Seed treatment market to increase at a CAGR of 11%

The seed treatment market has been forecast to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.6% over the next five years, rising from a value of $2.29 billion in 2012, to hit a market value of $4.19 billion by 2018.

In agriculture and horticulture, a seed treatment or seed dressing is a chemical, typically antimicrobial or fungidal, with which seeds are treated (or "dressed") prior to planting. Less frequently insecticides are added.

Seed treatments can be an environmentally more friendly way of using pesticides as the amounts used can be very small. It is usual to add colour to make treated seed less attractive to birds if spilt and easier to see and clean up in the case of an accidental spillage.

With increasing concerns regarding crop protection, productivity and yields, expenses on crop protection are significantly increasing. Crop protection expense is the second highest after fertilizer in farming expenses.

Thus expenses can be reduced by treating only the seeds as compared to the whole farm area with agrochemicals. Hence seed treatments are the most cost effective way of protecting seeds and further crops from biotic and abiotic stresses.

Crop acres and higher seed costs are the main market drivers for seed treatment. Increased seed cost, especially in countries with high use of costly genetically modified seed types, have been encouraging growers to rethink their prior strategy of seeding at high rates to insure against losses due to insects and diseases. As a result, it has been even more important to protect the reduced plant populations by using the best available seed treatments.

The latest figures reveal that the United States is the leading seed treatment market, accounting for more than 50% of the global markets studied. Brazil ranks second, accounting for more than 15% of the total. The seed treatment market is dominated by corn with other crops reported to be important including cotton, potatoes, rice, soybeans, sugar beets and wheat.

The future looks bright for various areas of the seed treatment market, including traditional inoculants, seed coatings and polymers, which are all experiencing growth.

For more information on the seed treatment market, see the latest research: Seed Treatment Market

Follow us on Twitter @CandMResearch