MENA Bio fertilizer

MENA Bio fertilizer

Biofertilizer refers to a substance containing living microorganisms that enhance the availability and uptake of nutrients by plants. These microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or algae, help improve soil fertility and promote plant growth. Biofertilizers offer several advantages over chemical fertilizers, including sustainable agriculture practices, reduced environmental pollution, and enhanced soil health. Therefore, with the growing awareness about the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers, there is a rising demand for biofertilizers that provide sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives.

The MENA Bio Fertilizer Market is expected to grow at a strong CAGR of 15.56% during the forecast period (2023-2030). This is mainly due to the increased demand for organic farming. Adding to this, the raising global population and the need for enhanced agricultural productivity have led to a higher demand for biofertilizers. As per the Food and Agriculture Organization, in 2022, in the middle east, 28% (84 million) of the total population (296 million) depend on agriculture, but it accounts to only 13% of the GDP. These products help improve soil fertility and crop yield, ensuring food security and sustainable agricultural development.

• Based on the type, the market is segmented into the nitrogen fixing, phosphate solubilizing, and others. The phosphate solubilizing category expected to grow with a higher CAGR during the forecast period in (2023-2030). In the MENA region, where phosphate scarcity is a common challenge, integrating these microorganisms into biofertilizers can enhance phosphorus availability for plants improving their overall health, resilience, and productivity. This promotes sustainable agriculture by reducing the dependency on chemical fertilizers and mitigating the environmental impact associated with their use. For instance, in 2023, According to the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Saudi Arabia has increasingly turned its attention to sustainable agriculture and environmentally friendly farming practices. In 2005, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) adopted the Organic Agriculture Law to support the organic sector.
• By cultivation the market is segmented into the seed treatment and soil treatment. Seed treatment category held a largest share of the biofertilizer market owing to the seed treatment with biofertilizers provides a strategic advantage in the arid and semi-arid climates characteristic of the MENA region. Moreover, by coating seeds with biofertilizers containing beneficial microorganisms, such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, at the time of planting, farmers introduce a proactive approach to enhance crop development.
• By end-user, the bio fertilizer market has been classified into cereals & grains, oilseeds & pulses, fruits & vegetables, others. The cereals & grains category held a significant share of the market in 2022 owing to the high demand for cereals and grains due to the high levels of consumption of cereals in the MENA region. In MENA currently consumes 156m ton (Mt) of grain for food and feed per year, of which 68Mt is produced locally and 88Mt imported, as per the data of FoodNavigator-Asia in 2023. Additionally, the adoption of biofertilizers in this end-user segment becomes essential for achieving food security and optimizing agricultural resources.
• For a better understanding of the market adoption of the bio fertilizer industry, the MENA market is analyzed based on its worldwide presence in countries such as UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, and the Rest of MENA. The Kuwait is expected to grow with a significant CAGR during the forecast period. This is mainly due to the use of newly developed elemental sulfur and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria biofertilizer because alkaline nature of the Kuwait desert soil. The unique challenges of cultivating crops in Kuwait's desert environment make biofertilizers a strategic choice, enhancing nutrient availability and improving soil structure. Therefore, this shift toward sustainable practices positions Kuwait as a significant player in the regional biofertilizer market. Moreover, As per the report of Research Institute of Organic Agriculture in 2023, regulations on organic agriculture in Kuwait is fully implemented and organic agricultural land is 32 ha and land use in organic agriculture is 11 ha, organic share of total agricultural land is in Fractions and number of organic producers is 1, in 2021.
• Some of the major players operating in the market include EBFF, MBFi, Lallemand Inc., Novozymes, Rizobacter, Corteva, Chr. Hansen Holding A/S, T.Stanes and Company Limited, RNZ Group, ARASCO.