Biological Seed Treatment Market Trend - Fostering Sustainable Agriculture

Rising population, reduced resources, and overburdened agricultural supply chains, benefits like ascertaining higher crop yield, among others are anticipated to propel the market to stratospheric heights.  Knowledge source intelligence estimates that the market pertaining to the Biological Seed Treatment is expected to reach US$ 1316.302 million by 2024, from US$ 634.138 million in 2018 Besides the aforementioned, the growing pool of vegan consumers and expanding consumption of food products that are manufactured with pant based is also expected to drive the biological seed treatment market. Moreover, an estimated increased per capita food expenditure by the consumers of the newly industrialized countries is expected to add to the global demand for food which is devoid of any chemicals in their entire value chain. Further, the growing awareness of a crucial advantage in the critical window of time that is imparted by biological seed treatment to establish yield and ultimately contributing to long-term sustainability in agriculture is also expected to fuel the growth of the biological seed treatment market.

Projection of Total Population at Mid-Year, World

Source: United Nations

2020-2060: MEDIUM VARIANT

Moreover, addressing the growing demand for food products it is also important to ensure an uninterrupted supply of animal feed which encompasses a variety of grains as the key ingredients of a myriad of products. This is also expected to fuel the demand for biological seed treatment products. Further, the growing cognizance of organically produced food which includes both livestock and agricultural products, and its consequential demand is another key factor that is expected to facilitate the growth of the biological seed treatment market. To this end, it is important to note according to a recent publication by the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), around 186 countries across the world are engaged in processes pertaining to organic agriculture as of 2018 which was more than comparably more than the reported 103 countries in 2017. Also, the global organic market value was to the tune of 96.7 billion euros. Furthermore, the share of organically derived poultry meat occupied the largest share of the organic market. Despite the relatively high labor investments in organic production the aforesaid prevailing conditions pertaining to the organic market is reflections on the upward direction of the organic market which in turn is expected to result in the growth of the biological seed treatment market. Further certain development in national policies across the world during the last few years has been favorable to various developments in the agriculture industry among which biological treatment market has also been profoundly benefitted.

Projection of Wheat Consumption, World

Source: OECD-FAO

In Mt

The business imperative of investments in R&D and the resultant market developments suggest the promising biological seed treatment market growth of the market

The agri-tech space has brought forth a myriad of developments with the rationale to ensure that farmers are sufficiently empowered to guarantee conditions empowering them to respond to the growing demand for food. A select few of them are being listed below

July 2018 – Granting of License

The granting of a license to use Exosect Ltd.’s Entostat® technology for the delivery of select agricultural biologicals as seed treatments to Monsanto Company was announced. The proprietary technology brought about by Exosect Ltd. reportedly aids in the delivery of microbial which in turn is expected to tap into the growth area of agriculture which is inclusive of but not limited to improving nutrient uptake, promoting growth and yield, as well as providing insect control and disease protection which also necessitates a reliable delivery system. This technology reportedly offered Monsanto the opportunity to optimize the delivery of certain biological products

August 2018 – Strategic Marketing Agreement

Verdesian Life Sciences was reportedly announced to be the exclusive Midwest distributor of SEED+ DRY and CROP+ by both Verdesian and Cytozyme Laboratories, Inc. Cytozyme Laboratories, Inc which boasts more than 40 years of proven technologies in biologicals has brought about biologically derived nutritional seed treatment, SEED+ DRY, that has been designed to enhance the vigor of seedling, increase the mass of shoot and root and minimize the impact of abiotic stress on the seedling, resulting in a uniform emergence and higher yields. 

September 2018 – Product launch

Plant Health Care plc had reportedly launched a biological product called Harpin αβ which is essentially a seed treatment product for field corn in the U.S. The product reportedly functions by triggering the corn plant’s self-defense systems which have been said to be similar to that of the functioning of vaccination in the case of humans. The result includes increased yield, improved vigor, heightened defense response, and healthy growth.

December 2018 – Product Launch

Vault IP Plus seed treatment a part of a broad portfolio of seed treatment innovations that protect, unlock, and enhance the full genetic potential of the seed according to BASF was launched offering soybean growers an even broader portfolio, which sets a new yardstick for seed inoculation and protection. It’s reportedly the only combined inoculant as well as EPA-registered bio-fungicide, which is known to contain two active biologicals for improved fungicidal activity and protection. This product is also known to offer soybean growers increased root nodulation and disease protection for an overall healthier soybean plant.

Despite the products made commercially available in the market are still limited, a few of the larger seed companies have reportedly commenced offering biological seed treatments as part of their seed treatment package. Due to abiotic stress in poor soils are the effects of the seed treatment are amplified. further in solutions pertaining to this type of product are expected to be innovated in the near future which is also effective and better substantiated in comparatively more mature markets/fertile soils, which are expected to facilitate healthy growth of the biological seed treatment market. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the plant rhizosphere and the multidimensional interaction between microbes, soil, and plants are extremely complex which has undergone an evolution over millions of years. This poses a challenge to effectively transfer positive results from a laboratory or greenhouse environment to the field which is subjected to varying climatic and includes a diverse range of soil conditions concomitantly ensuring growers who are seeking trusted performance they expect, which can restrain the growth of the market in future.