Biological Seed Treatment Market Size, Share, Growth, Forecast and Outlook (2024-2031)

Global Biological Seed Treatment Market is segmented By Type (Microbials, Botanicals, Others) By Crop (Corn, Wheat, Soybean, Cotton, Sunflower, Vegetable Crops, Others) By Form (Liquid Formulation, Dry Formulation) By Technology (Seed Priming, Pelleting, Film-coating, Others) By Function (Seed Protection, Seed Enhancement) By Distribution Channel (E-Commerce, Specialty Stores, Hypermarket/Supermarket, Others) and By Region (North America, Europe, South America, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa) – Share, Size, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024-2031

Biological Seed Treatment Market Size

Global Biological Seed Treatment Market reached US$ 1265.7 million in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 2377.6 million by 2031, growing with a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period 2024-2031.

The application of helpful microbes or natural compounds to seeds to increase their growth, protect them from illnesses, and improve general plant health is referred to as biological seed treatment. As the need for ecologically friendly and sustainable agricultural practices increases, farmers and producers are exploring alternatives to chemical-based treatments. Biological seed treatment is a less hazardous way to protect crops and promote growth.

In addition, biological seed treatment minimizes pesticide use, lowering grower exposure to chemicals and their environmental impact. According to the European Environment Agency, in 22% of all monitoring sites in rivers and lakes across Europe in 2020, one or more pesticides were discovered above concern criteria. Pesticide residues were found in 83% of agricultural soils evaluated in a 2019 study. Pesticide pollution is a major cause of biodiversity loss in Europe. It significantly reduces insect populations, threatening their important role in food production.

Biological Seed Treatment Market Summary

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Biological Seed Treatment Market Dynamics

Rising Demand for High-Quality Agricultural Products

Demand for high-quality agricultural products is expected to rise as consumers become more aware of the importance of food safety and quality. Biological seed treatments can contribute significantly to meeting this demand by improving crop yields, quality, and safety. For instance, KWS has spent many years working to advance biologicals. Due to a new stabilization process, beneficial microorganisms can now be preserved in microbeads and used as a seed treatment for a variety of crops, marking an industry first. Following intensive development with the biotech company Evologic Technologies, KWS launched its first seed treatment product based on preserved beneficial bacteria on September 30, 2021.

In addition, biological seed treatments can help to reduce crop damage by protecting seeds from pests and diseases. Higher-quality crops are less likely to be rejected by buyers as a result of this. Chemical seed treatments have the potential to pollute the environment while also harming beneficial insects. Biological seed treatments are a more environmentally friendly option that can aid in environmental protection.

Growing Demand for Organic and Sustainable Agriculture

Consumers are increasingly demanding organic and sustainable food products, resulting in an increase in demand for biological seed treatment. According to the FiBL survey 2021, India is one of only 187 countries that practice organic agriculture. With 2.30 million ha, India accounts for 30% of the world's total organic producers. Total organic cultivation area, 27,59,660 farmers, 1703 processors, and 745 traders. In recent years, there has been a significant relative increase in organic agricultural land across the country. As the demand for organic farming grows, there will be more opportunities for biological seed treatment.

In addition, biological seed treatment methods are also viewed as a more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to chemical seed treatment. Biological seed treatments, which will be an alternative to chemical seed treatment, are made from renewable resources and contain naturally occurring active ingredients aimed at protecting against soil-borne pathogens, alleviating abiotic stress, and increasing plant growth. As a result, farmers' demand for organic and sustainable agricultural products will drive market growth during the forecast period.

Limited Duration of Protection

Biological seed treatments typically provide less protection than chemical seed treatments. This is due to the fact that the beneficial microorganisms used in biological treatments may have a shorter lifespan or activity period when compared to the long-term effects of synthetic chemical pesticides. While chemical treatments can provide long-term protection, biological seed treatments rely more on the activity of living microorganisms, which can be influenced by environmental conditions and plant interactions.

Furthermore, the various factors associated with biological seed treatment's limited duration of protection. Environmental conditions, microorganism viability, seed storage limitations, and supplemental treatments are all factors in biological seed treatment. As a result, these constraints have hampered the growth of the biological seed treatment market.

Biological Seed Treatment Market Segment Analysis

The global biological seed treatment market is segmented based on type, crop, form, technology, function, distribution channel, and region.

