Market Overview

The global Biological Control market was valued at USD 4,546.51 million in 2023 and expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.6% during the forecast period. Biological control is the practice of using living organisms to control the populations of other organisms, often pests or invasive species, that are causing damage to crops, natural ecosystems, or other environments. It is a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional chemical control methods.

The concept of biological control dates back to ancient China, where farmers used ants to control pests on citrus trees. Today, biological control is widely used in agriculture, forestry, and conservation, and includes several methods:

Predators: Natural enemies of pests, such as insects or birds, are introduced into an environment to control the pest population. For example, ladybugs are used to control aphids on plants.

Parasites: Parasites are organisms that live on or within the host and can control their population. For example, wasps are used to control various pests, including whiteflies and mealybugs.

Pathogens: Pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, are used to control pests. For example, the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is used to control caterpillars that feed on crops.

Cultural control: Cultural control methods involve manipulating the environment to control pests. For example, rotating crops can reduce pest populations by disrupting their life cycle.

Biological control has several advantages over traditional chemical control methods. It is often more effective in the long term, as pests cannot develop resistance to natural predators or parasites. It is also less harmful to the environment, as biological control methods do not leave harmful residues or contribute to pollution. Additionally, biological control can be less expensive than chemical control in some cases, as it involves fewer inputs and can be self-sustaining once established.

However, biological control also has some limitations and challenges. The success of biological control depends on a complex set of factors, including the biology of the pest, the environment, and the natural enemies used. It can also take longer to achieve results compared to chemical control. Additionally, there is a risk of unintended consequences, such as the introduction of a natural enemy that becomes a pest itself.

Biological control is an environmentally friendly and sustainable method of managing pests and invasive species using living organisms. The practice includes the introduction of predators, parasites, pathogens, and cultural control methods to control pest populations.

Biological control has several advantages over traditional chemical control methods, including long-term effectiveness, reduced environmental impact, and potentially lower costs. However, it also has limitations and challenges, such as the need for careful consideration of the biology of the pest and the natural enemies used, and the risk of unintended consequences.

Report Scope

Impact of COVID

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on many industries, and the biological control industry is no exception. Here are some of the ways in which the pandemic has affected biological control:

Supply chain disruptions: The pandemic has disrupted global supply chains, causing shortages of some biological control products. This has led to delays in the delivery of products and increased prices.

Travel restrictions: Biological control often involves the movement of organisms across international borders. Travel restrictions and border closures have made it difficult to transport natural enemies and other biological control agents, affecting their availability and effectiveness.

Research and development: Many research facilities have had to close or limit their operations due to COVID-19 restrictions. This has affected the ability to conduct research and develop new biological control products.

Shifts in demand: Changes in consumer behavior and market demand have affected the demand for biological control products. For example, the closure of restaurants and other foodservice establishments has reduced the demand for certain biological control products used in these settings.

Increased demand for organic products: The pandemic has led to an increased demand for organic and natural products, including biological control products. This has created new opportunities for the biological control industry, but also put pressure on suppliers to meet the increased demand.

Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has created both challenges and opportunities for the biological control industry. The industry has had to adapt to supply chain disruptions and travel restrictions while also meeting changing market demand. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of sustainable and environmentally friendly pest management practices, which could lead to

Type Insights

The biological control market can be segmented by type of control agent and target pest. Here is a market share analysis for each segment:

Type of control agent:

Microbials: Microbials are the largest segment of the biological control market, accounting for the majority of sales. Microbial control agents include bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms that are used to control pests and diseases in plants and animals.

Microbial and entomopathogenic nematodes: The use of nematodes as biological control agents is a growing market, with an increasing number of products being developed and marketed. These nematodes are used to control a variety of soil-dwelling pests, including root weevils, grubs, and termites.

Target pest:

Arthropods: Arthropods, including insects and mites, are the largest target pest segment in the biological control market. Biological control products targeting arthropods include microbial and nematode products, as well as pheromone-based products and insect growth regulators.

Weeds: Weeds are a growing target for biological control, with an increasing number of products being developed and marketed. Biological control products targeting weeds include microbial and fungal products, as well as herbivorous insects and mites.

Microorganisms: Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi can cause diseases in plants and animals, and there is a growing market for biological control products targeting these microorganisms. These products include microbial and fungal control agents, as well as products based on phage therapy and other emerging technologies.

