Agricultural enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions leading to the release of soil nutrients. Agricultural enzymes liberate and make available to plant roots soil nutrients. Without an agricultural enzyme, these nutrients would have remained bound in the soil, inaccessible to plants. These enzymes enhance the yield and quality of plants by decontaminating pesticide-, herbicide-, and chemical fertilizer-treated soil. As they neutralize both acidic and basic soils, agricultural enzymes are widely used in the bioprocessing of fibers, enzyme-assisted silage fermentation, processing of crops and crop residues, and producing various animal feed supplements.
Over the years, the demand for agricultural enzymes has increased due to the soaring global demand for organic foods and the growing public awareness of the harmful properties of pesticides. Enzymes have properties that enable them to function at low concentrations, low temperatures, a mild pH, and with minimal quantities of water. Organic and sustainable agriculture frequently utilizes biodegradable enzymes.
In addition, the increased use of natural biological products, such as agricultural enzymes, contributed to a 2% increase in organic food sales to USD 57.5 billion in 2021. This compares to growth rates of 12.8 percent in 2020 and 4.8 percent in 2019. Increasing sales of organic food and a shift in consumer trends toward the improvement of personal health and the consumption of healthy food will likely fuel demand for agricultural enzymes over the coming years.
Large agribusinesses and crop protection corporations have adopted biological products like agricultural enzymes due to product innovation and internal R&D initiatives. There has been a rise in global key players' efforts to accelerate the expansion of the global agricultural enzyme market. In April 2021, BASF partnered with Sandoz GmbH to invest in Austria's Kundl/Schaftenau Campus. This transaction allows it to expand its production capacity for enzymes and biotechnology products.
In addition, Nutrien AG Solutions announced in March 2021 a partnership with Elemental Enzymes, a leading agricultural biotechnology company, for a peptide-based biochemical pesticide to combat fungal and bacterial illnesses, including Huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening. Currently, 100% of Florida's acreage is affected by citrus greening. Thus, the key players R&D partnership and product launch announcements will create growth opportunities for the agricultural enzymes market throughout the forecast period.
North America is the most significant global agricultural enzymes market shareholder and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.02% during the forecast period. The United States is one of North America's largest markets for agricultural enzymes. The nation's adoption of modern agricultural technologies is extremely advanced. In this country, the demand for agricultural enzymes is fueled by the rising cost of chemical inputs, their negative impact on soil mass and the environment, and an increasing awareness of the significance of balanced plant nutrition. In August 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture established its new USD 300 million Organic Transition Initiative. According to the program, concrete measures will be taken to cultivate the next generation of organic farmers and to strengthen organic supply chains. These programs are anticipated to increase the use of bio-based inputs, thereby expanding the national market.
The key players in the global agricultural enzymes market are Bayer CropScience, BASF SE, Stoller USA Inc., Corteva Agriscience, Elemental Enzymes, American Vanguard Corporation, Bioworks Inc., and Syngenta AG.