Agricultural Microbials Market
The market for Agricultural Microbials was estimated at $7.8 billion in 2024; it is anticipated to increase to $17.3 billion by 2030, with projections indicating growth to around $33.6 billion by 2035.
Report Summary
Market Data
Methodology
Table of Contents
Global Agricultural Microbials Market Outlook
Revenue, 2024
$7.8B
Forecast, 2034
$29.4B
CAGR, 2025 - 2034
14.2%
The Agricultural Microbials industry revenue is expected to be around $8.9 billion in 2025 and expected to showcase growth with 14.2% CAGR between 2025 and 2034. With their growing importance, agricultural microbials have developed from being specialty products into critical crop management tools. Farmers, regulators and food companies are increasingly giving priority to sustainable agriculture and soil conservation methods, and reducing the use of chemical pesticides. Microbial solutions are playing a major role in the agricultural sector. These microbial solutions comprise either soil amendments or bio fungicides, which generate 71.9% of industry revenues. They perform a vital function in controlling disease, improving nutrient efficiency and helping plants combat climatic stresses.
Microbes act as biofertilizers, microbial biological boosters and biocontrol agents. Through this the plant can absorb more nutrients and its health is also enhanced, it also has targeted biological protections. This area is now being increasingly used in integrated pest management, organic farming and regenerative agriculture. In these sectors they are used for seed treatment, soil and in furrow inoculants and foliar sprays. High performance, residue free farming is a key trend in the area with the use of consortium and strain specific formulations, data enabled precision application techniques.
Market Key Insights
The Agricultural Microbials market is projected to grow from $7.8 billion in 2024 to $29.4 billion in 2034. This represents a CAGR of 14.2%, reflecting rising demand across Pulses & Oilseeds, Grains & Cereals, and Fruits & Vegetables.
The major players in this industry include Syngenta, BASF and Bayer. These corporations are responsible for the competitive market landscape.
The United States and China dominate the agricultural microbials market, the two major markets expected to grow with a compound annual growth rate of 12.8 to 17 percent in the period 2023 through 2030.
Countries such as Vietnam, Ukraine, and Kenya are expected to display the strongest growth, with compound annual growth rates of 9.9% to 14.9%.
The transition to biological inputs is anticipated to add $3 billion in growth to the agricultural microbials market by 2030.
Agricultural microbials are forecast to increase market value by $21.6 billion by 2034 over 2024. The sector with the greatest expected increase is the Pulses and Oilseeds & Fruits and Vegetables market.
With
rising demand for residue-free food and regulatory pressure accelerating biological alternatives in agricultural microbials, and
Advancements in microbial consortia formulations improving efficacy and consistency of agricultural microbials across diverse crops, Agricultural Microbials market to expand 277% between 2024 and 2034.
Opportunities in the Agricultural Microbials
With organic foods gaining traction in Europe, farmers are also now required to produce more and maintain higher crop yields without using any synthetic additives. This necessitates the use of agricultural microorganisms which can aid in this process. The application of beneficial microorganisms to seeds, the use of endophytes and other plant stimulants, and the integration of these techniques with modern farming technology are relatively unexploited resources. By 2030, the other of agricultural microbes will have increased from $1.92 billion in 2025 to $3.60 billion with an annual growth rate of 13.43%. This rise will be led by cereal seed treatment in northern Europe.
Growth Opportunities in North America and Asia Pacific
Agricultural micro organisms are increasing rapidly in North America as farmers shift towards sustainable agriculture. Soil conditioners are the driving force behind this due to their widespread use in corn, soybean and specialist crop systems. The main region's where the biofungicides and insecticides are being used most quickly are in the fruit, vegetable and greenhouse markets. Key opportunities include the use of microbial seed treatments, programmes to improve soil health that focus on carbon, and integrated pest management systems that are used alongside digital agriculture platforms. These products will be distributed by retailers and agricultural cooperatives. As the market becomes increasingly competitive, leading crop protection companies, regional biological specialists and start ups with a capacity for rapid response are vying with one another to offer superior field performance, stable formulations and tank mix programmes which are compatible. This leaves scope for smaller companies that specialize in the production of targeted biological fungicides and insecticides for specific strains of pests and diseases which have become resistant to conventional treatments. A number of regional drivers are encouraging the adoption of biological products, including stricter environmental regulations set by food manufacturers and retailers, farmer led schemes that promote more sustainable farming techniques and volatile prices for fertiliser which has encouraged users to adopt products which save inputs.
