Biostimulants Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Active Ingredients (Acid-based, Microbials), By Application (Soil, Seed Treatments), By Crop Type (Row Crops & Cereals, Fruits & Vegetables), By Region And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

The global biostimulants market size was valued at USD 2.79 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.4% from 2022 to 2030. This is attributed to increased instances of soil degradation, stringent regulations on the use of chemicals in the agriculture sector, and the need for sustainable & eco-friendly alternatives to boost the growth and productivity in the agriculture sector. Biostimulants can be substances or microorganisms, which are added to the plants to enhance their characteristics and increase the yield. As the population is growing, the demand for the product is also increasing due to the growing awareness about the harmful, long-term effects of artificial chemicals used for plant growth. Thus, the growing demand for organic and natural goods is positively impacting the market growth, especially in APAC.

The U.S. has a highly advanced agricultural sector, which has been acclimating to the natural and organic methods to practice farming. Therefore, the region is perceiving a high intake of biostimulants. The country is acclimatizing to the utilization of the product, predominantly in the application segment of seed treatment, to reinforce crop yield and potency at an early stage of plant development. U.S. supports the utilization of biostimulants to promote balanced growth of the agricultural sector along with the other sectors of the economy. At present, this development is mostly attained by using synthetic chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers, and insecticides, which are prerequisites to large-scale industrial production.

A majority share of the regional market is controlled by acid-based products, which include the humic acid segment, which is likely to witness rapid growth. Biostimulants enhance microflora, which, consequently improves the nutrient intake of plants. They intensify antioxidant action and reduce plant strain owing to environmental conditions and various infections. The hormones fuel root growth, cell development, and overall growth, thereby aiding the potency and inclusive health of the plant. They encompass natural, eco-friendly, and naturally degradable ingredients, which do not distress the plant environment. As a result, they are witnessing high demand for organic agricultural practices.

Active Ingredients Insights

The acid-based active ingredient segment dominated the global market and accounted for the largest share of over 49.00% of the total revenue in 2021. This is attributed to the high demand for these ingredients due to their plant potency enhancement characteristics and sustainability properties. Moreover, they are economically feasible. Amino acids, such as fulvic and humic acids, are key instigators of plant hormones aiding in the stimulation of the metabolic processes and enhancement of seed germination. Seaweed extracts are estimated to record the fastest CAGR over the projected period.

The presence of components like plant growth hormones, such as auxins, cytokines, and gibberellins, and various nutritional metal elements, like potassium, nitrogen, manganese, aluminum, and iron aiding the plant growth & productivity, is the major driving the demand for seaweed extracts as biostimulants. Extensively used seaweed extracts include brown, green, and red algae. Microbial biostimulants are expected to have a moderate growth rate over the forecasted period. They include the use of a microorganism or numerous microorganisms as biostimulants to help stimulate plant growth. Commonly used microbial biostimulants include fungi, yeasts, and bacteria. They help the plant to cope with environmental stress, increase its nutritional absorption capacity, and improve productivity.

Crop Type Insights

The row crops and cereals segment dominated the market with a revenue share of more than 59.5% in 2021. The segment includes crops, such as soybean, corn, millets, barley, cotton, and oats among others. These crops offer beneficial growth opportunities for the companies and are cultivated widely across the globe over large areas of land. It helps in increasing the size of the seed, harvest, and the rate of cell division. The key biostimulants included in row crops and cereals are amino acids, polyamines, and Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). It helps in overcoming the different barriers to cell development and cell division. Multinationals and agriculture experts are progressively using biostimulants for the farming of row crops and cereals.

Furthermore, the high demand for organic cereals, such as oats and millets, is estimated to supplement the segment growth. Increasing recognition and acceptance of ecological and sustainable organic farming to cater to the rising food demand are expected to generate immense growth opportunities for the market. Turf & ornamental was the second-largest segment in 2021 due to a rise in the usage of turf and ornamentals across the globe. The segment majorly uses acid-based biostimulants for enhancing the yield. The market in this segment is highly competitive due to the presence of numerous players. The market is expected to have high growth potential, especially in emerging economies, such as India, China, and Brazil.

