Seed protection is a key step in protecting agriculture crops to maximize yield with minimum crop loss. Among the seed protection segment, chemical insecticides, fungicides and nematicides are major crop protection solutions. Various research and developments are being undertaken with respect to providing tailored solutions for the targeted purpose that is less harmful for the environment.

Care of seeds provides seeds with adequate defence from insects, viruses, and other pests. Besides, seed treatment also contributes to the production of high, healthy seeds. Compared to the conventional spraying process, it has emerged as a cost-effective alternative because it is less labour-intensive and increases overall productivity. The process of seed treatment establishes uniform growth of crops, enhances nodulation in legume crops and seed germination.

Seed treatment is gaining importance among the cereals & grains growers because of their beneficial nutritional support and better harvest and returns. Cereals & grains have wide range of application in food, feed and industrial applications. Corn is one of the widely used crops for feed as well as industrial applications, which is increasing the usage of seed treatment in corns. The demand for cereals & grains is witnessing a surge due to their rising use as feed for swine and poultry. Moreover, the industrial application and use of cereals and grains in conventional technologies are substantially increasing in the developed countries, further propelling the use of seed treatment in cereals and grains.

Highlights of the Seed Treatment Market -

The Seed Treatment Market is expected to surpass US$ 11.7 billion by 2030 from US$ 5.8 billion in 2019 at a CAGR of 11.25% throughout the forecast period, i.e., 2020-30. The market growth of seed treatment is expected to be fostered by increasing maize production due to the increasing demand for biofuels. Increasing demand for biofuels, which are subject to increasing energy conservation needs, is expected to boost the market growth in seed care. Growing fungal growth is expected to increase the demand growth for seed treatment over the forecast period due to changing climatic conditions. Growth in the seed industry is expected to propel market growth due to the rising population across the globe.

Habitat fragmentation, insect-prone climate conditions in some regions and high-performance organophosphates are driving the insecticides segment. Other chemical treatment methods are gaining traction as consumer awareness regarding food safety and environmental concerns grows. Increased demand for organic fruits and vegetables is expected to drive this segment over the coming years. Chemical seed treatments are known to result in adverse environmental impacts and harmful effects on human health. Stringent regulations against the use of such treatments are expected to restrain the growth of this segment, making room for non-chemical methods.

The Corn/maize segment held the largest share of the market accounting for 33.5% of the overall revenue in 2019 of Seed Treatments. Also, over the forecast period, global demand for the soybean segment is expected to record a CAGR of 9.8%. Increased agricultural activities in the Asia Pacific region are expected to fuel the soybean demand. On the heels of energy conservation, increasing demand for biofuels is expected to boost demand for canola crops.

A major factor driving the growth of the seed treatment market globally is the high costs associated with hybrids and genetically modified (GM) seeds. With higher regulatory issues relating to the fumigation and foliar application of pesticides, farmers are increasingly considering seed treatment as a means of preserving high-quality seed investment. The cost of seeds is rising due to the increasing demand for high-quality seeds with desirable agronomic traits. Since most GM seeds are expensive and are treated with biological and chemical treatments, there is an increase in the area covered by GM crops, which is having a positive effect on the growth of the demand for seed care. Besides, this trend is expected to continue in the coming years due to an increase in the number of countries adopting biotech crops, especially in the Southern Hemisphere, and the commercialization of new biotech crops such as cotton, maize, and soybeans, which are mainly grown in cotton, maize, and soybeans.

Crop treatments can protect seeds and seedlings during the emergence and establishment of plants against low-moderate attacks by insects. While the safety period may be reduced, it is possible to reduce the delay in crop damage and the establishment of pests. Due to the limited shelf life of treated seeds, the germination of seeds and the decrease in vigour are relatively growing, particularly in seeds such as soybeans. The physical and chemical properties of its composition influence the survival of microbes. It can be difficult to preserve the viability of the coated microbes in plants, thereby shortening their shelf life.

The seed coating method is used to enhance adherence to the seed using binding agent. Key benefits associated with the seed coating application technique includes germination and seedling emergence, improved flowability and handling of seeds, and protection from plant pathogens and insects. The demand for seed coating will continue to grow owing to the high demand for healthy and high-yielding seeds.

The US is one of the major markets for seed coating and high-volume vegetable crops including carrot, lettuce, celery, onion, pepper, and tomato among others are coated to a significant extent. Additionally, alfalfa and tobacco are two key crops that are largely coated. Further, the emergence of controlled-release technology and its application in crop protection are widening the scope of seed coating among the manufacturers.

The Seed Treatment market, which is highly competitive, consists of several major players such as BASF SE (Germany), Bayer AG (Germany), Novozymes A/S (Denmark), Syngenta AG (Switzerland) hold a substantial market share in the Seed Treatment market. Other players analyzed in this report are Corteva Agriscience (US), FMC Corporation (US), Adama Ltd (Israel), Croda International (UK), UPL Ltd (India), and Nufarm (Australia), and Eastman Chemicals (US) among others.

The market competition has been stepped up by the availability of many players offering Seed Treatment. For Instance, In March 2020, Corteva has launched a new seed treatment product named Lumivia CPL, which is a non-neonicotinoid-based product for cereals, peas, and lentils, which uses a new mode of action to control pests.