Biological Seed Treatment Market

Market Overview

The global biological seed treatment market size was valued at USD 1.07 billion in 2021 and is predicted to reach at USD 2.93 billion by 2030, increasing at a CAGR of 11.86% from 2022 to 2030.

Living microorganisms, fermented products, plant extracts, phytohormones, and sometimes even hard chemistry are all active elements in biological seed treatments that have good impacts on plants. Nutrient availability in the rhizosphere is improved, water uptake is increased, nutrients are utilized more efficiently and plants are protected from diseases with the use of these items. Biological-seed-treatments are becoming increasingly popular because of their capacity to improve plant growth, reduce stress, and increase total output. Because of their near proximity to the root systems from the outset, seed treatment is an effective method of delivering biological agents.

It is possible to apply biological seed treatments, either alone or in conjunction with chemicals, in order to boost yield and increase efficiency. Bio-based goods have a huge market opportunity because farmers must reduce their dependence on traditional chemical inputs so as to earn the coveted "organic produce" certification. As a result, there has been a significant increase in the need for non-toxic, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly antifungal compounds that can promote seed germination as well as seedling vigour.

Market Dynamics

Global Biological Seed Treatment Market Drivers

Demand For Chemicals Will Rise as More People Realize the Health and Environmental Dangers They Pose

Preference for biological-seed-treatment has skyrocketed because of greater understanding of its efficacy and growing concerns regarding the health plus environmental effects of traditional chemicals. Because chemical seed treatments hurt the ecosystem and put pollinators at risk, the global market for biological seed treatments is expected to rise in the coming years. The neonicotinoid group of insecticides is very toxic to honeybees. Microorganisms used as active components in pest management are generally regarded as safe for the environment as well as non-target species, unlike manufactured insecticides.

Seeds are hydrated and inoculated with microbes in the bio-priming process, which is a biological-seed-treatment technique. In most situations, bio-priming seeds involves the use of microbial inoculants, including plant growth-promoting-rhizo-microorganism (fungi or bacteria). Select microorganisms are used in an ecological strategy to improve plant growth by protecting seedlings and plants against soil or seed-borne pathogenic organisms, enhancing nutrient intake, and creating chemicals that promote plant growth. The use of chemicals for seed treatment is increasing since foliar pathogen protection is not possible with contact fungicides, which are mostly utilized in the early stages of crop growth.

Increasing Interest in Environmentally Responsible Methods of Farming

The global market for biological seed treatments is projected to be influenced by the adoption of sustainable farming methods as well as large investments made by leading companies in the research & development of biological-seed-treatments. The major factors that will propel the market's progress in the years to come are the environmental and agricultural benefits that can be attained through the utilization of biological seed treatment solutions. It is anticipated that beneficial extracts from plants and microorganisms will play a significant role in the reduction of the use of chemical pesticides as well as synthetic fertilizers, which would result in lower risks and costs for farmers. Because of these advantages, it is anticipated that the global market for biological seed treatment will experience growth in the not-too-distant future.

Global Biological Seed Treatment Market Restraints

Obstacles Posed by Government Regulations

The regulatory landscape for active biological components varies greatly from nation to nation and region to region. Authorities from all around the world agree, in general, that biological-seed-treatment solutions are superior to chemical plant security products in terms of both their benefits and their differences. In addition, this realization has not necessarily resulted in uniform approaches being taken towards regulatory obligations or review procedures. In some nations, biological plant protection products are required to be registered in accordance with particular regulations, while in other nations, biologicals may be registered in a way analogous to that of chemical-plant-protection-products. Sometimes there are less requirements for the data that must be provided, and other instances there might not even be a clearly defined process for them to follow in order to register.

Global Biological Seed Treatment Market Key Opportunities

Utilization Of Bio-Priming Strategies in Order to Achieve Improved Efficacy

In the context of biological seed treatments, the term "bio-priming" refers to a technique that combines hydrating the seed and inoculating it with bacteria before planting it in the ground. The process of bio-priming seeds often involves the application of microbial inoculants, including plant growth-promoting-rhizo-microorganisms (bacteria or fungi). It is an environmentally friendly ecological method that makes use of certain microbes that boost plant growth in one of three ways: by creating plant growth-promoting chemicals, by improving nutrient intake, or by protecting seedlings and plants from soil- or seed-borne plant pathogens. As a result of the fact that the majority of the fungicides used in seed treatment are contact fungicides, which are ineffective in protecting plants from foliar diseases in later phases of crop development, more and more farmers are turning to other methods.

Segmental Analysis

The global biological seed treatment market is divided into different segments according to the Product, Function, Crop, and Region (Geography).

By Product, the global biological seed treatment market is segmented into Microbials and Botanicals & Others. From 2022 to 2030, the microbials market is predicted to expand at the Highest CAGR of 11.91%. Mycorrhizae, Penicillium bilaii and Trichoderma harzianum are some of the fungi and bacteria that are employed in microbial treatment to eliminate the pathogens as well as improve seed health and yield. Drought, insects, pests, as well as plant diseases don't have a chance against these crops.

