Latin America Molecular Methods Market For Food Safety Testing Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Technology (PCR, Biosensors), By Product, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027

Report Overview

The Latin America molecular methods market for food safety testing size was estimated at USD 108.8 million in 2019 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% from 2020 to 2027. Due to the increasing demand for rapid and accurate detection of pathogens, molecular techniques have gained popularity in the nutrition industry in recent years.

The time required for pathogen analysis is much shorter using molecular methods as compared to conventional culture-based methods. Moreover, the application of molecular methodologies assists the investigation of microorganisms, such as viral pathogen human norovirus, which is impossible or very difficult to culture in vitro. These factors can be attributed to the shifting paradigm of safety testing from conventional culture‐based methods to molecular technologies.

Food safety is a top concern in Latin America, where regulations largely vary by country. Several countries in this region have adopted advanced and well-thought-out regulations; however, Latin America is still striving toward effective and consistent regulation of food safety. The alignment of these regulations is challenging in the region.

A study from the Food and Agricultural Organization and the Pan-American Health Organization stated that there are several factors leading to limited food safety testing. This includes an insufficient commitment on a national level to maintain safety, shortage of sanitation education, lack of coordination among responsible agencies, and inadequacy of regulations and laws as well as their enforcement.

Conversely, the government and local bodies are working toward harmonizing food safety in the region. The support from the Codex Alimentarius has an enormous impact on the practices in food and public trade. A subsidiary body of Codex Alimentarius Commission, Coordinating Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean (CCLAC) harmonizes food standards activities along with the establishment of standards in the region.

CCLAC strengthens the reference laboratories for food safety by providing accreditation and staff training; enhancing the ability of small- and medium-sized food businesses to incorporate Good Manufacturing Practices and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points certified organizations to ensure safety norms; and implementing developmental strategies for Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) for consumers and food producers.

Technology Insights

The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology dominated the market for molecular methods for food safety testing and accounted for the largest revenue share of 40.7% in 2019. The technology is considered a standard technique among all the technologies. PCR molecular technique is sensitive to pathogens and quickly provides results with higher sensitivity and specificity in the testing of meals.

Constant improvements in PCR platforms such as the development of real-time (RT) PCR to detect the DNA sequence of a pathogen in relatively less time is driving the segment. Moreover, the advent of biosensor technologies has resulted in affordable and faster detection of pathogens is also driving segment growth at a lucrative pace.

Laboratories have widely accepted PCR technology for quick, accurate, and sensitive detection of pathogens. The application of RT qPCR has proven to be beneficial for several consumers because this technology can easily differentiate the most subtle variance in genetic sequences. Several laboratories and companies operating in the nutrient safety testing industry are choosing RT qPCR-based tests over antibody testing as these tests provide rapid and sensitive results, even for the smallest concentrations of pathogens in samples.

Biosensor technology is anticipated to witness lucrative growth over the forecast period. Biosensors are compact analytical devices that are portable systems used for the detection of food-related microorganisms. The application of biosensors has gained ground in food analysis. These devices have overcome the number of challenges associated with other molecular methods, such as saving time and cost.

Moreover, owing to their small size, these devices can be incorporated into a wide variety of equipment, such as food and dairy manufacturing equipment, online process monitoring equipment, and packaging systems. Biosensors can also be employed for food process manufacture monitoring such as the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP).

Product Insights

The reagents and consumables segment dominated the market for molecular methods for food safety testing and accounted for the largest revenue share of 50.3% in 2019 owing to the broad availability of products and high sale volume. Major key players offering reagents and consumables in Latin American include Thermo Fisher Scientific, Qiagen N.V., PerkinElmer, and Sigma-Aldrich. These companies operate in Latin America through their commercial partners and distributors. Major product offerings include sample preparation kits, PCR kits, detection assays, buffers, and chemicals.