The use of agricultural microbes is increasingly used in rice, high value horticulture and cereal crops in the Asia Pacific. Here, biofungicides are used on fruit and vegetables that are grown for export, where the crops are under threat from disease and have to meet high standards. The greatest opportunities for these products in the Asia Pacific region exist in low dose products which contain high concentrations of microbes, in products that are tailored to small plots of land and in products which contain both microbes and fertilisers. With market positioning determined by a blend of multi regional formulators, local input providers and companies which supply biological products, partnerships are formed with rural producers and microfinance organisations, product differentiation now heavily dependent on demonstrations of the products performance in changing weather conditions and on site technical support offered to customers. The main factors behind the demand for agricultural microbial products include government initiatives to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals, government led initiatives which promote integrated pest management and increased consumer demand for residue free food. These drivers favour the development of products which enhance soil resilience, decrease chemical use per hectare and support long term crop yields.
Market Dynamics and Supply Chain
01
Driver: Rising demand for residue free food and regulatory pressure accelerating biological alternatives in agricultural microbials
Growing consumer concerns over chemical residues on food is also prompting farmers to make use of agricultural microbial products that offer the benefit of reduced disease and pest infestations, and they meet the requirements of clean label foods that contain fewer residues. With retailers and food manufacturers starting to tighten up their criteria for the purchasing of their goods, this is also driving the integration of biological plant protection, biopesticides and biological fertilizers into their supply chain. This is also in support of agriculture that is also sustainable and of certification schemes which are also for sustainable agriculture. The global regulatory climate for synthetic agrochemicals is also becoming much stricter with tighter permitted residue levels and the withdrawal of active ingredients. The introduction of these products will also allow for the creation of needed white space for agricultural microbials by allowing them to be integrated into existing spray and seed treatment applications without adding any new chemical residues. New microbial inoculants are also being speeded up in development by fast track registration pathways for lower risk biologicals along with regulatory incentives. Use of agricultural microbials is also also becoming more common in integrated pest management techniques, especially in organic farming and high value horticulture.
The development of agricultural microbial products is also evolving into commercially viable products through the innovation of microbial formulation. This has also been achieved by maintaining the viability of microbial blends under storage conditions and at different times. The effectiveness of beneficial microorganisms is also being enhanced by encapsulation techniques. This, along with advancements in carrier technologies and controlled release systems, allows for better root colonisation, a more controlled plant microbiome and compatibility with the fertiliser system and conventional tank mixes. This helps to reduce the differences in crop performance across variouss of soil and climates. Through data driven strain selection which draws on genomics and metabolomics, it is also now possible to formulate microbial blends which give a harmonious blend of benefits relating to soil health and nutrient uptake efficiency in a variety of crops. This means that microbials used in agriculture are also increasingly being viewed as standard, repeatable methods that can also be integrated into big crop production operations, not only as one off experiments.
02
Restraint: Evolving and fragmented regulatory frameworks increase approval timelines and costs for new agricultural microbials globally
Diverse and irregular regulatory needs across different regions cause a delay in registering agricultural biologicals including biopesticides and microbial fertilisers, thus pushing back the commercialisation dates for the product by seasons and reducing revenue projections for producers. Companies are diverting funds away from developing new microbial biostimulants due to the stricter requirements for soil health, residue free produce and environmental impact. As a result, distributors are hesitant to agree to long term contracts to supply the market, which in turn moderates demand growth and weakens the competitive position of biological crop protection products within the portfolios of companies involved in sustainable agriculture.