Target Pest Insights

Arthropods: Arthropods, including insects and mites, are the largest target pest segment in the biological control market. Biological control products targeting arthropods include microbial and nematode products, as well as pheromone-based products and insect growth regulators.

Weeds: Weeds are a growing target for biological control, with an increasing number of products being developed and marketed. Biological control products targeting weeds include microbial and fungal products, as well as herbivorous insects and mites.

Microorganisms: Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi can cause diseases in plants and animals, and there is a growing market for biological control products targeting these microorganisms. These products include microbial and fungal control agents, as well as products based on phage therapy and other emerging technologies.

Application Insights

Seed treatment: Seed treatment is the largest segment of the biological control market, accounting for the majority of sales. Seed treatment involves applying biological control products to seeds before planting, protecting the seedlings as they germinate and grow. Seed treatment products typically target soil-borne diseases and pests.

On-field: The on-field application of biological control products is a growing market, particularly in organic and integrated pest management (IPM) systems. These products are applied directly to crops and target pests and diseases in the field, including foliar pests and diseases and soil-borne pests and diseases.

Post-harvest: Post-harvest biological control products are used to protect harvested crops during storage and transportation. These products typically target post-harvest pests and diseases, including insects and fungi that can damage stored crops.

Regional Insights

North America: Biological control is widely used in the United States and Canada, particularly in agriculture and forestry. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of biological control agents, and the country is home to several research institutions and private companies involved in the development and production of biological control products.

Europe: Biological control is also widely used in Europe, particularly in organic and integrated pest management (IPM) systems. The European Union has established regulations for the use of biological control agents, and there are several research institutions and private companies involved in the development and production of biological control products.

Asia-Pacific: Biological control is widely used in several countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including China, India, and Australia. In China, biological control is seen as a key component of sustainable agriculture, and the country has established several research institutions and programs focused on biological control.

Latin America: Biological control is used extensively in several countries in Latin America, including Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. The region is home to several research institutions and programs focused on biological control, and the use of biological control is supported by government policies and initiatives.

Africa: Biological control is less widely used in Africa compared to other regions, but there is growing interest in its use as a sustainable and environmentally friendly pest management method. Several research institutions and programs focused on biological control have been established in the region.

Overall, the use of biological control varies by region, but it is a globally recognized and utilized practice for sustainable pest management. As awareness of the environmental impact of traditional pest control methods increases, it is likely that the use of biological control will continue to grow in all regions of the world.

Competitive Analysis

Some of the major companies operating within the market are BASF SE, Bayer CropScience, Corteva Agriscience, UPL, Syngenta Ag, Koppert BV, Brettyoung (Lallemand), Certis USA LLC, Chr. Hansen, Marrone Bio Innovations, Symbiota, Precision Laboratories LLC, Verdesian Life Sciences LLC, Valent Biosciences Corporation and others. These players are focusing on product innovation, expansion, and partnerships to strengthen their market position and meet the growing demand for Biological Control globally.

Recent News

·         In June 2022, Syngenta Crop Protection has acquired two next generation bioinsecticides, NemaTrident and UniSpore, to combat increasing resistance and a wide range of insects and pests across horticulture and ornamentals, turf amenity and forestry, giving customers even greater choice.

·         In June 2022, FMC Corporation, an agricultural sciences company, has acquired BioPhero ApS, a Denmark-based pheromone research and production company. The acquisition adds biologically produced state-of-the-art pheromone insect control technology to FMC's product portfolio and R&D pipeline, underscoring FMC's role as a leader in delivering innovative and sustainable crop protection solutions.

Why to buy this Report?

The report provides quantitative and qualitative aspect for the market in terms of value and volume, along with supporting market trends, challenges, restraints.

The report provides an in depth analysis from both production and consumption point of view at the regional and country level. Key Factors considered within the report scope are Production capacity by countries/regions, average price, consumption ratio, revenue earned and gross margin.

The report provides competitive analysis of around 30-50 companies operated in the market, these companies are bifurcated into niche players, the leaders and major contenders. The companies are analyzed in terms of following factors such as:

§  Business Model

§  Production Capacity, Revenue, Sales, Gross Margin

§  Key Business Strategy

§  SWOT Analysis

In terms of competitive landscape, the report provides distinctive factors that would help the end user in taking a key decision within the business:

§  Company Share Analysis from 2018-2022

§  Company Analysis by Revenue and Sales

§  Company Production Capacity, Gross Margin

§  Company Share Analysis by Application/End Use

§  Company Share Analysis by Product/Specification

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