Biofumigation Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Seed Type (Mustard Seed, Cauliflower Seed, Broccoli Seed, Others), By Crop Type (Fruit, Vegetable, Ornaments, Others), By Application (Cover Crop, Seed Cake) and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Biofumigation is an agronomic practice which uses plants, especially belonging to the Brassica family, that produce chemical called glucosinolates. Once the tissues of these crops are spoiled, these glucosinolates are broken down to release various substances such as isothiocynates. Isothiocynates are known to suppress various disease organisms and pests. The increasing demand for environmental friendly as well as effective fumigants is predicted to drive the global market of biofumigation.

The biofumigation process includes growing glucosinolate producing plants as a cover crop between crops in the rotation. Alternative mode of achieving biofumigation effect is to use Brassica-derived isothiocyanate-rich materials such as seed meals or oils to improve the quality of the soil and to suppress the pesticide effects. The prominent players operating in the market are embarking on the launch of new biofumigant seed species, seed meal, and oil to fulfill the increasing demand for biofumigants. In the biofumigation process, fresh glucosinolate-rich plants, are chopped and combined into the soil to achieve natural isothiocyanate formation. Otherwise, Brassicaceae oil or seed meals can be used to achieve the same effect.

The application of biofumigants can help to reduce weed competition, soil-borne pathogens, and it can also help to control the composition of post-harvest pathogenic fungi, bacteria, and nematodes in soil, which are predicted to increase the demand for biofumigants. Biofumigation is extensively used as a managing tool for organic and conventional farming, which are presently under pressure to discover substitutes to chemical fumigation practices, and more ecologically suitable fumigants which can help in decreasing number of soil pathogens to increase or maintain yields. Furthermore, biofumigants can help to achieve the better soil physical structure by increasing soil permeability if used as green manure and it can also help to add more organic carbon to the soil which is required to increase the activity of functional groups of the soil. Moreover, due to the fungicidal and nematicidal properties of isothyocyanate it may provide growers an alternative to chemical fumigants that is less detrimental to the environment and has less regulation for application. Biofumigation practice has gained increasing attention as an option in the sustainable management of soil borne-pathogens, nematodes and bacterial diseases inventing from the soil which is expected to drive the global market of biofumigation. The application of biofumigants can also improve worker safety by reducing their exposure to hazardous chemicals.

The more time and attention required for the biofumigation process than the use of synthetic nematicides is predicted to hamper the market growth. Moreover, biofumigation target a range of pathogens but do not persist in the soil for long periods because of the high reactivity of ITCs which is expected to restrain the market growth.

Key Players Covered:

The prominent players operating in the global biofumigation market are BASF SE, UPL Group, Isagro USA, Inc. Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. Senova, P.H. Petersen, Eastman Chemical Company, Mighty Mustard, Tozer Seeds, Harley Seeds, and Others.

Mustard seed is predicted to hold prominent share in the global market of biofumigation. The increasing adoption of mustard seed for the production of seed cake and oil which is used for biofumigation process is predicted to drive the demand for mustard seed among biofumigant producers. Moreover, the process of biofumigation with mustard can reduce weed pressure, populations of parasitic nematodes, and it can also reduce soil-borne pathogens which are predicted to boost the utilization of mustard plant for the biofumigation process.

The high priced fruits such as strawberry, raspberry, and others are predicted to hold a significant share in the global market of biofumigation. The increasing demand for organic fruits along with the increasing practice of greenhouse farming are predicted to boost the application of biofumigation is forthcoming years. Furthermore, the same production area is used year-after-year for the same crop especially vegetables which favors the build-up of disease inoculum in the soil. Therefore, the demand for biofumigants is predicted to upsurge for the control of soil-borne diseases of vegetables.

Brassicaceous seed meal can be more beneficial than a biofumigant cover crop. The less time required for the application of brassicaceous seed meal than growing a cover crop is predicted to boost the demand for it. Brassicaceous seed meal has been shown to change the soil biology which then encourages the suppression of plant diseases. The aforementioned factor is predicted to increase the grower’s interest in the utilization of seed cake regardless of its higher cost and limited supply.

Regional Analysis:

Asia Pacific is predicted to witness significant growth in the global market of biofumigation. The declining food production because of insect and other pest along with the increasing incidence of soil born pathogen and bacterial diseases are predicted to boost the utilization of biofumigation within the region. The rising awareness regarding the benefit of biofumigation as a crop protection practice coupled with the increasing government support for the utilization of biofumigants which are environment friendly are expected to drive the biofumigation market within Asia Pacific.

North America is predicted to hold a considerable share in the global market of biofumigation. The increasing demands for sustainable agriculture products coupled with the higher efficiency of biofumigants in terms of application are predicted to drive the market within North America. Furthermore, the presence of prominent market players such as Marrone Bio Innovations, Eastman Chemical Company, and others in the region is expected to further propel the market growth.

Segmentation

Key Industry Developments:

• In May 2017, Isagro USA, Inc. introduced its DOMINUS soil biofumigant, to support producers of high value crops to effectively control soil-borne pests.


• In November 2016, Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. announced that the company has received registration of MBI-601 EP, a biofumigant, from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).