Biostimulants Market

Market Overview

The global biostimulants market size is projected to reach USD 7,879 million by 2030, from USD 2,897 million in 2021, and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 11.76% between 2022 and 2030. Biostimulants are natural or synthetic compounds that can be administered to seeds, plants, and soil. These chemicals alter essential and structural processes to affect plant growth by enhancing tolerance to abiotic stressors and boosting seed and grain yield and quality. Furthermore, biostimulants lessen the requirement for fertilizers.

The global market for inorganic fertilizers (primary nutrients) is expanding at a rate of 1.3 to 1.8% yearly. Given the development prospects in these categories, the major market participants are concentrating on several profitable product niches, including the specialty fertilizer and organic fertilizer segments. Additionally, products with a high level of nutrient content, versatility, and environmental friendliness are in high demand from crop farmers. These all point to a bright future for the global market for biostimulants.

Market Dynamics

Market­ Drivers

Greater Benefits with Enhanced Yield and Productivity

Agriculture is essential to human well-being and the stability of the global economy as a whole. Due to the escalating worldwide population, meeting future food demands and productivity requirements will be crucial. The use of biostimulants to increase agricultural productivity is one of the breakthroughs and technologies that have recently emerged in support of the agriculture industry.

The usage of biostimulants increases plant productivity because they aid in nutrient uptake without negatively impacting the environment. Biostimulants contain beneficial bacteria that boost nutrient uptake, abiotic stress tolerance, and crop development overall. The rising concern for environmental health is expected to contribute to the expansion of the analyzed market over the forecast period. In agricultural fields, biostimulants are utilized as an alternative to chemical input.

Agriculture is threatened worldwide by a variety of reasons, including alterations in climatic conditions, decreasing soil fertility, an increase in plant diseases, and the use of pesticides. Moreover, according to the United States' Fourth National Climate Assessment, climate change and drought are anticipated to impair productivity in the following years. Consequently, this circumstance may raise the demand for biostimulants.

Conventional agricultural practices degrade the soil's quality and fertility, which directly impacts crop productivity. Consequently, using organic methods to boost crop yield is gaining favor. This is further increasing the global demand for biostimulants. Significant investments in product effectiveness research can contribute to the industry's qualitative growth. Current trends indicate that biostimulants will greatly be important during the projection period.

Increased Emphasis on Sustainable Farming

In the past two decades, a movement for sustainable agriculture has evolved, supporting agricultural practices that lessen social and environmental concerns to feed the world's expanding population. Increasing mainstream agricultural support and adoption of sustainable agriculture techniques has led to safer field deployment of items such as biostimulants. Sustainable agriculture encourages farmers to minimize biostimulants, thereby conserving money, productivity, and the environment. In addition to addressing several environmental and social challenges, biostimulants in sustainable agriculture provide new and commercially feasible alternatives for farmers, laborers, and consumers. This is one of the primary growth factors for the studied market.

Biostimulants differ from biopesticides and biofertilizers in that they are crop boosters. Biostimulants are a combination of microorganisms, plant hormones, enzymes, sea woods, and trace elements; they are utilized to treat nutrient deficiencies and protect plants. Biostimulants promote plant growth and development across the whole agricultural life cycle, from seed germination to plant maturity, hence performing complementary roles for crop nutrition and crop protection. These characteristics contribute significantly to their widespread use in sustainable agriculture and production. With the introduction of integrated pest management programs that encourage biostimulants, the agricultural sector is anticipated to boost its usage of biostimulants derived from plants. Due to the rising awareness of sustainable agriculture, farmers utilize organic products such as biostimulants, which serve as a market growth driver. Government support is improving, which will boost the market growth. The government has increased agricultural production of superior goods with little to no pollution due to rising agricultural emissions. Governments worldwide are beginning initiatives to inform farmers about the many advantages of using biotechnology in agriculture. These government initiatives are expected to boost market expansion significantly in the upcoming years. Additionally, several regulatory bodies and councils have been established to promote and encourage a favorable business climate for the sector. Around the world, more associations are being created to regulate this unique production, which is expected to be suitable for the market's expansion.

Market­ Restraint

Low Awareness Among Farmers in Developing Countries

Biostimulant products are still relatively new on the market, and not all farmers are aware of their presence. Producing biostimulants is difficult since it requires extensive research and development. Nonetheless, there are fewer biostimulant products on the market than biopesticide products. Very few farmers are aware of the availability of biostimulant products. Although they are aware of products, they lack information about biostimulants and their advantages. In addition, there are no awareness initiatives or in-depth explanations regarding biostimulants and their application, which could boost product sales.

