The post-harvest treatment market is projected to grow from USD 1506.6 million in 2021 to USD 2325.7 million by 2027, recording a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing trade of perishable products such as fruits and vegetables, which widens the application of post-harvest treatment to increase their shelf life during storage and transportation.
Driver: Growing demand for exotic fruits and vegetables due to a boom in the hospitality industry
The export of fresh fruits and vegetables has been growing at a greater pace as compared to global trade in other commodities for the last ten years. Increasing trade of exotic fruits and vegetables is driving the use of post-harvest treatment products in order to keep the inventory (of exotic fruits and vegetables) fresh for a long duration. The demand for exotic fruits and vegetables is not dependent merely on their use and consumption in households; with the growing popularity of international cuisines, the application of certain exotic fruits and vegetables is widening in the hospitality sector. In terms of flavors, exotic fruit-based flavors are gaining popularity in the developed regions, and flavor ingredient companies are investing in offering products that include frozen pops flavored with grape plus acai (Ruby Rockets), Tonic with dragon fruit (ViDA Juice), and blackberry hibiscus gummy pandas (Bissinger).
Restraint: Lack of infrastructure and improper post harvest handling
Post-harvest handling includes mechanization of practices, such as harvesting, handling, and processing to adaptation to weather conditions, production practices, management decisions, transportation facilities, grading issues, infrastructure, consumer preferences/attitudes, and availability of financial markets. Losses occur at each of these stages of post-harvest handling due to the improper handling of crops. For instance, in less-developed and developing countries, where the supply chain is not fully mechanized, losses occur at stages such as drying, storage, and chemical application.
Poor infrastructure for storage, processing, and marketing in developing regions has contributed to high amounts of waste, leading to constraints in the domestic distribution of fruits and vegetables, as well as the export of such produce.
Opportunity: Technological Innovations in the post-harvest industry
New technologies in post-harvest storage, packaging, and fumigation have presented the market with the potential to grow substantially during the forecast period. These innovations in technology in developing regions have offered immense opportunities to fruit and vegetable growers to maintain the quality of their produce. According to industry experts, in China, the use of advanced technologies for cooling, such as temperature sensors and packaging technologies, has offered the country a considerable opportunity for the growth of the fruits and vegetables market.
In other developing countries, such as Israel, post-harvest treatment manufacturers have used innovative technologies such as chemical-free fumigation processes for potatoes and packaging solutions for fruits and vegetables. This emerging trend for the adoption of technologies for the post-harvest treatment of fruits and vegetables poses a considerable opportunity for the overall growth of the products/materials market.
Challenge: Physiological deterioration causing infections
The post-harvest value chain is a basic and monumental aspect of agricultural production. Among many other factors, it largely affects the quality of products for consumers, profit margins for farmers, and export conditions and consequences for a country. There can be an increased risk in the rate of loss because of normal physiological changes caused by conditions that increase the rate of natural deterioration, such as high temperature, low atmospheric humidity, and physical injury. Fresh produce, when subjected to extremes of temperature, atmospheric modification, or contamination, abnormal physiological deterioration is often observed. This may cause unpalatable flavors, failure to ripen, or other changes in the living processes of the produce, making it unfit for use.
The markets leading players in the post-harvest treatment market include JBT Corporation (US), Syngenta (Switzerland), Nufarm (Australia), Bayer (Germany), BASF (Germany), AgroFresh (US), Decco (US), Pace International (US), Xeda International (France), Fomesa Fruitech (Spain), Citrosol (Spain), Post Harvest Solution LTD (New Zealand), Janssen PMP (Belgium), Colin Campbell PTY LTD (Australia), Futureco Bioscience (Spain), Apeel Sciences (US), Polynatural (Chile), Sufresca (Australia), Ceradis (Netherland), Agricoat natureseal LTD. (UK).
