The global biocontrol market size is estimated to be valued at USD 6.6 billion in 2022. It is projected to reach USD 13.7 billion by 2027, recording a CAGR of 15.8% during the forecast period.
Agricultural crop protection solutions are crucial for pest management in the fields. Chemical-based pesticides are currently dominating the market. However, due to rise in incidences of insect infestation, pest resistance, rise in consumer awareness and subsequently in organic food demand, along with strict environmental regulations are pushing the demand for biocontrol solutions, particularly biopesticides which are relatively safer and have quick development procedures than conventional pesticides. Biocontrol solutions are broadly categorized into biopesticides and semiochemicals. Biopesticides include bioinsecticides, biofungicides, bionematicides and bioherbicides. Semiochemicals include pheromones and allelochemicals. They are developed through natural sources such as microbials, biochemicals and macrobials.
Top biocontrol companies include BASF SE (Germany), Bayer AG (Germany), Syngenta AG (Switzerland), Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd. (Japan), Corteva Agriscience (US) and FMC Corporation (US)
Syngenta AG has a global presence in more than 90 countries and revenue of around USD 28.3 billion in 2021. It is a leading global player and one of the top five biocontrol crop protection companies in the world. It offers agricultural biologicals through its crop protection business segment. Within the crop protection division, the company offers its solutions for selective herbicides, non-selective herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, seed care, controls, and other crop protection products.
In April 2022, the company launched a new semiochemical product in pheromone category in Indonesia, named Nelvium. It is a pheromone based biocontrol to control pests in rice, which is a major crop produced in Indonesia. The product launch will help Syngenta enter the Indonesian market and broaden its semiochemical portfolio.
In 2022, the company also collaborated with various companies and startups in the biocontrol market. A noticeable collaboration was in May 2022, when Syngenta collaborated with M2i Life Sciences (France), a leading technology provider of pheromone-based crop protection solutions to launch EXPLOYO Vit, which is a new pheromone-based solution to help wine growers in France effectively manage pests in vines such as the vine moth, Lobesia botrana. The collaboration benefitted Syngenta AG by partnering with leading technology providers in biological space such as M2i Life Sciences and in targeting vine growers across different markets.
One of the top agrochemical firms, FMC Corporation offers creative solutions to growers all over the world. A variety of plant protection solutions made from microbes and other naturally occurring substances make up its plant health business division, which has expanded dramatically over time. The company’s European Innovation Center has been engaged in research and development (R&D) projects aimed at creating new bioinsecticides, bioonematicides, biofungicides, biostimulants, and, most recently, pheromones. The business will introduce a number of commercial launches to the biocontrol industry
FMC and Novozymes engaged into a strategic partnership in 2021 to jointly develop and market crop protection products based on biological enzymes that target fungal and insect pests. As commercial and production partners, FMC and Novozymes would integrate the businesses’ separate R&D facilities.
A significant chemical producer and marketer globally is BASF SE. Biological solutions are provided by its business section for agricultural solutions. Biopesticides and semiochemicals are included in this section of biological solutions; they are intended to be used in IPM programmes for growers in both greenhouses and open fields. When it comes to biological research, BASF SE has been aggressive in embracing new tools and techniques in order to expand its offering of cutting-edge solutions. Its most recent development also indicates the same.
A contract was struck in March 2021 by BASF and AgBiome to introduce Howler, a novel biofungicide, to the European market as well as important Middle Eastern and African nations. AgBiome would gain from the deal while it worked to develop its novel biofungicide in Europe and a few adjacent markets in the Middle East and Africa. Additionally, it would enable BASF SE’s agricultural solutions division to broaden the range of biosolutions it offers.
In 2022, North America’s share of the global biocontrol market was estimated to be 39.5%. US, Canada, and Mexico are among the North American nations taken into account for the study of biocontrol market. One of the main factors influencing the market adoption of biocontrol is the loss of conventional products due to registration or product performance concerns. Research is a major area of concentration for many important companies, including Corteva Agriscience, FMC Corporation, and Marrone Bio Innovations.