Even though biostimulants promote the overall health of agricultural soil by providing a natural environment for plant growth, their global acceptance and acceptability are still limited. Biostimulants are still in their infancy, primarily because farmers are unaware of their effectiveness. Other than in European nations, biostimulants in agriculture are relatively recent in all other regions of the world. Farmers in a few nations are unaware of whether or not biostimulant products are regulated. In India, for instance, farmers are defrauded using items that lack a license or certification. Numerous companies in the nation produce biostimulants without a precise formulation. The Indian government plans to form a regulating agency to avert such issues. In addition to the traditional practice of fertilizer application, it is necessary to raise awareness about the use and application of biostimulants, which become more active and holistic when administered in modest amounts. Consequently, a lack of knowledge regarding usage, application, and the identification of authorized biostimulants limits the market's expansion.

Growth Opportunities in Biostimulants Market­

Expansion of the Organic Food Business to Create Lucrative Opportunities

Organic biostimulants are essential for the agriculture industry's future to promote organic practices. Biostimulants can encourage microflora soil, which facilitates the efficient uptake of nutrients. Others enhance the antioxidant activity of plants and their resistance to environmental stressors and disease strain. Biostimulants are related to organic agriculture and gardening, which are presently experiencing positive growth in conventional agriculture. Increasingly, biostimulants are regarded as a response to consumer desire for softer agricultural practices.

In response to the growing need for food sufficiency and the significance of safe farming practices, the worldwide organic food business is expanding exponentially. The rising health-conscious consumer base worldwide prefers organic food to avoid the negative health consequences of inorganic food's chemical preservatives and genetically modified substances. Farmers search for more effective ways to utilize synthetic chemicals and mineral fertilizers to produce healthy foods with little environmental repercussions. Depending on the location, organic food and associated agriculture currently account for between 5 to 10% of the food market. According to the FiBL, organic farming in Europe climbed from 2.7% in 2016 to 3.12% in 2018. In Latin America, the balance of organic farms rose from 0.99% in 2016 to 1.06% in 2018. As more organic food is grown without pesticides or fertilizers, the demand for biostimulants increases. As a result, the growing popularity of organic agriculture fuels the demand for biostimulants.

Regional Analysis

Based on regions, the global biostimulants market share is divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Africa.

The European region dominated the global biostimulants market, with revenue forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 12.34% to USD 3,332 million by 2030. Germany is the leader in strengthening Europe's core priorities for intelligent growth and bio-based economic innovation. Biostimulants are an essential component of the same. From focusing on high-value crops to more conventional crops, businesses handle specific agricultural demands and expand the usage of biostimulants.

Spain is the second-largest market for biostimulants in Europe and the fourth market with the highest growth rate. The price volatility of conventional agrochemical products and tight regulatory standards regulating the use of chemicals have contributed to the market’s growth for biostimulants in grains, cereals, and oilseeds.

The North American region accounts for the second-largest share of the global biostimulants market, with a CAGR of 11.32% expected to generate USD 2,392 million in revenue by 2030. The United States is one of the leading biostimulant consumers in North America. The nation has adapted to the use of biostimulants, notably in the case of seed treatment, to boost crop productivity and vigor from the beginning. Due to a lack of rainfall, biostimulants play an essential role in the region. Significant growing seasons in the region receive no or very little rain. As biostimulants regulate plant growth by boosting tolerance to abiotic stress, it is anticipated that the need for biostimulants will increase in the near future.

Over the projected period, Central & South America is anticipated to have the second-highest revenue growth rate. The presence of economies with a solid agricultural foundation, like Brazil's, gives the region a lot of growth potential even though its growth rate is now stagnant. Due to the rising population, use of new technology in agriculture, growing farmer awareness, declining use of synthetic chemical fertilizers that degrade soil quality, and widespread use of sustainable & eco-friendly alternatives, the industry is predicted to grow exponentially in the region over the forecasted period for all segments.

Segmental Analysis

By origin, the market is segmented into natural biostimulants and biosynthetic biostimulants. 