Application Insights

The foliar treatment application segment dominated the market with a revenue share of more than 79.5% in 2021. This is attributed to the benefits associated with foliar treatment including faster absorption of nutrients and increased cellular activity. Foliar treatment includes direct application of the biostimulants on plant leaves to assist the quick absorption of nutrients from the surface. The absorption is facilitated by the epidermis and stomata present on the surface of the leaves. Biostimulants used for the foliar treatment are usually in liquid form to support easy application and absorption. The seed treatment application is efficient and effective and requires lower labor input as compared to other techniques, which makes it a cost-efficient method.

In addition, the factors, such as the increasing population, growing demand for organic products, and encouragement from the government for use of biostimulants are the driving forces of the industry. The soil treatment segment accounted for a significant revenue share in 2021. The treatment includes the usage of biostimulants in the soil to promote growth, fertility, and productivity. Soil treatment incorporates four key techniques, namely physical, mechanical, chemical, and biological treatments. The declining use of chemicals in agriculture will boost product usage for soil treatment. Commonly used biostimulants for soil treatment are acid-based and microbial biostimulants.

Regional Insights

Europe dominated the global market in 2021 and accounted for the largest share of over 37.5% of the total revenue. This is attributed to the growing consumption of organic foods and the growing preference of manufacturers for sustainable & eco-friendly production alternatives. Asia Pacific was the second-largest regional market in 2021 owing to the presence of various manufacturing companies along with the rapid growth of agriculture-based economies, such as India and China. The increased product utilization due to growing population, soil erosion, growing awareness among farmers, stringent government regulations & encouragement for the use of biostimulants, and the need for more sustainable solutions for product enhancement will support market growth.

Central & South America is estimated to register the second-highest growth rate, in terms of revenue, over the forecast period. Although currently, the region is growing at a stagnant rate, it has a lot of growth potential due to the presence of economies, such as Brazil, which are primarily agriculture-based. The industry is expected to exponentially grow in the region over the forecasted period for all the segments owing to the rising population, use of new technology in agriculture, increasing awareness among farmers, and declining use of artificial chemical fertilizers, which degrade the quality of the soil, and extensive usage of sustainable & eco-friendly alternatives.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The competition in this market is highly dependent on the type of crop, active ingredient type, grade of products, number of sellers/manufacturers, and geographical location. Key companies are engaged in continuous R&D activities, mergers & acquisitions, capacity expansion, and other strategies to gain an advantage in the market. Manufacturers are focusing mainly on improving their product portfolios by forming strategic joint ventures with other prominent companies and highly investing in R&D.

In recent years, major players have made significant investments in innovation to cater to the rising product demand in the agricultural practices globally, assist companies in developing new sustainable products, and increase profit margins. In 2020, Isagro Group took over Phoenix Del to expand its product line of copper-based fungicides and biostimulants. This acquisition was aimed at promoting technological progress and revolutionizing products under its “BioSolutions” segment. Some of the prominent players in the global biostimulants market include:

• Isagro Group

• BASF SE

• Biolchim SpA

• Sapec Agro S.A.

• Platform Specialty Products Corp.

• Novozymes A/S

• Valagro SpA

• Italpollina SAP

• Koppert B.V.

• Biostadt India Ltd.

Biostimulants Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

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

• Active Ingredients Outlook (Volume, Million Hectare; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Acid-based

  • Seaweed Extract

  • Microbial

  • Others

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

  • Row Crops & Cereals

  • Fruits & Vegetables

  • Turf and Ornamentals

  • Others

• Application Outlook (Volume, Million Hectare; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Foliar Treatment

  • Soil Treatment

  • Seed Treatment

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

  • North America

    • U.S.

  • Europe

    • Germany

    • U.K.

    • Italy

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

    • Australia

  • Central & South America

    • Brazil

  • Middle East & Africa