-target species. Consequently, these have become the first choice in regions characterized by strict environmental laws or where environmental harmony is crucial, for instance, in areas close to water bodies and conservation areas.

With the growing apprehension regarding the adverse effects of chemical pesticides, biological larvicides are considered effective and safe for use by agriculture and public health sectors. Furthermore, biological larvicides are perceived to offer a supplementary benefit in integrated pest management (IPM) schemes conducive to controlling pests in a sustainable manner.

In September 2023, researchers with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) demonstrated that mosquito larvae, which begin their lives in stagnant water and eventually develop into winged adults, soared through the air in pursuit of a blood meal that can be killed by seed meal from plants in the mustard family. The results paved the way for a biobased strategy to eradicate the pests that bite insects.

Rising Incidence of Vector-Borne Diseases to Influence Market Growth

Increased frequencies of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, Zika virus, and chikungunya are key factors in increasing the global market for larvicides. The mosquitoes responsible for these diseases prefer areas with stagnant water to reproduce, where they lay eggs that subsequently develop into larvae. Controlling these larvae before they mature into adult mosquitoes is crucial in preventing the spread of disease, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where such outbreaks are common.

As a result, governments, public health organizations, and other bodies are intensifying campaigns to control mosquito populations, which makes the use of larvicides for disease management. The ability of larvicides to target the larvae habitats in water, including ponds, swamps, urban drainage systems, and other water bodies, has made them an integral part of most vector control programs.

In October 2024, the researchers from the Rene Rachou Institute (Fiocruz Minas) and the Leonidas and Maria Deane Institute (Fiocruz Amazonia) collaborated with the Municipal Health Department of Belo Horizonte for a project that demonstrated that the self-dissemination of larvicides by urban mosquitoes can help control diseases that are transmitted by these mosquitoes. Over the course of two years, the project supplied an average of 2,500 Larvicide Dissemination Stations (EDLs) to nine areas in Belo Horizonte. The intervention reduced dengue cases by 29% in these communities and 21% in surrounding neighborhoods, compared to the other 258 in the city.

Mosquitos to Hold a Significant Market Share

Mosquitoes occupy a considerable stake in the larvicides market owing to their position as the principal carriers of fatal ailments such as dengue. Mosquito larvicides are employed in water reservoirs and other stagnating water bodies to hinder the developmental stages of the insects and, hence, prevent the emergence of adults. The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury, under the authority of the Simcoe Muskoka Medical Officer of Health, conducted a mosquito larvae (immature mosquitoes) control program in stagnant water from June 17 to October 31, 2024, to prevent their development into potential West Nile virus carriers. The larvicide Altosid Pellets PCP#21809, pellet formulation, and Altosid Granules PCP# 22676 were applied directly by hand to storm drain catch basins in targeted areas.

Moreover, as a result of the global health campaigns, there is a rise in the use of mosquito-specific larvicides, especially in the areas where disease outbreaks are rampant. Furthermore, the intervention measures for the vectors need to be extended to new areas due to global warming and urban development, which have created new habitats for mosquitoes. With mosquitoes posing a primary health threat globally, the demand for mosquito-specific larvicides is expected to remain firm, thereby consolidating their position in the larvicides market.

Asia-Pacific to Dominate the Market Share

The global larvicides market is majorly controlled by Asia-Pacific, which is attributed to increasing vector-borne diseases, especially in highly populated countries, such as India, China, and other Southeast Asian countries. Furthermore, the tropical climate prevalent in the region encourages the continuous breeding of mosquitoes and other pests, which develops the need for larvicides in the context of public health programs meant to suppress infestations.

In Asia-Pacific, pest control often focuses on mosquito control through the use of larvicides, which has become a phenomenon that most governments are willing to support, given the benefit derived to the citizens and the economy as a whole. Moreover, the market benefits from the inclusion of larvicides in the region's large agricultural sector, which aims to minimize the damage caused by insect larvae to crops. The growing trend towards bacteria-oriented biological larvicides in the region as a result of growing environmental concerns aids the market growth. Further, as urbanization and climate change continue to increase the range of disease vectors, Asia-Pacific is likely to maintain its dominance in the larvicides market.

In September 2023, a private company, Safeway Pest Control Limited, with its headquarters in Bangladesh and partner of US-based Valent BioSciences LLC, introduced three BTIs (Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis) to control mosquito populations and prevent dengue outbreaks. According to the company, the BTIs are a sustainable and efficient way to manage dengue illness.

Future Market Scenario (2024 – 2031F)

Ongoing worries about diseases, such as malaria and dengue, will increase larvicide demand in tropical and developing regions in particular.

An upsurge in environmental consciousness and an increase in compliance legislation will stimulate the use of biological solutions over chemicals.

The growing adoption of integrated pest management techniques will ensure that larvicides are used alongside other measures to ensure their long-lasting efficacy and sustainability.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

The global larvicides market is diversified as players for both biological and chemical solutions are aiming to combat diseases caused by vectors as well as agricultural pests. Its major players are researching innovative larvicides targeting mosquitoes, flies, and other insect larvae. The market demand for biological larvicides grows with the trend towards more environmentally friendly solutions and heightened environmental awareness. Chemical larvicides, however, prevail in industries that demand quick control of pest infestation. For instance, SumiLarv 2MR, developed by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., contains 2% w/w pyriproxyfen and is provided as a 5.5 cm diameter plastic disc weighing 2 grams. It is a polymer matrix release formulation that is required to be placed in water containers, one disc per 40-500 liters of water.

While resistance to mosquito-borne diseases is prevalent in some geographical areas, the overall market trend for the larvicides market is promising due to increasing incidence of such diseases. Future expansion will be fueled by growing use by the agricultural industry to combat crop-damaging pests at their larval state and by enhanced public health initiatives, especially in tropical and developing nations. Technological advancements linked to more efficient distribution methods and increased residual activity are probably going to speed up the market's expansion. Regulatory obstacles and worries about chemical resistance, however, may have an impact on market dynamics, leading businesses to step up their research into sustainable solutions that are expected to be long-lasting.