Biofertilizers Market Size, Share, and Trends 2024 to 2034

Biofertilizers Market Size and Manufacturers

The global biofertilizers market size accounted for USD 2.15 billion in 2022 and is projected to hit around USD 6.83 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 12.3% between 2023 and 2032. The North America biofertilizers market was valued at USD 1.24 billion in 2022. The rapidly growing global agricultural industry with rising concerns for food safety is considered to drive the growth of the biofertilizers market during the forecast period.

Key Takeaways:

• North America dominated the global market in 2022.
• Asia Pacific region is expected to record the fastest CAGR between 2023 and 2032.
• By Type, the nitrogen fixing segment predicted to dominance the global market between 2023 and 2032.
• By Type, the phosphate solubilizing segment is expected to record remarkable CAGR between 2023 and 2032.
• By Application, the seed treatment segment accounted more than 59% of revenue share in 2022.
• By Application, the soil treatment segment is predicted to grow significantly between 2023 and 2032.
• By Crop Type, the cereals & grains segment generated the largest share of the market in 2022.
• By Crop Type, the oilseeds & pulses segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment.

Biofertilizers Market Overview:

The biofertilizer market refers to the market for producing and distributing biological fertilizers, which are naturally occurring microorganisms that can enhance soil fertility and promote plant growth. Biofertilizers are an alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers, which can have negative environmental impacts, such as soil degradation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. 

With the rising awareness about sustainable products for agricultural activities, several governments have started providing financial support to farmers, supplementing the market’s growth. Rising government support for boosting the production of biofertilizers in order to enhance crop quality is considered to act as a significant driving factor for the development of the biofertilizers market.

In January 2023, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology announced that it had started the production of biofertilizers to make them available for farmers in the state at the lowest cost. The university has received funding of 1.5 crores from the central government’s Rashtriy Kisan Vikas Yojana (RKVY), the scheme by the Indian government focuses on developing biofertilizer firms/plants and boosting the production of biofertilizers.

Additionally, several governments are increasingly implementing regulations and policies to increase sustainability farming practices. As a result, farmers are turning to biofertilizers as an alternative, which is expected to drive the demand for biofertilizer products.

Growth Factors:

Organic food production involves avoiding the use of synthetic fertilizers, which are known to have harmful effects on the environment. Biofertilizers provide a sustainable alternative by reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and promoting organic food production. With rising health concerns, environmental issues, and easy access to organic vegetables and fruits in supermarkets, urban areas are experiencing a massive demand for organic food materials, including vegetables, fruits, cereals, grains, and pulses. The rising demand for organic food products across the globe is observed as a significant driver for the growth of the biofertilizer market.

According to the Pew Research Survey, 76% of adult respondents in the United States purchased organic food materials for health concerns. Health, convenience, and environmental concerns are leading causes for the rising sales of organic food products in the United States.

Considering the sales in the United States, in 2022, organic berries surpassed $1 million in sales; organic carrots, spinach, apples, and tomatoes are other popular vegetables and fruits in the organic category.

Overall, the production of organic food, the rising demand for cleaner vegetables and fruits, and the government’s support for sustainable farming are creating a favorable market environment for biofertilizers and helping fuel the industry's growth. As more farmers adopt sustainable and eco-friendly practices, and as demand for organic and high-value crops increases, the demand for biofertilizers is likely to continue to grow in the coming years.

Biofertilizers Market Scope:

Biofertilizers Market Dynamics:

Driver: Technological advancements

Technological advancements are driving the growth of the biofertilizer market by improving production methods, selecting more effective microbial strains, enabling precision agriculture, and developing new delivery systems like seed coatings. Advances in biotechnology have led to the development of new and improved production methods for biofertilizers. These methods are more efficient and cost-effective, which has led to increased production and availability of biofertilizers.

Advances in seed coating technology have led to the development of biofertilizers that can be applied directly to seeds. This allows the biofertilizers to be delivered directly to the roots of the plants, where they can be most effective.

As these technologies continue to advance, biofertilizers' effectiveness and availability will likely continue to improve, which will drive further growth of the biofertilizer market during the forecast period.

Restraint: Limited shelf life

Biofertilizers have a limited shelf life, and their effectiveness can diminish over time; they cannot be stored for a long time. If not stored correctly, biofertilizers may lose their effectiveness with time. The limited shelf life of biofertilizers can also create supply chain challenges for manufacturers and distributors.

