GVR Report cover Biological Seed Treatment Market Size, Share & Trends Report

Biological Seed Treatment Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Microbials, Botanicals & Others), By Function, By Crop (Wheat, Soybean), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

  • Report ID: GVR-3-68038-419-2
  • Number of Report Pages: 100
  • Format: PDF, Horizon Databook
  • Historical Range: 2018 - 2021
  • Forecast Period: 2023 - 2030 
  • Industry: Bulk Chemicals

Market Size & Trends

The global biological seed treatment market size was valued at USD 1.28 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.4% from the year 2023 to 2030. Surging demand for chemical-free crops is expected to drive the growth of the industry over the forecast period. A shift in consumer trends toward the improvement of personal health and consumption of healthy food is likely to fuel the product demand. In addition, the rising elderly population is anticipated to stimulate the demand further.

U.S. Biological Seed Treatment market size and growth rate, 2023 - 2030

Corn is the principal type of crop for biological seed treatment applications in the U.S. Farmers of the U.S. has realized that the selected biological seed treatment can give corn a significant advantage in a germination period to establish yield and it will also contribute to sustainability in agriculture. Through biological seed treatments on corn, with the accurate combination of microbial and fungal agents has resulted in significant growth yields of up to ten percent.

There has been a significant increase in the utilization of the product in agricultural practices as it helps prevent seed-borne and soil-borne infections and diseases. The product started gaining importance over chemical treatment owing to a lesser risk of exceeding residue limits and increasing demand for sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, the growing trend of organic farming is expected to directly impact the market penetration of the product.

According to the Office for National Statistics, U.K., the agriculture sector in the U.K. accounts for a share of about 0.7% of the total GDP. The product is composed of naturally occurring active ingredients which offer protection against alleviating abiotic stress & soil-borne pathogens, thereby enhancing plant growth.

Lack of awareness pertaining to sustainable agricultural practices in developing economies is likely to act as a major restraint for the market. Limited shelf life, especially for seeds such as soybean, as compared to other treated crop seeds is expected to negatively affect the demand over the forecast period.

Biological treatment is key to sustainable agriculture as it reduces the need for fertilizer, improves immunity, and increases the nutrient absorption capacity & resistance to diseases and pest attacks. Reduced use of chemical fertilizers enhances the health of crops and enables them to quickly recover from abiotic stress such as drought and salinity.

The industry players have integrated their production and distribution channels for improved market accessibility. Key players in the market operate through their manufacturing plants located in close proximity to the raw material source, which eventually leads to the low cost of raw materials in terms of its procurement. Moreover, companies involved in the production of biological seed treatment and its raw materials are involved in the sales and distribution of the product via a large network of distributors spread across major consuming regions in North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe.

Product Insights

Based on product, the market has been segmented into microbial (bacterial and fungi) and botanicals & others. The microbial segment dominated the market with a revenue share of over 65% in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.8% from 2023 to 2030. In microbial treatment, bacteria, such as Rhizobia, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Streptomyces, and fungi, such as mycorrhizae, Penicillium bilaii, and Trichoderma harzianum, are used to eradicate the pathogens and improve seed health. These are highly effective in protecting crops from drought, insects, pests, and plant diseases.

Bacteria found in the soil are beneficial to plants and many of them are biocontrol species, which are harmful to pathogens. Bacteria eradicate pathogens and perform numerous beneficial functions that help in improving the physiological performance of a plant.

Some bacteria such as Rhizobacteria, perform nitrogen fixation, release antibiotics to kill pathogens, increase the availability of phosphorous, induce systematic resistance to plant pathogens, and are essential for the wellbeing of a plant. Bacteria, such as Streptomyces Bacillus and Pseudomonas, release soluble phosphorous and decrease the dependency of crops on phosphate-based fertilizers.

In botanical treatment, seeds are treated with plant extracts to get rid of pathogens, reduce infection, and increase their germination rate. The method is usually preferred owing to the low cost and easy availability of plant extracts.

Function Insights

The seed protection segment held the largest market share, accounting for over 67%, in terms of revenue, in 2022. Increased crop destruction due to factors such as infected seeds and biotic and abiotic stress is expected to drive industry growth over the coming years. Furthermore, the growing inclination of consumers toward organic food is anticipated to boost the popularity of biological protectants.

The seed enhancement segment is likely to witness considerable growth over the coming years. The growth is stimulated by the increasing usage of biological treatment, which improves seedling growth and germination. It involves the use of various techniques to amplify seed performance by increasing its ability to resist diseases and improve seed vigor, which, in turn, increases the harvest yield as well as the quality of crops.

Biofungicides are vital to seed coating as most of the pathogens are fungi. Several fungi cause seedling rot and black rot, which eventually reduce the germination rate and affect seedling vigor. Fusarium, Pythium, Phytophthora, and Rhizoctonia are the most common fungal pathogens. In order to overcome these fungal pathogens and ensure seed vitality, biofungicides are used for coating. Biofungicides containing active ingredients such as Bacillus pumilus, Gliocladium virens, Coniothyrium minitans, and Paecilomyces lilacinus are effective in controlling and eradicating fungal diseases.