Soil bacteria are helpful to plants, and several of them represent biocontrol species, which have been toxic to diseases. They may be found in almost any soil. Plants benefit from bacteria because they kill diseases and conduct a wide range of other helpful tasks.

In addition to nitrogen fixation, Rhizobacteria bacteria emit antibiotics to destroy pathogens, boost phosphorous levels, and develop systemic resistance to plant pathogens. They are crucial for a plant's wellness. To lessen the reliance of crops on phosphate-based-fertilizers, bacteria like Streptomyces Bacillus as well as Pseudomonas release soluble phosphorous into the environment.

By Function, the global biological seed treatment market is segmented into Seed Protection and Seed Enhancement. In terms of revenue, the seed protection sector accounted for roughly 70% of the market share in 2021. Due to reasons such as diseased seeds and environmental and biotic or abiotic stresses, the sector is likely to develop in the next years. Increasing consumer preference for organic food is also expected to increase the adoption of biological protection.

It is expected that the seed enhancement market would increase significantly during the next few decades. By increasing the use of biological therapy, which increases seedling growth and germination, the growth is encouraged. Different strategies are used to enhance seed performance, boosting disease resistance and seed vigor. This boosts harvest production and quality, as well as both the quantity and quality of crops.

Seed coating relies heavily on bio fungicides because most of the diseases are fungi. Fertility of young plants can be compromised due to fungal diseases such as brown and black rot, that attack the roots of seeds. The four most frequent fungi that cause disease are Fusarium, Pythium, Phytophthora, as well as Rhizoctonia. Bio fungicides are applied to the seed covering in order to protect it against fungal infections.

By Crop, the global biological seed treatment market is segmented into Corn, Wheat, Soybean, Cotton, Sunflower, Vegetable Crops, and Others. More than two-thirds of all crop revenue in 2021 came from vegetable crops, which will expand at an annual growth rate of 11.97% from 2022 to 2030, according to the report. Increased usage of biopesticides for treatment of vegetable seeds, increased consumer interest in a healthy lifestyle, plus growing preference for chemical-free food stuffs are all likely to drive the market's expansion over the forecast period.

Revenues from wheat are projected to increase at an annual compound growth rate of 11.79% between 2022 and 2030. Various fungal diseases, such as Pythium and Fusarium-caused seed blight and Erwinia rhapontici-induced pink seed disease, can affect wheat seeds (bacteria). To prevent the spread of these infections, biological treatment is necessary. For the establishment of soybean seedling, seed-borne diseases constitute an important hazard. Fusarium and Aspergillus are fungi that cause stem blight and purple-seed-stain disease, as well as a decrease in the rate at which seeds germinate

By Region or Geography, the global biological seed treatment market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC Region), Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). According to 2021 revenue figures, North America had a 42% share of the market in terms of market share in the sector. It is predicted that the region would expand at a Rate over the forecast period of 11.76% between the years of 2022 and 2030. In the year 2021, North America was the most dominant region for organic farming.

Regional Analysis

The global biological seed treatment market is segmented by geography into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC Region), Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA).

In terms of market share, North America was the most dominant region in the sector in 2021, with a share that was equivalent to 42% of the total. From 2022 through 2030, it is anticipated that the region would expand at a compound annual growth rate of 11.76%. It is projected that the growing popularity of organic agriculture in nations such as the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada will propel the industry in the years to come. The largest exporters of grains in the world are located in North America and their names are Canada and Mexico. Farmers employ biological-seed-treatment to protect their seeds and crops from nematodes, pathogens, and other pests and diseases in order to increase the amount of crop that they harvest.

In 2021, the North American region dominated the market for organic agriculture more than any other region. In the same year, the market for organic food had growth of 6.2% in the United States and 9.3% in Canada. There are about 19,000 organic farmers and food producers operating in North America, the majority of which are located in the United States (14,000) and Canada (4,800). Since 2004, there has been a 66% increase in the number of growers who adhere to organic standards.

It is anticipated that growth in Asia Pacific would rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.42% over the course of the projected period. It is anticipated that the demand for products will be driven in the future by the robust expansion of the agricultural sector in countries like India, Bangladesh, China, and Sri Lanka. In addition, it is anticipated that the expanding population as well as rising income would continue to be the primary drivers of the market for agriculture and food products.

Recent Developments

• July 2022 - BASF SE has now been finished and started up in Dahej, India, which will serve the coatings, constructions, adhesives and paper industries in South Asia with a cutting-edge acrylic dispersions production line. In October 2014, BASF began producing polymer-dispersions in Dahej, India, and this new line will nearly treble the company's capacity.
• June 2022 - As a new granular soil surfactant, Precision Laboratories had launched Precip-G. As an adaptable, granular soil surfactant, Precip-G helps conserve irrigation water across a wide range of application areas. As a result, more rain and irrigation water get absorbed into the soil. Precip-G prolongs soil moisture, which saves water and labour in the long term.

Biological Seed Treatment Market Segmentation

By Product

• Microbials
• Botanicals & Others

By Function

• Seed Protection
• Seed Enhancement

By Crop

• Corn
• Wheat
• Soybean
• Cotton
• Sunflower
• Vegetable Crops
• Others

By Geography

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific (APAC)
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa (MEA)