Agricultural Inoculants - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts 2024 - 2029

The agricultural inoculants market size is estimated at USD 10.15 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 16.76 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 10.5% during the forecast period.

Key Highlights

• Current agricultural practices depend heavily on chemical inputs, such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, which cause a deleterious effect on the nutritional value of farm products and the health of farm workers and consumers. Excessive and indiscriminate use of these chemicals has resulted in food contamination, weed and disease resistance, and adverse environmental outcomes, significantly impacting human health. Applying these chemical inputs promotes the accumulation of toxic compounds in soils.
• Several synthetic fertilizers contain acid radicals, such as hydrochloride and sulfuric radicals, increasing soil acidity and adversely affecting soil and plant health. Highly recalcitrant compounds can also be absorbed by some plants. Continuous consumption of such crops can lead to systematic disorders in humans.
• Therefore, the increasing awareness of health challenges due to the consumption of poor-quality crops has led to a quest for new and improved technologies to improve the quantity and quality of produce without jeopardizing human health.
• A reliable alternative to chemical inputs is microbial inoculants that can act as biofertilizers, bioherbicides, biopesticides, and biocontrol agents. They are beneficiary microorganisms applied to the soil or the plant to improve productivity and crop health. They are also widely used to control pests and improve the quality of the ground and crops.
• Moreover, government initiatives to promote the adoption of organic farming are anticipated to fuel the market growth during the study period. For instance, under the Green Deal's Farm to Fork strategy, the European Commission set a target of at least 25% of the EU's agricultural land under organic farming and a significant increase in organic aquaculture by 2030.

Agricultural Inoculants Market Trends

Adoption of Organic and Eco-friendly Farming Practices

• Agricultural practices are witnessing a trend shift from conventional to organic farming. This shift can be attributed to growing awareness about the adverse impact of traditional farming methods on human health and environmental safety.
• According to the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (German: Forschungsinstitut fur biologischen Landbau (FiBL)), the area under organic cultivation increased from 70.9 million ha in 2018 to 76.4 million ha in 2021, with 187 countries practicing organic agriculture. This increases the demand for organic solutions such as inoculants and investments in localized research by private and public sectors.
• Microbial inoculants offer a natural and sustainable alternative to synthetic inputs, as they can improve soil health, increase nutrient availability, and protect against diseases. Additionally, microbial inoculants help reduce the environmental impact of synthetic inputs and promote more sustainable farming practices.
• As a result, the demand for microbial inoculants is increasing among farmers looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint and produce healthier, more sustainable crops. Moreover, rising acreage and growing consumer demand for organic products will positively influence the agricultural inoculants market during the forecast period.

North America is the Largest Market

• North America is the largest market for agricultural inoculants, with the United States holding the majority of the share. The United States, with its highly evolved agricultural sector, has been adopting the natural and organic way of farming lately. The increasing cost of chemical inputs, their adverse effect on soil mass and the environment, and increasing awareness regarding balanced plant nutrition are the major factors driving the market in the country.
• Moreover, certain companies and research institutions emphasize introducing new products to gain a competitive advantage. For instance, developed by the Winnipeg bioresearch company XiteBio Technologies, XiteBio OptiPlus is a revolutionary proprietary liquid inoculant for soybeans powered by market-proven AGPT (Advanced Growth Promoting Technology).
• It combines the nitrogen-fixing bacteria Bradyrhizobium japonicum with patented phosphate-solubilizing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), registered in Canada in February 2021, designed explicitly for soybeans. Such developments are anticipated to create demand for agricultural inoculants in the region and influence the global market during the study period.

Agricultural Inoculants Industry Overview

The agricultural inoculants market is fragmented, with international players occupying a major market share. The major players focus on R&D activities, extensive product portfolios, geographical expansions, acquisitions, and aggressive promotional strategies to uphold their position in the market. Some of the leading players are Novozymes, Lesaffre, BioceresCrop Solutions, Premier Tech, and BASF SE.

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