Natural biostimulants accounted for the largest share in the global biostimulants market and are anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 11.94%, generating revenue of USD 5,964 million by 2030. Many plant-derived compounds, such as botanicals and seaweed extracts, microbial inoculants, and some naturally occurring protein and amino acid molecules, are examples of natural biostimulants. The increased desire among customers for healthy, chemical-free food is one of the primary reasons driving the industry. Another critical factor favoring natural biostimulants over biosynthetic biostimulants is their lower cost. Furthermore, due to the well-documented favorable benefits of seaweed extract-based biostimulants on plant growth and yield, natural biostimulants are growing at the fastest rate.

Based on active ingredients, the global biostimulants market is divided into Humic Acid, Fulvic Acid, Amino Acids, Protein Hydrolysates, Seaweed Extracts, and Other Active Ingredients Food. Seaweed extracts led the biostimulants market and are projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.63%, generating a revenue of USD 2,351 million by 2030. Seaweed extracts (SWE) have been utilized in turf since the 1950s and are generally made from brown, green, or red macro-algae. Brown seaweed extracts are frequently used in the grass because of their well-documented effects on growth promotion and abiotic stress reduction, such as salinity, severe temperatures, nutrient deficiencies, and drought. In horticulture and agriculture, humic acids are utilized as biostimulants. Humic acids naturally help improve the health and yield of crops. Humic acids are extracted from leonardite, a kind of lignite, for use in commercial applications. Protein hydrolysates (PHs), which can improve a variety of horticultural and agronomic crops' germination, production, and quality, have become popular as plant biostimulants.

Based on application, the biostimulants market is divided into foliar, soil, and seed. 

The foliar sector dominates the global biostimulants market and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 11.86% and generate a revenue of USD 2,017 million by 2030. Foliar biostimulants are among the most popular applications because they deliver ingredients directly to the plant and improve plant adaptation to unfavorable environmental pressures. In foliar application, the surface area coverage is more significant, allowing the product to disperse the ingredient more effectively than the soil.

In 2022, the section that deals with soil remediation contributed a sizable portion of revenue. Biostimulants are used as part of the treatment to stimulate growth, fertility, and productivity. The four main methods used in soil remediation are physical, mechanical, chemical, and biological treatments. The use of products for soil remediation will increase due to the decrease in chemical use in agriculture. Acid-based and microbial biostimulants are frequently employed for soil treatment.

By crop type, the global biostimulants market is divided into grains and cereals, pulses and oilseeds, commercial crops, fruits and vegetables, and other crop types. Grains and cereals held the largest share in 2021 and are forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 12%, generating a revenue of USD 2,589 million by 2030. Due to the growing demand for agricultural productivity and food safety, biostimulants have been increasingly popular in grain and cereal crops in recent years. As a result, biostimulants are increasingly being used in cereal crops like rice, maize, wheat, and barley as part of integrated crop management. Adoption is strong because biostimulants are used as an alternative to conventional chemical fertilizers and crop protection products.

Impact of covid-19

An unparalleled disturbance has characterized COVID-19's influence on the global biostimulant industry in the functioning of both demand and supply market forces. A short-term labor scarcity combined with distribution obstacles caused a significant disparity between the number of workers needed and those available for biostimulant production. Organic crop production was further hampered by a lack of growers in large-scale plantations.

Organic growers were buying biostimulants in bulk or buying more of larger pack sizes to retain enough supply for later phases of plant growth in anticipation of statewide lockdowns. However, there was a significant reduction in biostimulant supply from January to May 2020, as large online merchants such as Amazon and Walmart prohibited or delayed deliveries due to COVID-19.

As retailers prepared for the following spring planting season, March 2020 was a high-volume month for biostimulant sales. The International Grains Council, an intergovernmental organization, warned that virus-related transportation limitations could impede spring fieldwork. As a result, in March 2020, North America's largest farm suppliers rushed fertilizer, seeds, and agricultural chemicals to crop-growing regions in an unprecedented race against the COVID-19 virus, which threatened to disrupt the planting season.

North American countries, including Canada, saw the ongoing mobility of agri-food products and inputs as critical to a COVID-19 management strategy. During the COVID-19 outbreak, the federal government of Canada declared crop inputs as an essential commodity, ensuring a stable market for biostimulants.

Recent Developments

• In Jan 2022, UPL Corporation, the worldwide branch of UPL Limited, secured a USD 700 million sustainability loan from international banks, including Societe Generale, HSBC, and Italy's Intesa.
• In August 2022, a development and distribution agreement for an orange oil multifunctional bioprotection product was announced by UPL and ORO AGRI.
• In September 2022, With the vital partnership, Eastman will advance a circular future for healthcare packaging.