Agricultural Testing - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026 - 2031)

According to Mordor Intelligence, the agricultural testing market size is anticipated to grow from USD 7.9 billion in 2025 to USD 8.5 billion in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 11.2 billion by 2031 at a 5.67% CAGR over 2026-2031.

This report is Segmented by Sample (Water Testing, Soil Testing, Seed Testing, Bio-Solids Testing, Manure Testing, and Other Samples), Application (Safety Testing and Quality Assurance), Technology (Conventional Testing and Rapid Testing), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East, and Africa). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Global Agricultural Testing Market Trends and Insights

Stringent Food-Safety Regulations Tightening Worldwide

United States Food and Drug Administration revisions that took effect in 2024 require two agricultural-water tests per growing cycle, adding significant recurring volume to the agricultural testing market . The European Commission has announced reductions in the maximum residue levels for 47 pesticides, effective in 2025. This change requires exporters from countries such as Brazil, India, and Kenya to provide multi-matrix certificates to avoid rejection at entry checkpoints. Additionally, China now mandates dual testing, at the origin and the port of entry, for all fresh produce shipments, effectively doubling the number of analyses required per consignment. Laboratories with validations from the Association of Official Analytical Chemists are prioritized on retailer vendor lists, as compliance audits increasingly focus on verifying method equivalency. Consequently, the agricultural testing market benefits from regulation-driven demand stability, even during periods of commodity downturns.

Escalating Food-Borne Illness Outbreaks Driving Rapid Test Adoption

Between 2024 and 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linked 12 multistate Salmonella outbreaks to cantaloupes, cucumbers, and leafy greens, leading retailers to stipulate same-day pathogen clearances before accepting shipments. Portable polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kits can now detect Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria within 90 minutes on-site, positioning them as a valuable tool in the agricultural testing market. A USD 15 field strip helps prevent recalls that can cost over USD 500,000, making growers more inclined to accept the higher per-test cost. In the United Kingdom, regulators have mandated weekly environmental swabbing in packhouses starting in January 2026, increasing demand for rapid testing solutions. However, adoption remains inconsistent in regions where interruptions in cold-chain logistics or power supply affect reagent stability.

High Capital Cost of Advanced Laboratory Instrumentation

In 2025, the cost of a single liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer, required to achieve 0.01 ppm pesticide thresholds, ranged from USD 400,000 to USD 600,000. Similarly, an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer for heavy metal analysis was priced between USD 300,000 and USD 500,000. While leasing options allowed these costs to be spread over three to five years, they often required bank guarantees that many regional operators found difficult to secure. The expansion of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Entity List in March 2025, along with the rescission of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Diffusion Rule in May, created a significant regulatory backlog for technology buyers in the Middle East. Shipments of sensitive components frequently faced delays of up to 9 months in license processing. In countries such as Nigeria and Indonesia, limited infrastructure and skill shortages have led to the outsourcing of analytical testing to hubs in South Africa and Singapore, where companies like Eurofins and SGS hold dominant positions. This dependency increases costs, reduces local profit margins, and slows the growth of the agricultural testing market.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

1. Surge in Organic Food Trade Requiring Certification Testing
2. On-Site Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and Nanopore Sequencing Unlocking Field Pathogen Diagnostics
3. Acute Shortage of Skilled Laboratory Technicians

For complete list of drivers and restraints, kindly check the Table Of Contents.

Segment Analysis

Soil assays accounted for 45.6% of the agricultural testing market size in 2025, underscoring their central role in nutrient budgeting, heavy-metal surveillance, and carbon trading enrollment. The category anchors the agricultural testing market size at the farm level. Seed tests are expanding at an 8.8% CAGR to 2031, the swiftest pace among samples, because phytosanitary rules require pathogen-free lots before cross-border shipment. Soil biology panels now include microbial biomass metrics, a feature currently offered by fewer than 20% of laboratories and typically priced at a premium. Specialized but smaller segments of demand include testing for water, biosolids, manure, and plant tissue.

Carbon-credit protocols mandate baseline and annual soil sampling, providing consistent revenues that help mitigate seasonal fluctuations. In February 2025, the United States Natural Resources Conservation Service updated its guidelines to require 60-centimeter cores, effectively doubling the sample volume per farm and driving increased throughput in the agricultural testing market. Additionally, the International Plant Protection Convention's mandates on seed pests have transformed germination, purity, and disease checks into essential trade requirements. Water testing demand may rise if the Environmental Protection Agency implements mandatory pre-season screenings for operations with ten or more workers, potentially creating a USD 200-300 million market segment for laboratories in the United States.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Sample
  • Water Testing
  • Soil Testing
  • Seed Testing
  • Bio-solids Testing
  • Manure Testing
  • Other Samples
• By Application
  • Safety Testing
  • Quality Assurance
• By Technology
  • Conventional Testing
  • Rapid Testing
• By Geography
  • North America
    • United States
    • Canada
    • Mexico
    • Rest of North America
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • France
    • Russia
    • Spain
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia-Pacific
    • India
    • China
    • Australia
    • Japan
    • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Rest of South America
  • Middle East
    • Saudi Arabia
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Rest of Middle East
  • Africa
    • South Africa
    • Nigeria
    • Rest of Africa

Geography Analysis

North America is projected to lead the agricultural testing market, accounting for 39% of global revenue in 2025. This dominance is attributed to the mandates of the Food Safety Modernization Act and a well-established laboratory network that employs robotics to expedite pesticide testing. Laboratories in key states such as California, Florida, and Texas concentrate testing capacity, enabling exporters to secure certificates within 36 hours. In contrast, Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.8% through 2031. This growth is driven by China's tightening of residue limits and India's expansion of organic farming acreage. Both regions benefit from robust government programs that subsidize testing, though their growth is influenced by distinct factors, such as North America's focus on compliance enforcement and Asia-Pacific's emphasis on export-led certification.

Europe, South America, the Middle East, and Africa collectively represent a mix of surplus capacity and emerging demand. European laboratories experience underutilization during off-peak months, though increased mycotoxin surveillance helps alleviate this challenge. In South America, commodity exports remain a primary driver, with robotic testing lines in Brazil and Argentina significantly reducing turnaround times for soybean and beef certification. The Middle East's food security programs and Africa's aflatoxin initiatives are spurring investments in regional laboratories. However, logistical constraints and shortages of skilled labor continue to hinder progress in these regions.

North America is focusing on integrating rapid screening with blockchain technology to further reduce clearance times and attract premium contracts. In Asia-Pacific, laboratories are expanding their capabilities by installing additional Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry instruments to meet export requirements, while mobile units are extending services to rural farming areas. European providers are diversifying into carbon-credit soil projects to reduce reliance on residue testing. Meanwhile, laboratories in South America and Africa are bundling sampling and analytics services to appeal to multinational clients. These initiatives collectively contribute to incremental volume growth across all regions, with regulatory stringency and digital readiness playing a critical role in determining regional growth rates.

1. SGS Societe Generale de Surveillance SA
2. Eurofins Scientific SE
3. Intertek Group plc
4. PerkinElmer, Inc.
5. ALS Limited
6. Merieux NutriSciences Corporation
7. Tentamus Group GmbH
8. Neogen Corporation
9. Agilent Technologies Inc.
10. TUV NORD AG
11. LGC Limited
12. AsureQuality Limited
13. AGROLAB GmbH
14. Romer Labs GmbH
15. Fera Science Ltd

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support