03
Opportunity: Expanding use of bacterial biofertilizers in Asian smallholder rice farming to enhance soil health and Rising adoption of microbial biopesticides in Latin American fruit and vegetable export oriented agriculture
Small scale Asian rice farmers are facing increasing fertilizer costs and degradation of their soil which has resulted in low crop yields. Agricultural micro organisms could play a significant role in sustainable rice farming. By employing biofertilizers and rhizobacteria based inoculants, farmers can lower their use of synthetic nitrogen. This approach supports the objectives of sustainable agriculture and carbon farming incentives and helps increase the long term biological activity of soil. By 2030, the global market for bacterial agricultural microbes is expected to rise to $6.71 billion. This growth will be at a compound annual rate of 14.5% from the $3.41 billion recorded in 2025. Microbes that increase the uptake of nitrogen via seed treatment and root inoculation in rice in Asia are anticipated to have the highest market share.
A growing number of Latin American exporters who grow fruits and vegetables are looking at microorganisms to protect their high value crops from pests without the need for residues. However there is still a need for more effective distribution networks and registration processes outside of the larger farms. This development opens up opportunities for region specific microbial biopesticides, such as those based on fungi and bacteria, to be integrated into regional pest management strategies. Latin America is poised to drive growth in the market for fungal agricultural microbes used as biopesticides, which will rise by 15.3% per annum from $1.88 bn in 2025 to $3.83 bn by 2030. The regions specialist crop applications will be a driving force.
04
Challenge: Farmer skepticism and limited field awareness constrain adoption of agricultural microbials over conventional agrochemicals
Uncertainty over the field performance, shelf life and consistency of microbials used in agriculture, especially under changing climatic and soil conditions, continues to act as a significant dampener on near term demand for these products. Farmers often rely on chemical inputs because they have doubts about the dependability of microbes to protect their crops during periods of high demand. Extension services and field trials are patchy. The widespread scepticism surrounding biological crop protection is limiting the penetration of biological products in the market, thereby reducing repeat sales to farmers and increasing marketing and education costs. This will squeeze the profit margins and slow the growth of biological crop protection products in general.
Supply Chain Landscape
1
Agricultural Microbials R&D
Bayer AGBASF SENovonesis A/S
2
Formulation & Production
Syngenta GroupCorteva Inc.BASF SE
3
Distribution & Logistics
Bayer AGSyngenta GroupCorteva Inc
4
Field
Biological Crop ProtectionBiofertilizersBiostimulants
1
Agricultural Microbials R&D
Bayer AGBASF SENovonesis A/S
2
Formulation & Production
Syngenta GroupCorteva Inc.BASF SE
3
Distribution & Logistics
Bayer AGSyngenta GroupCorteva Inc
4
Field
Biological Crop ProtectionBiofertilizersBiostimulants
Use Cases of Agricultural Microbials in Pulses & Oilseeds & Grains & Cereals
Pulses & Oilseeds : Microbial inoculants like bacillus and rhizobia are used heavily by the oilseed and pulse industries. The inoculants are applied at the seed stage or as a bacterial treatment when the seed is planted to ensure the seeds roots become nodulated, the protein and oil levels in the seed are maintained and the yield of the crop does not only decrease when less synthetic fertilizer is used. Fungi and protozoa help with the work of biofungicides and biopesticides that are used to combat root rots and foliar diseases in the crops and pests that attack them, with protozoa increasing in importance, albeit still low at 7.6% in 2025, through their role in highly specialist insect control measures. Companies such as Syngenta and Corteva have a strong market position in the biological crop protection region through their products and their customer base, especially in regions where soya beans and pulses are grown. Bayer and BASF have their own extensive research and development programmes which they use to differentiate their biological products from those of their competitors. The Danish company Novozymes supplies microbial consortia which are particularly effective when used as seed treatments.
Grains & Cereals : Bacteria represent the majority of agricultural microbial applications in grains and cereals which are soil amendments and biofertilizers. Bacterial products account for 43.7% of the demand and the market for soil amendments is projected to grow at 12.1% annually through 2030, reaching $4.11 billion by 2025. Growers use microbial inoculants and plant growth promoting bacteria which help in the fixation of nitrogen, solubilization of phosphorus, improvement of soil health and increase in crop yield in the large scale farming systems.