These companies are also focusing on the introduction of new products related to food safety. For instance, in May 2020, PerkinElmer launched new testing kits for antibiotic residues in farmed shrimp. This new kit delivers analysis of 192 samples within 90 minutes. Similarly, in April 2020, Hygiena LLC launched a new screening test, which can be used at food processing facilities. Such initiatives undertaken by key players will increase product availability, thereby driving the market for molecular methods for food safety testing.

The instruments segment is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period. This can be attributed to constant improvements in instrument designs for accurate and fast pathogen testing. In addition, lab-on-a-chip or microarray technology for pathogen detection in specimens is continuously gaining popularity.

Microfluidic devices or lab-on-a-chip with portability, miniaturization, and low cost have been developed for the detection of foodborne pathogens. However, this technology is still in its nascent phase and requires further innovation and development of microfluidics systems for measuring pathogenic bacteria.

Regional Insights

Mexico dominated the Latin America molecular methods market for food safety testing with a share of 20.3% in 2019. Companies operating in Mexico include Qiagen N.V., Bio-Rad Laboratories, and Hygiena LLC. These companies are expected to witness considerable growth in revenue generation in Mexico owing to the increasing demand for food testing products.

Alliance Analytical Laboratories provides testing services in New Mexico. Moreover, VirtualLabs supported by New Mexico State University offers testing services in the country. The presence of such laboratories is anticipated to boost the growth of the market for molecular methods for food safety testing in the country. Furthermore, in June 2020, The New Mexico State Health Department launched an initiative to test essential food industry workers for COVID-19 infection to ensure food safety.

Mexico is closely followed by Brazil in terms of revenue generation in 2019. Brazil signed the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement. Diario Oficial da União is the official journal of the federal government, wherein it publishes regarding food regulations of the country. National Agency of Sanitary Surveillance (ANVISA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply (MAPA) regulate the safety of agricultural products.

In addition, the country is cooperating with the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to increase food safety in South America. The FSIS has suggested corrective actions for maintaining safety standards. Moreover, NSF International is a Public Health and Safety Organization in Brazil offering a wide range of services including food safety. Such factors are expected to positively impact the revenue generation in the country.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The molecular methods for food safety testing have captured the interest of several companies, government agencies, and investors across a wide range of products in Latin America. The companies ranging from well-established international firms to small- and mid-sized local firms in Latin America are continuously expanding their technologies to make molecular methods more widely available, user-friendly, and affordable for food safety testing.

The presence of companies offering food testing products such as Bio-Rad Laboratories and Thermo Fisher Scientific has positively impacted the growth of the market for molecular methods for food safety testing in Brazil. Bio-Rad Laboratories offers products in the country through Bio-Rad Laboratórios Brasil Ltd. Such companies are expected to increase product availability in the country, which, in turn, will drive the market for molecular methods for food safety testing.

Over the years, these companies have capitalized on several growth opportunities to increase their market shares in Latin America. Market participants are implementing collaborative and acquisition strategies for expanding geographically, especially in the untapped countries of Latin America, as well as enhancing their molecular tests portfolio for the region. Some of the prominent players in the Latin America molecular methods market for food safety testing include:

• NEOGEN Corporation

• Hygiena, LLC

• Seegene Inc

• Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

• QIAGEN

• Eurofins Scientific

• 3M

• Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc

• SGS SA

• bioMerieux SA

Latin America Molecular Methods Market For Food Safety Testing Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at regional and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2027. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the Latin America molecular methods market for food safety testing on the basis of technology, product, and region:

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • Instrument

  • Reagents & Consumables

  • Services

• Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • PCR

  • Immunoassay

  • Biosensors

  • Microarray

  • Others

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • Brazil

  • Mexico

  • Argentina

  • Chile

  • Colombia

  • Peru

  • Ecuador

  • Dominican Republic

  • Guatemala

  • Cuba

  • Panama

  • Venezuela

  • Costa Rica

  • Uruguay