Agricultural Microbial Market

Agricultural Microbial Market Size:

The global agricultural microbial market size reached USD 10.6 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 25.6 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 9.79% during 2025-2033. The market is experiencing significant growth driven by increasing pressure from the consumer and regulatory agency for sustainable farming practices, heightening demand to improve the yields in farming and food production to feed a rising population, and escalating awareness and stringent policy on the impact of chemical inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers.

Agricultural Microbial Market Analysis:

• Major Market Drivers: The agricultural microbial demand is primarily driven by the increasing requirement for the eco-friendly agricultural practice, the pressure on increasing the crop productivity to feed the global population, and the lawmaking changes regarding the limitation on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, the shift to microbes to improve the soil and plants.
• Key Market Trends: Some of the popular trends currently evident include the growing use of biofertilizers and biopesticides, scientific research and development of microbial technology, and the utilization of microbial products in conjunction with precision agriculture. There is a significant increase in organic farming and therefore the market for agricultural microbial advances at a faster rate.
• Geographical Trends: The North America holds the largest market in as it has extensive farming operations, higher rate of awareness of sustainable farming practices, well-equipped research and development facilities, and support from regularities for green agricultural inputs. This is due to its advanced technology use and the increased large scale organic farming in the region that the dominance the region has in the market.
• Competitive Landscape: Some of the major market players in the agricultural microbial industry include AgBiome, BASF SE, Bayer AG, Cargill Incorporated, Certis USA LLC, Chr. Hansen A/S, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Koppert Biological Systems, Marrone Bio Innovations (Bioceres Crop Solutions), Novozymes A/S (Novo Holdings A/S), Nufarm Limited, Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., Syngenta AG., among many others.
• Challenges and Opportunities: Some of the limitations include high costs of investment, low familiarity among farmers especially in the developing nations and high risk associated with regulations. However, there are several opportunities that can be harnessed such as, rising demand for organic produce in the global market, emerging technologies in microbial formulations, and high investments made in agricultural biotechnology, which helps in the growth and acceptance of this market.

Agricultural Microbial Market Trends:

Rising Demand for Sustainable Agriculture

Rising concern about sustainable agriculture techniques is one of the major factors driving the agricultural microbial market. The USDA has reported high efforts being made toward practicing environmental-friendly agrarian practices. Microbial solutions are one of the measures used in sustainable farming and can help lower chemical use by 30% while at the same time enhancing the health of the soil and its biodiversity. According to the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, sustainable techniques in farming improve environmental quality and on permanency. This is backed by the rising governmental policies and subsidies that encourage sustainability, thus creating a positive agricultural microbial market outlook.

Escalating Need to Enhance Crop Yields

Another important factor is the escalating need for the development of advanced technologies to raise the rate of agricultural production to feed the ever-expanding human population. The FAO has found that the production of food must rise by 70% by 2050 to feed a projected global population of 9. 7 billion people. This agricultural microbial market forecast suggests that micr-organic products such as biofertilizers, and biopesticides are the other important inputs in agricultural production that increase yields by improving nutrient uptake and controlling diseases/pests. According to information provided by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), microbial treatments can enhance crop yields by 5 to 30 percent on average for the crop and within the dominating environmental factors. Therefore, the demand for increased production of food to feed the increasing world population while reducing the exerted pressure on arable land and land under cultivation is making farming microbes more attractive.

Regulatory Pressures and Chemical Reaction

Agricultural microbial market growth is fueled by the rising need to replace chemical fertilizers and pesticides on account of regulatory pressure. As a result of the hazards that chemical pesticides have on land, water, and health, the EPA has been stewarding and strengthening the regulation on the use of chemical pesticides. For example, the US Environmental Protection Agency EPA has set reduction targets for some of the most hazardous pesticides with the projected goal of cutting usage by 50% within the next 10 years. Hence, farmers are involving themselves in microbial organic farming practices, though they deem them to be safer and more environmentally sustainable. These microbial products are useful in decreasing chemical contents in foods and protecting the soil, a purpose stated by several agencies that spearhead environmental conservation and preservation thus a reason leading to enhanced market demand.

