Biological Seed Treatment Market Forecasts to 2028 – Global Analysis By Product (Microbials, Botanicals and Other Products), Function (Seed Protection, Seed Enhancement and Other Functions), Crop Type, Formulation and By Geography

Biological Seed Treatment Market Forecasts to 2028 – Global Analysis By Product (Microbials, Botanicals and Other Products), Function (Seed Protection, Seed Enhancement and Other Functions), Crop Type, Formulation and By Geography

According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Biological Seed Treatment Market is accounted for $0.96 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $1.20 billion by 2028 growing at a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period. Biological seed treatment treatments, as opposed to the more traditional method of utilising chemicals, protect the seeds from infections by using microorganisms as biological agents. Active components used in biological seed treatments include living bacteria, by-products of fermentation, plant extracts, and phytohormones. These items increase the rhizosphere's nutritional availability, encourage nutrient and water uptake, maximise nutrient use, and stimulate shoot and root growth, and shield plants from diseases. Because of their advantages, such as maximising plant growth, reducing stress, and enhancing overall output, biological seed treatments are being used more frequently.

According to the USDA estimates of 2017, corn seeds have cost about 300% since 1995, while the yield grew by only 35%.

Market Dynamics:

Driver:

Environmental concerns associated with chemical seed treatment

Because of the high level of knowledge of their potential and the growing focus on the environmental and health dangers linked to conventional chemicals, there is a major growth in the market for biological seed treatment. Chemical seed treatments harm the environment and put pollinators at considerable risk. The insecticide class known as neonicotinoids is thought to be extremely hazardous to honeybees. Compared to synthetic chemicals, microorganisms used as active ingredients in pest management are known to be typically safe for the environment and non-target species.

Restraint:

Government regulatory barriers

Different nations and regions have different regulatory environments for active biological components. Generally speaking, professionals from all over the world agree that biological seed treatment solutions are superior to chemical plant protection goods but still advantageous. Furthermore, despite this acknowledgment, regulatory obligations and assessment procedures have not always been approached consistently. In some nations, biologicals must be registered in accordance with specific laws or they could be registered similarly to chemical plant protection products. Sometimes there are less data requirements, and other times there might not even be a clearly defined registration process.

Opportunity:

Use of bio-priming techniques for improved efficacy

The term ""bio-priming"" refers to a biological seed treatment technique that combines seed hydration and microbial injection. For the goal of bio priming seeds, microbial inoculants, such as plant growth-promoting rhizo-microorganisms (bacteria or fungi), are typically utilised. Utilizing specific microbes that promote plant growth, improve nutrient uptake, or shield seedlings and plants from soil- or seed-borne plant pathogenic organisms, it is an ecological method that is favourable to the environment. The usage of such methods is expanding because most pesticides used to treat seeds serve as contact fungicides and cannot shield plants from foliar infections in the later phases of crop development.

Threat:

Inconsistent performance and incompatibility with certain pesticides

Their erratic results are the characteristics of biological seed treatments that have deterred investment. Desiccation and environments that prevent their growth are the most frequent issues that arise when using such items. Inoculants that were successful with one crop might not be as successful with a different crop. Trichoderma, for example, is more successful at increasing tomato yield than cucumber yield. It is not as effective to load with just one or two microorganisms as it is to load with the full community. However, a mix of microorganisms with differing growth requirements can occasionally boost effectiveness.

Covid-19 Impact

COVID-19 led to the closure of seed manufacturing plants, limits on workers' freedom of movement, and a drop in farmer demand. The industry also experienced acute labour shortages as a result of frequent lockdowns that impeded trade and output. The profitability of biological seed treatment producers and vendors was under pressure in 2020 due to a drop in sales during the first few months of the year and decreased demand from a few key regions.

The microbials segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period

The microbials segment is estimated to have a lucrative growth, due to the use of microbes in agriculture is most likely to rise due to the need to enhance crop quality and human health. Microbials are being used more frequently in agriculture to combat infections, enhance seed health, and shield crops from insects, pests, drought, and plant diseases. The use of microbials for crop cultivation is anticipated to be driven by the need to improve root health.

The seed enhancement segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The seed enhancement segment is anticipated to witness the fastest CAGR growth during the forecast period, due to the increased use of biological treatments, which promote seedling growth and germination. It entails applying a number of strategies to boost seed vigour and resistance to disease, which in turn improves seed performance and raises crop quality and yield.

Region with highest share:

North America is projected to hold the largest market share during the forecast period, as organic farming becomes more popular in the area. Farmers in the area are using biological seed treatment solutions due to the rising demand for improved yield and the elimination of diseases from the plants. A factor in the expansion of the business in the area is the high adoption of pricey genetically modified (GM) seeds in the agriculture sector. The popularity of biological seed treatment solutions has increased as a result of consumers' increasing knowledge of the negative effects of synthetic chemicals.

Region with highest CAGR:

Asia Pacific is projected to have the highest CAGR over the forecast period, owing to a rise in the demand for forage and fodder crops. Crop protection chemicals are increasingly in demand from nations like Japan, China, and India. APAC is stepping up market expansion in an effort to keep up with the enormous demand, which is anticipated to expand even more over the course of the projection period. The majority of well-known companies are growing their operations in the APAC area, which will fuel the rising demand. Opportunities for market expansion should arise from the increased demand for high-value crops and from farmers being more aware of the advantages of treatment options.

Key players in the market

Some of the key players profiled in the Biological Seed Treatment Market include BASF, Koppert Biological Systems, Bayer, Syngenta, Monsanto BioAg, Agriscience, DuPont, Corteva Agriscience, Incotec, Italpollina, Koppert, Plant Health Care, Verdesian Life Sciences, Precision Laboratories and Valent Biosciences.

Key Developments:

In December 2020, Kopper Biological Systems (Netherlands) acquired Geocom, which is headquartered in Lençóis Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil. Geocom operates in the field of agricultural technology and is a pioneer in image geoprocessing and the first to develop an exclusive technology for the application of biological agents via drones in Brazil. The goal of the company is to increase the precision of agri-farming, which is crucial for offering biologicals to the fields.

In August 2020, Valent BioSciences (US) opened a new facility in San Ramon, the North American Innovation Center (NAIC), that physically unites employees from its California technical center in Dublin and headquarters in Walnut Creek. It is now easier for the newly centralized team to share information in real-time face-to-face, which would increase its efficiency, agility, and creativity, and ultimately, benefit the farmers in the field.

In October 2020, Syngenta Group announced the acquisition of Valagro, a leading Biologicals company, through its business unit Syngenta Crop Protection. Through this strategy, Syngenta Crop Protection positions itself as one of the key global companies to shape the rapidly growing biologicals market, which is set to nearly double in size over the next five years.

Products Covered:
• Microbials
• Botanicals
• Other Products

Functions Covered:
• Seed Protection
• Seed Enhancement
• Other Functions

Crop Types Covered:
• Cotton
• Corn
• Wheat
• Sunflower
• Soybean
• Vegetable Crops
• Other Crop Types

Formulations Covered:
• Dry Formulation
• Liquid Formulation
• Other Formulations

Regions Covered:
• North America
US
Canada
Mexico
• Europe
Germany
UK
Italy
France
Spain
Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
Japan
China
India
Australia
New Zealand
South Korea
Rest of Asia Pacific
• South America
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Rest of South America
• Middle East & Africa
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Qatar
South Africa
Rest of Middle East & Africa

What our report offers:
- Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments
- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants
- Covers Market data for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025, and 2028
- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)
- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations
- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends
- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments
- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements