Europe Biofertilizers Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Europe Biofertilizers Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The European biofertilizer market is projected to record a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period, 2022-2027.

The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed the growth of the biofertilizers market in Europe. Crop producers in the country were affected by disruptions in local and international transportations, clogged ports and roads, and delays in customs clearances, which inhibited access to intermediate inputs.

Europe is the second-largest consumer of biofertilizers and held a 30% share of the global biofertilizer market in 2019. Owing to the imposition of stringent regulations on the use of chemical fertilizers in Europe, the use of chemical fertilizers tends to be replaced by biological fertilizers. The European Union is continuously encouraging biofertilizers since they are cost-effective, advising the farmers to optimize the application of chemical fertilizers or replace them wholly or partly with eco-friendly ones to result in better economic returns. The EU Common Agricultural Policy promotes the adoption and use of bio-based products and organic farming. It provides up to 30% of the budget as direct green payments to farmers to maintain sustainable agricultural practices.

Increased institutional support is encouraging farmers to adopt organic farming. According to the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), the area under organic farming increased from 12.81 million hectares in 2017 to 14.57 million hectares in 2019, which, in turn, is anticipated to drive the biofertilizers market in Europe.

By geography, France held the largest share in the market. According to the study, France tops the food sustainability index globally and has aggressive measures to promote healthy lifestyles and adopt eco-farming techniques.

The demand for biofertilizers in the region has been increasing due to the increasing practice of organic farming. In 2019, the major countries based on organically farming land were Spain (14.3%), France (13.6%), Italy (12.1%), Germany (9.8%), and Austria (4.1%). In 10 European states, arable land crops accounted for more than 50% of the organic area, followed by permanent crops and permanent grassland.

The newly revised regulation in Europe related to organic production encourages the sustainable development of organic produces. According to Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft (BÖLW), the organic food market in Germany grew to EUR 10.91 billion in 2018 and added 109,863 more organic hectares in the country. The rise in demand for organic products is booming due to an increase in consumer awareness about the toxicity of synthetic fertilizers. In addition to this, increasing incomes, along with improved farming practices, make organic yields more robust. Thus, the increasing demand for organic food has increased the area under organic farming, resulting in increased demand for biofertilizers.

Field pea is the most produced grain legume in France, and ascochyta blight is one of the most common fungal diseases caused by Didymella pinodes, leading to significant losses in grain yield. Rhizobium is used as an effective nitrogen source for legumes seed quality and quantity improvement.

Rhizobium is the most widely used microbial-based biofertilizer. According to the FAO, the production of peas in France increased to 7 million metric ton in 2019 from 5.6 million metric ton in 2016. The increasing demand for field peas is another factor in the growth of the Rhizobium segment during the study period.

Moreover, France has been trying to implement sustainable agriculture practices. Phosphate solubilizing bacteria biofertilizers can play a significant role in supplying phosphate to plants more eco-friendly and sustainably. According to the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture area under organic cultivation increased from 1.7 million hectares. As a result, increased awareness for sustainable agriculture is expected to drive the growth of the biofertilizers market.

The European biofertilizer market is fairly consolidated. Companies are adopting various strategies, such as product launches, partnerships, and acquisitions, to gain a larger share in the market. Investments in R&D and the introduction of new products are the primary strategies adopted by all major companies involved in the biofertilizer market. Some of the notable players in the market include Rizobacter Argentina SA, DESARROLLO AGRÍCOLA Y MINERO SA (DAYMSA), ASB Greenworld, Agrinos AS, Symborg SL, and Andermatt Biocontrol AG.

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