Agricultural Microbial Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the global, regional, and country levels for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on type, formulation, application method, function, and crop type.

Breakup by Type:

• Bacteria
• Fungi
• Virus
• Others
   

Bacteria accounts for the majority of the market share

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the type. This includes bacteria, fungi, virus, and others According to the report, bacteria represented the largest segment.

Bacteria dominates the agriculture microbial market value due to their stakeholder functions in the fertility of the soil, nutrient recycling, and plant health. Some of the villages include nitrogen-fixing bacteria such as Rhizobium, and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria that enhance nitrogen and phosphorus availability to plants in the soil enhancing better plant growth and yields. Thus, the National Institutes of Health has revealed that bacterial inoculants enhance local food production by as much as 10-20%, proving the efficiency of the inoculants in the promotion of agribusiness. Also, bacterial biopesticides such as Bt or Bacillus thuringiensis can be used as an organic pesticide for pest control which has no harm to the environment. A general ability of bacterial solutions utilized in agriculture is attached to positive results inspiring farmers and others concerned with farming activities.

Breakup by Formulation:

• Dry
• Liquid
   

Liquid holds the largest share of the industry

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the formulation have also been provided in the report. This includes dry and liquid. According to the report, liquid accounted for the largest market share.

Among the sectors of microbial formulas used in agriculture, liquid formulations dominate the market because of ease of application, better shelf life, and higher efficacy. These formulations make it possible to ensure the even distribution of microbial inoculants, including the establishment of close contact with the roots of plants and soil. Liquid bio fertilizers and biopesticides are popular among farmers due to their ease of usage in the application through irrigation systems and foliar sprays as per the USDA. It positively impacts the microbial activity and effectiveness of the bacteria hence enhancing crop health and productivity. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), liquid microbial products are capable of improving nutrient use in the human body by up to 25%, which explains why farmers prefer them as a way of boosting production and improving their sustainable farming practices.

Breakup by Application Method:

• Soil Amendment
• Crop Protection
   

Crop protection represents the leading market segment 

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the application method. This includes soil amendment and crop protection. According to the report, crop protection represented the largest segment.

Crop protection products remain the most consumed agric microbial as they are used to protect crops from pests, diseases, and weeds, hence modulating yield and crop quality. Such products include microbial pesticides fungicides, and herbicides with specific aims and are environmentally friendly as compared to the chemical ones. Some of the microbial crop protection agents such as Bacillus thuringiensis and Trichoderma species are excellent in controlling pests and diseases, but non-hazardous to useful insects and the soil. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that microbial biopesticides can lower the application of chemical pesticides by 20-30% and support environmentally friendly farming methods. These factors have escalated the demand for other effective, non-harmful crop protection products, thus widening the agricultural microbial market scope.

Breakup by Function:

• Foliar Spray
• Soil Treatment
• Seed Treatment
• Others
   

Foliar spray exhibits a clear dominance in the market 

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the function have also been provided in the report. This includes foliar spray, soil treatment, seed treatment, and others. According to the report, foliar spray accounted for the largest market share.

Foliar spray formulation is mostly used in the agricultural microbial market because they target plant leaves, promoting fast and effective uptake by the plant with positive health responses. This method ensures that nutrients are easily absorbed, diseases are easily kept away and pest attacks are easily dealt with. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), foliar sprays are highly effective in delivering essential nutrients and microbial agents directly to the plant’s active sites, leading to increased photosynthesis and growth rates. Convenience, fast effectiveness, and possible use during specific stages of plant development help to explain why foliar sprays are popular with farmers, which in turn affects their market share.

Breakup by Crop Type:

• Cereals
• Oilseeds and Pulses
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Others
   

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the crop type. This includes cereals, oilseeds and pulses, fruits and vegetables, and others.

Being a staple food in most regions of the world, cereals need effective control and management of diseases and soil improvement. This is because agricultural microbes fertilize crops, enhance nutrient acquisition, and have biocontrol features, thus enhancing cereal farming since they increase yields and sustainability.

Oilseeds and pulses rely on nitrogen-fixing bacteria and other beneficial microorganisms that improve the fertility and disease tolerance of plants. The need for improving the productivity and quality of the oilseeds and pulses offers an impetus to the growth of the agricultural microbial market.

Fruits and vegetables, for instance, cannot compromise quality and yields as they are from high-value crops. Soil nutrients are more efficiently absorbed by plants and diseases and pests are controlled using agricultural microbes that are central to optimize yield to meet market value.

Breakup by Region:

• North America
  • United States
  • Canada
• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Indonesia
  • Others
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
  • Others
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Others
• Middle East and Africa
   

North America leads the market, accounting for the largest agricultural microbial market share

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North America (the United States and Canada), Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and others), Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, and others), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and others), and Middle East and Africa. According to the report, North America was the largest regional market for agricultural microbials.

North America drives the agricultural microbial market revenue owing to its technologically developed infrastructure and favorable policies and regulations. The strong academic base of the region along with established biotechnology industries also fuels research and development of microbial technologies, and how these technologies can be integrated with precision farming and other smart technologies for application and tracking. For instance, recent policies by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) help to encourage microbial solutions that have minimal adverse effects on the environment and conform to the highest regulatory guidelines. North America particularly remains well poised with high adoption rates of sustainable farming practices evidenced in farmers’ rising reliance on microbial products to decrease chemical additions and improve the earth. Other incentives via programs that encourage organic farming and conservation practices also act as additional support for ensuring the region’s continued place at the epicenter of microbial agricultural programs and markets.

Competitive Landscape:

• The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the market. Detailed profiles of all major companies have also been provided. Some of the major market players in the agricultural microbial industry include AgBiome, BASF SE, Bayer AG, Cargill Incorporated, Certis USA LLC, Chr. Hansen A/S, DuPont de Nemours Inc., Koppert Biological Systems, Marrone Bio Innovations (Bioceres Crop Solutions), Novozymes A/S (Novo Holdings A/S), Nufarm Limited, Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd. and Syngenta AG.
  
  (Please note that this is only a partial list of the key players, and the complete list is provided in the report.)
   
• Major companies involved in the agricultural microbial industry are concentrating on their product line, and improving their research arm. For instance, the Germany-based firm BASF has been allocating a large chunk of capital to the biological products hoping to control more of the market of green farming. The documents include BASF’s reports where the firm’s agricultural solutions division that deals with microbial products note that the segment’s growth has been at 10% in the recent past. Bayer is also expanding its portfolio of microbial solutions by partnering and M&As, due to the increasing need for more sustainable farming techniques and practices. Syngenta has recently been working on creating high-value microbes through microbial formulations and has been investing in digital agriculture to enhance microbial formulation applicability. These measures are in line with the shift towards sustainable agriculture practices that are currently on the rise across the world whereby microbial production is envisaged to have a pivotal role in enhancing yields and minimizing the use of chemicals.

Agricultural Microbial Market News:

• In April 2024, Indian Institute of Spices Research develops three more microbial formulations to help farmers improve agricultural productivity.
• In February 2023, The Microbiology Society and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences signed a transformative agreement to foster collaboration in agricultural microbiology research and innovation, aiming to advance sustainable farming practices globally.

Agricultural Microbial Market Report Scope:

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the agricultural microbial market from 2019-2033.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the global agricultural microbial market.
• The study maps the leading, as well as the fastest-growing, regional markets. It further enables stakeholders to identify the key country-level markets within each region.
• Porter's five forces analysis assists stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the agricultural microbial industry and its attractiveness.
• The competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides insight into the current positions of key players in the market.