Microbial is the Fastest-Growing Segment

The microbial segment holds a major share and fastest growing of the biological seed treatment market in 2022, due to the increasing demand for microbial seed treatment, in field crops such as soybean and corn. According to The Soybean Processors Association of India, the United States soybean production increased by 24.02% in 2021-22, with a volume of 119.8 million MT. Bayer AG (Germany), Syngenta Group (Switzerland), and Corteva Agriscience (US) are among the market's major players, offering innovative biological seed treatment solutions for controlling seed and soil-borne diseases in a wide range of crops.

Furthermore, other companies are developing microbial seed treatments. For instance, on June 13, 2022, HELM Argentina and Protergium announced the launch of Innobio Protergium Terra, a microbial consortium-based biological seed treatment for wheat and barley. The new bio-input, according to Helm Argentina Commercial Director Osvaldo Barreiro, is a microbial consortium that combines the action of two microorganisms: Bacillus velezensis T2 and Trichoderma harzianum TH10.

Biological Seed Treatment Market Geographical Share

North America’s Dominating the Biological Seed Treatment Market

The North American biological seed treatment market has witnessed significant growth and is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period. The growing popularity of organic farming in countries such as the United States, Mexico, and Canada is expected to propel the industry during the forecast period. Canada and Mexico are the world's largest grain exporters.  According to the International Trade Centre, Canada's cereal exports increased by 100% in 2022, reaching 13, 024 Tonnes. Farmers use biological seed treatment to protect seeds and crops from pathogens, pests, and nematodes in order to produce a large number of crops.

Furthermore, the organic food market in the United States has grown at a faster rate. According to the Organic Trade Association, organic food sales in the United States will surpass $60 billion for the first time in 2022, setting a new high for the resilient organic sector. Organic sales, including organic non-food products, reached a new high of $67.6 billion. As a result, the biological seed market will benefit from the organic food sector.

Biological Seed Treatment Market Key Players

The major global players include BASF SE, Bayer AG, Corteva, Inc., Croda International Plc, FMC Corporation, Novozymes, Nufarm Limited, Precision Laboratories, LLC, Syngenta AG, and UPL Limited

COVID Impact On Biological Seed Treatment Market

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the biological seed treatment market. The pandemic caused disruptions in the supply chain, leading to shortages of biological seed treatments. Additionally, the pandemic led to a decline in demand for agricultural products, as consumers were less likely to purchase food due to economic uncertainty.

Despite these challenges, the biological seed treatment market is expected to recover and grow in the coming years. The market is being driven by the increasing demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Additionally, the growing awareness of the benefits of biological seed treatments is also contributing to market growth.

Russia- Ukraine War Impact

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is having a significant impact on the global biological seed treatment market. Ukraine is a producer of biological seed treatments, and the war has disrupted the supply chain, resulting in product shortages.

Furthermore, the war has increased the cost of biological seed treatments, making them unaffordable for some farmers. Furthermore, Russia's actions against Ukraine have been weakening the latter's ability to harvest and sell commodities since February 2022. Ukraine is the world's largest sunflower seed producer, as well as a major exporter of wheat, rapeseed, barley, vegetable oil, and maize.

Key Developments

• On October 29, 2021, in collaboration with biotech company Evologic Technologies, German seed-producing company KWS launched its first product, a biological seed treatment based on preserved beneficial bacteria.
• On May 09, 2023, Syngenta Biologicals and Unium Bioscience announced a partnership to bring groundbreaking biological seed treatment solutions based on NUELLOiN to farmers in northwest Europe. NUELLO iN improves a plant's ability to convert and use nitrogen from the atmosphere and has the potential to reduce nitrogen use by more than 10%.
• On December 07, 2020, Advanced Biological Marketing (ABM) announced the launch of GroFlo, their newest product for the seed treatment industry. The GroFlo product, which will be available in early 2021, combines the benefits of a colorant and polymer with the addition of nutrients to help seeds get off to a good start.

Why Purchase the Report?

• To visualize the global biological seed treatment market segmentation based on type, crop, form, technology, function, distribution channel, and region, as well as understand key commercial assets and players.
• Identify commercial opportunities by analyzing trends and co-development.
• Excel data sheet with numerous data points of biological seed treatment market-level with all segments.
• PDF report consists of a comprehensive analysis after exhaustive qualitative interviews and an in-depth study.
• Product mapping available as Excel consisting of key products of all the major players.

The global biological seed treatment market report would provide approximately 85 tables, 91 figures, and 181 Pages.

Target Audience 2024

• Manufacturers/ Buyers
• Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
• Research Professionals
• Emerging Companies