Crop Type Insights

Based on crop type, the biological seed treatment market has been segmented into soybean, wheat, cotton, corn, sunflower, vegetable crops, and others. Among crop types, the vegetable crops segment accounted for the highest revenue share of over 25% in 2022. Wheat seeds are susceptible to diseases such as seedling blight caused by Pythium and Fusarium (fungus) and pink seed disease caused by Erwinia rhapontici (bacteria). Biological treatment is essential to avoid infestation by these pathogens. In soybean, seed-borne pathogens are one the crucial threats to the establishment of seedlings. Various seed-borne diseases, such as stem blight, purple seed stain disease, and reduction in the rate of seed germination are caused by fungal pathogens such as Phomopsis, Cercospora, Fusarium, and Aspergillus. In order to protect seeds from these diseases, they are treated using Bacillus pumilus and Coniothyrium minitans.

Global Biological Seed Treatment market share and size, 2022

The vegetable crop segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.7%, in terms of revenue, from 2023 to 2030. The increasing use of biopesticides for treating vegetable seeds, the rising inclination of consumers toward maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and the rising demand for chemical-free food products are expected to fuel the market growth over the forecast period.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the industry with a share of over 40%, in terms of revenue, in 2022. The region is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% from 2023 to 2030. The rising adoption of organic farming in countries such as the U.S., Mexico, and Canada is anticipated to drive the industry in the future. Canada and Mexico are the major exporters of grains all over the world. To yield a substantial amount of crops, farmers use biological seed treatment to protect the seeds and crops from pathogens, pests, and nematodes.

Biological Seed Treatment  Market Trends, by Region, 2023 - 2030

The North America organic agriculture market witnessed growth in 2022. The organic food market witnessed an increase of 6% in the U.S. and 9% in Canada in the same year. More than 19,000 organic producers are present in North America out of which 14,000 alone are present in the U.S. and 4,800 in Canada. The number of organic producers has increased by 66% since 2004.

Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region and is expected to accelerate at a CAGR of 13.2% over the forecast period. The strong growth of the agriculture sector in countries such as India, China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka is expected to drive product demand in the future. Furthermore, the growing population and rising income are expected to continue to drive the demand for food and agricultural commodities.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic collaborations are the key strategies adopted by a majority of the companies in the market Key market leaders are involved in acquisitions and strategic collaborations to promote the benefits of biological seed treatment, enhance their research & development capabilities, and expand their businesses across the globe.

In March 2019, Italpollina acquired Horticultural Alliance, Inc., a U.S.-based horticulture company, specializing in the production of mycorrhizal inoculants and other beneficial bacteria for organic plant health maintenance. In April 2019, Syngenta AG collaborated with The Nature Conservancy to promote soil health, habitat protection, and the efficient use of resources in the U.S., Argentina, Brazil, Kenya, and China. In December 2017, BASF expanded the capacity of its Saint-Aubin-les-Elbeuf, France, production facility. Some prominent players in the global biological seed treatmentmarket comprise:

  • Bayer CropScience

  • Syngenta AG

  • BASF SE

  • Monsanto Company

  • Italpollina S.p.A.

  • Koppert Biological Systems

  • Incotec

  • Plant Health Care plc

  • Precision Laboratories, LLC

  • Verdesian Life Sciences

  • Valent Biosciences LLC

Biological Seed Treatment Market Report Scope

Report Attribute

Details

Market size value in 2023

USD 1.43 billion

Revenue forecast in 2030

USD 3.25 billion

Growth rate

CAGR of 12.4% from 2023 to 2030

Base year for estimation

2022

Historical data

2018 - 2021

Forecast period

2023 - 2030

Report updated

April 2023

Quantitative units

Volume in kilotons, revenue in USD million, and CAGR from 2022 to 2030

Report coverage

Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends

Segments covered

Product, function, crop type, region

Regional scope

North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Central & South America; Middle East & Africa

Country scope

U.S.; Canada; Mexico; Germany; U.K.; France; Poland; Italy; Spain; Turkey; Ukraine; Russia; Hungary; Netherlands; Austria; Sweden; Norway; Switzerland; China; Japan; India; Brazil

Key companies profiled

Bayer CropScience; Syngenta AG; BASF SE; Monsanto Company.; Italpollina S.p.A.; Koppert Biological Systems; Incotec; Plant Health Care plc; Precision Laboratories, LLC; Verdesian Life Sciences; Valent Biosciences LLC

Customization scope

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Global Biological Seed Treatment Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis on the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global biological seed treatment market report based on product, function, crop type, and region:

Global Biological Seed Treatment Market Report Segmentation

  • Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

    • Microbials

      • Bacteria

      • Fungi

    • Botanicals & Others

  • Function Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

    • Seed Protection

      • Bioinsecticides

      • Biofungicides

      • Others

    • Seed Enhancement

      • Biofertilizers

      • Biostimulants

  • Crop Type Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

    • Corn

    • Wheat

    • Soybean

    • Cotton

    • Sunflower

    • Vegetable Crops

    • Others

  • Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

    • North America

      • U.S.

      • Canada

      • Mexico

    • Europe

      • Germany

      • France

      • U.K.

      • Italy

      • Russia

      • Ukraine

      • Turkey

      • Spain

      • Switzerland

      • Sweden

      • Poland

      • Austria

      • Norway

      • Hungary

      • Netherlands

    • Asia Pacific

      • China

      • India

      • Japan

    • Central & South America

      • Brazil

    • Middle East & Africa

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