Biofertilizers need to be stored and transported carefully to maintain their effectiveness, which can be difficult in remote or underdeveloped areas with limited infrastructure; this can limit the availability of biofertilizers in specific regions and make them less accessible to farmers and growers. The long-term storage issues of biofertilizers create limited market reach. Thus, the limited shelf life of biofertilizers acts as a restraint for the market’s growth by limiting their adoption.

Opportunity: Increasing awareness about environmental sustainability

As people become more aware of the negative impact of chemical fertilizers on the environment and human health, the demand for organic food is increasing. Biofertilizers are a key component of organic farming, as they provide a natural and sustainable source of plant nutrients. This growing demand for organic food is expected to drive the demand for biofertilizers.

The trend towards using bio-based products is gaining popularity as consumers become more conscious of their environmental impact. Biofertilizers are bio-based products that offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers. This trend is expected to create opportunities for the biofertilizer market. Thus, a rising focus towards environmental sustainability opens a plethora of opportunities for market players to invest in the research and development of new products.

Covid-19 Impacts:

The sudden outburst of coronavirus has affected numerous industries across the globe. Similarly, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the global biofertilizers market. The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted supply chains globally, leading to shortages of raw materials and delays in transportation; this has had an impact on the production and distribution of biofertilizers, resulting in reduced availability and increased prices.

The pandemic has caused a slowdown in economic activity, leading to reduced demand for biofertilizers. Along with this, farmers faced financial difficulties during this critical period of the Covid pandemic.

However, the global biofertilizers market witnessed a significant increase with increased online sales. With social distancing measures in place, the biofertilizers market shifted to online sales. This has led to an increase in e-commerce platforms for biofertilizer sales. Many biofertilizer manufacturers started focusing on their online presence during the pandemic period.

Along with this, the pandemic has increased awareness of the importance of sustainable agriculture, and there has been a growing interest in biofertilizers as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers.

Overall, while the pandemic has had a negative impact on the biofertilizers market, the increased interest in sustainable agriculture and government support have provided some opportunities for growth in the market.

Type Insights:

The nitrogen fixing segment held the dominating share of the global biofertilizers market. The segment’s growth is attributed to the ability of nitrogen to improve plant growth, soil health, and sustainability. Moreover, biofertilizers containing nitrogen are comparatively cost-effective.

The rising focus on agricultural activities that include improving soil structure and soil moisture retention are fueling the demand for nitrogen fixing in the global biofertilizers market. Nitrogen fixation reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, which can be harmful to the environment and can lead to soil degradation and pollution. Increasing awareness about the side effects of chemical fertilizers will maintain the segment’s dominance during the forecast period.

On the other hand, the phosphate solubilizing segment is expected to witness noticeable growth during the forecast period. Phosphorous acts as a critical ingredient for plant growth, as it offers a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers. Phosphorous can help to reduce the amount of phosphorus runoff and leaching into waterways. The rising demand for sustainable agricultural products across the globe will boost the demand for phosphorous compounds in biofertilizers by supplementing the segment’s growth.

Application Insights:

The seed treatment segment generated more than 59% of revenue share in 2022; the agronomic benefits of biofertilizers to improve the nutritional values of seeds will maintain the dominance of the seed treatment application segment during the forecast period. Using biofertilizers for seed treatment is an effective and sustainable way to improve crop productivity and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. Moreover, rising government regulations for reducing the utilization of chemical fertilizers to induce the nutritional value of seeds will fuel the demand for biofertilizers for seed treatment applications.

The soil treatment segment is expected to improve significantly during the forecast period; the rising focus on environmentally friendly ways to fertilize the soil by considering the increasing concerns of soil erosion will fuel the segment’s growth. Moreover, rising agricultural activities that support healthier plant growth over the utilization of synthetic fertilizers will propel the development of the soil treatment segment.

Crop Type Insights:

The cereals & grains segment held the largest share of the market in 2022; the enormous demand for cereals & grains across the globe is expected to maintain the growth of the cereals & grains segment during the forecast period. Moreover, the utilization of biofertilizers for cereals & grains promotes improved crop health and maintains soil fertility.

Cereals & grains are the most commonly consumed source of nutrition across the globe; the rapidly growing population and increasing demand for organic cereals and grains are propelling the segment’s growth.