Fruits & Vegetables : High value fruits and vegetables rely heavily on microbial biopesticides of fungal and bacterial origin to protect from diseases. By 2025 the market in bio fungicides was worth approximately $1.5 billion and is forecast to rise by 17.8%. This market is boosted by the demand for microbials that is 24.1%. Bioinsecticides generated revenue of $1.2 billion in 2025, growing at a rate of 15.6%. These are applied by means of sprays, irrigation systems and sheltered cultivation. Farmers use this to increase crop yield, quality and shelf life while minimising the amount of active ingredients in use. Large companies such as Syngenta and BASF control a large part of the market and offer biological products for this purpose. Other companies, such as Corteva and Novozymes, produce microbials with specific properties or work with other companies to provide microbials with their products.
Recent Developments
Developments in agricultural microbials indicate a speedy innovation in biofertilizers, microbial inoculants and biopesticides, mainly as growers search for sustainable crop protection and for ways to increase their crop yields. Technological improvements in microbial fermentation, strain optimization and precision farming are making it possible to implement targeted soil health measures and to enhance the interactions between plants and microbes. A notable development is the integration of agricultural biologicals with farm information systems. This is enabling the targeted use of beneficial microbes by using data.
January 2024 : The merger between Chr. Hansen and Novozymes was concluded, allowing Novozymes A/S to start business operations. The acquisition of Hansen is expected to combine an extensive array of advanced microbial technologies along with large volume fermentation capabilities in one entity which will specialise in agricultural microbials, biofertilizers, microbial inoculants. This should increase the worlds supply and boost innovation in sustainable agricultural solutions.
October 2023 : Bayers agricultural microbial business was significantly strengthened by the companys strategic tie up with Kimitec, a biotechnology company. Together they will develop and market biological crop protectants and microbial fertilisers. This partnership provides farmers with new, non synthetic crop protection tools and also expands Bayers range of microbial products.
March 2023 : The company Corteva has bought Stoller Group, a biological crop product supplier. This deal for Corteva has added more biological products for crops to their company portfolio and improved their range of products which are for crop protection and nutrition.
Impact of Industry Transitions on the Agricultural Microbials Market
As a core segment of the Agrochemicals industry,
the Agricultural Microbials market develops in line with broader industry shifts.
Over recent years, transitions such as Shift To Biological Inputs and Integration With Digital Farming have redefined priorities
across the Agrochemicals sector,
influencing how the Agricultural Microbials market evolves in terms of demand, applications and competitive dynamics.
These transitions highlight the structural changes shaping long-term growth opportunities.
01
Shift To Biological Inputs
The agricultural microbials market is undergoing a significant transition as growers increasingly shift from chemical inputs to biopesticides and natural fertilizers, driven by stringent safety regulations and a growing emphasis on sustainability. This trend is not only enhancing soil health and reducing environmental impacts but is also fostering innovation through the integration of microbial inoculants by fertilizer manufacturers and microbial coatings on seeds by seed companies. As a result, the market is poised for substantial growth, with an anticipated addition of $3 billion by 2030. This transition not only supports sustainable supply chains for food and beverage companies but also opens up lucrative marketing avenues centered on low chemical production methods and regenerative agricultural practices, positioning stakeholders to capitalize on evolving consumer preferences for environmentally responsible products.
02
Integration With Digital Farming
The second crucial development enables links between precision agriculture and agricultural microbials, as well as digital farming platforms. Precise fields and growth stages are pinpointed for effective microbial seed treatments, foliar sprays or soil amendments by satellite imagery, AI decision tools and farm sensor data. By integrating these systems agronomy services, irrigation providers and also agtech platforms are able to use microbial solutions. These are paired with services like variable rate application, remote monitoring and outcomes based contracts. This leads to financial institutions and insurance companies having better information available to them which they can use when creating financial products for sustainable agriculture.