The oilseeds & pulses segment is considered to be the fastest-growing segment of the global biofertilizers market. Several governments promote the utilization of biofertilizers in the production of oilseeds; such initiatives by governments are predicted to boost the demand for biofertilizers for oilseeds & pulses.

For instance, the Indian government allows financial assistance at a 50% per ha subsidy for farmers to boost the production of oil seeds and palm trees by using biofertilizers and vermicompost under its National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil Palm scheme.

Regional Insights:

North America dominated the global biofertilizers market in 2022. There is increasing demand for organic food in North America, driven by concerns about the environmental and health impacts of conventional agriculture. The region will maintain dominance due to the rising demand for organic food products.  

The governments of the United States and Canada have implemented policies and programs to promote sustainable agriculture practices, including the use of biofertilizers. This has helped to create a favorable regulatory environment for the biofertilizer market in North America.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides research funding and technical assistance to support the development and use of biofertilizers. It has established programs such as the National Organic Program to help the production and marketing of organic products, which often rely on the use of biofertilizers. 

The biofertilizers market in Asia Pacific is expected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period. The increasing population and rising demand for cereals and grains, especially in developing countries, are observed to boost the development of the biofertilizers market in Asia Pacific. 

India is the most significant marketplace for biofertilizers. The increasing population, rising focus on organic foods, and rising government support for producing and utilizing biofertilizers in India are predicted to boost the market’s growth. The Indian government also promotes the production and utilization of biofertilizers; the government has implemented soil test based Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) under its Soil Health Card Program to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and other harmful pesticides. 

In February 2023, the Indian Finance Minister announced the launch of the Program of Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration- ‘PM Pranam’ to boost the production of alternative fertilizers in order to balance the utilization of chemical fertilizers in the country. This step by the Indian government aims to promote the production of biofertilizers in the upcoming years.  

Additionally, the rising focus on sustainability in agricultural activities in China and Japan, with rapidly growing investments in the research and development of biofertilizers and other amendments for farming, is observed to fuel the market’s growth in Asia Pacific.  

Recent Developments:

• In February 2023, the Horticulture Department in Punjab, India, Inaugurated the biofertilizer laboratory in Hoshiarpur. The laboratory has been built under the Center’s Rashtriy Kisan Vigyan Yojana to reduce the cost of fertilizers for farmers. The government scheme also focuses on preventing soil contamination by chemical fertilizers.  
• In February 2023, the Uttar Pradesh Agricultural Ministry, India, inaugurated the Krishak Bharti Cooperative Limited liquid biofertilizer plant in Varanasi. The renovated plant for liquid biofertilizers aims to boost the production of cost-effective biofertilizers for farmers in the state. 
• In June 2022, The Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry, Kuala Lumpur, announced that it is planning to promote the use of biofertilizers along with numerous other technologies to improve nutrient absorption to boost crop yield. The step taken by the ministry aims to reduce the cost of fertilizers and to boost the production of products in the biofertilizer category for large-scale agricultural activities.  
• In August 2022, Chambal Fertilizers and Chemical Limited (CFCL) launched their first Mycorrhiza product ‘Uttam Superrhiza’ in the category of biofertilizers by partnering with The Energy and Resources Institute’s (TERI) SMART Agrisolutions. The product is developed by successfully harnessing microbial interactions in the soil.  
• In May 2022, Anuvia Plant Nutrients, a United States-based biofertilizer company, announced that the company had achieved a milestone by raising $65.5 million in Series D funding. The Series D fundraising was led by Riverstone Holdings and Riva Capital. The company aims to spend the funding on advancing biofertilizers for large-scale agriculture. 

Biofertilizers Market Companies:

• CBF China Biofertilizer
• Novozymes A/S
• Agrilife
• Symborg SL
• Lallemand Inc
• Gujrat State Fertilizers & Co Ltd.
• IPL Biological
• Bioceres SA
• Americal Vanguard Corporation

Segments Covered in the Report:

By Type

• Nitrogen Fixing
• Phosphate Solubilizing
• Others

By Application

• Seed Treatment
• Soil Treatment
• Others

By Crop Type

• Cereals & Grains
• Oilseeds & Pulses
• Fruits & Vegetables
• Others

By Geography

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• The Middle East and Africa