UK Biostimulant Market is expected to reach US$ 193.27 Million by 2031

Continued Investment in Organic Farming Practices Drives the UK Biostimulant Market Growth

According to the latest market study on "UK Biostimulant Market Forecast to 2031 – Country Share, Trend, and Growth Opportunity Analysis – by Product Type, Mode of Application, Form, and Crop Type," the market was valued at US$ 115.78 million in 2023 and is projected to reach US$ 193.27 million by 2031; it is anticipated to record a CAGR of 6.6% from 2023 to 2031. The report highlights key factors contributing to the UK biostimulant market size and prominent players, along with their developments in the market.

Biostimulants are a mixture of substances or microorganisms that help improve crop conditions without harming the environment. Biostimulants are used as a preservative to fertilizers and, thus, reduce fertilizer use. It can also help improve nutrient uptake, plant growth, and tolerance against abiotic stress. The high use of chemical fertilizers has been affecting water bodies. Nutrients are washed off farms and reach nearby rivers, lakes, and ponds, causing eutrophication. Besides, chemical fertilizers have low use efficiency. It means that plants uptake only a mixture of nutrients from fertilizers. For example, essential nutrients, such as phosphorus, sediment after being added to the soil and, thus, remain less available for plants. Also, nitrogen, another essential nutrient, can disappear due to factors such as nitrate leaching.

UK Biostimulant Market Breakdown – by Country

The UK biostimulant market report emphasizes key factors impacting the market. As per the data published by Soil Association Certification, in 2023, the organic food and drink market in the UK was valued at ~US$ 3.4 billion, which was 1.6% higher compared to 2022 and almost double in value compared to 2011. The sales of organic products have consistently increased over the last decades. Growth in the organic food industry is triggering the demand for biostimulants. Hence, the growing demand for organically grown food, such as grains, pulses, fruits, and vegetables, drives the UK biostimulant market.

In the last few decades, product innovations have been proposed to enhance the sustainability of agricultural production systems by significantly reducing synthetic agrochemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers, which is one of the significant UK biostimulant market trends. Market players are increasingly focusing on product development. For instance, in July 2023, Bionema Group Ltd—a leading biocontrol technology developer and manufacturer—announced the launch of a new range of biostimulants in the UK. Bionema Group Ltd is launching seven biostimulant products after completing ten years of research and development on a range of biostimulants. The products include seaweed extracts, humic and fulvic substances, and other natural nutrients that cover all stages of plant growth. They have foliar and root applications in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and turf and amenities. These biostimulant products stimulate natural processes in plants and soil, increasing the surface area of roots and soil quality. Such product innovations are expected to provide ample growth opportunities for the manufacturers operating in the UK biostimulant market. Therefore, the increasing emphasis on the development of new products fuels the UK biostimulant market growth.           

Due to the rising health awareness, consumers in the country opt for organic food to avoid harmful health effects caused by chemical preservatives or naturally altered ingredients of inorganic food. The growing demand for organic food has increased organic farming across the country. As per the UK government's data, in 2023, 498,000 hectares of land were farmed organically in the UK. Of the total organic farming land in the UK, 60% is in England, 23% in Scotland, 15% in Wales, and 1.4% in Northern Ireland. Thus, the growing popularity of organic food has stimulated organic farming practices, further positively impacting the UK biostimulant market growth.

The UK biostimulant market has witnessed substantial growth in recent years in the humic substances, fulvic acid, and seaweed extracts segments. Humic substances are complex molecules that exist naturally in soils, peats, oceans, and fresh waters. It is an essential element of natural organic matter such as water, soil, and geological organic substances, including brown coals, shales, peat, and lake sediments. It is used in agriculture and horticulture. Substances such as humic acids provide nutrients in the soil and increase overall nutrient uptake in plants. In foliar application, humic acids play a vital role in increasing cell wall permeability in plants. The increased permeability of cell membranes results in easy entry of nutrients into the plants. Humic substances are also responsible for neutralizing acidic and alkaline soils, thus regulating the pH value of soils. Fulvic acid is a category of humic substances extracted from humus found in soil, sediments, or aquatic environments. Fulvic acid is formed by the breakdown of plant material over long periods through microorganisms in soil. Fulvic acid increases the water retention capacity of soil water. It also helps filter out toxins and heavy metals, thus increasing the health of the plant and its produce. Fulvic acid interacts with sunlight to enhance the photosynthesis process, which can be beneficial during prolonged cloudy periods. In the foliar application, fulvic acid allows trace elements such as copper, zinc, iron, and manganese to be better absorbed through the leaves.

Seaweed extract improves plant growth at all stages, including germination, harvesting, and post-harvest. It is a blend of organic components such as fatty acids, vitamins, low levels of plant nutrients, and plant growth regulators, such as cytokinins, gibberellins, and auxins, which are primarily used in agricultural activities as an additive for fertilizers and biostimulants. Due to the presence of hydrocolloid, oligos, polyphenol, mannitol, cytokinin, lignin, and betaine, plants treated with seaweed extracts have increased growth, better yields, early flowering, improved protection from abiotic stresses (drought, low temperature, and salinity), and improved photosynthesis. It protects plants from insects, such as red spider mites and aphids, pathogenic nematodes, bacteria, and fungi.

The UK biostimulant market analysis is carried out by identifying and evaluating key players in the market across different regions. EcoStim, Bioelements Ltd, Bionema, Russell IPM, Sipcam UK, IntraCrop, Syngenta AG, UPL Ltd, Biostimulants LTD, Nichino Europe Co. Limited, and Central Pharma are among the key players profiled in the UK biostimulant market report.

The report includes the segmentation of the UK biostimulant market as follows:

The analysis of the UK biostimulant market is based on product type, mode of application, form, crop type, and geography. Based on product type, the market is categorized into humic substances, amino acids, microbial stimulants, seaweed extracts, fulvic acid, and others. Based on mode of application, the market is segmented into foliar spray, seed treatment, and soil application. In terms of form, the UK biostimulant market is divided into dry and liquid. Based on crop type, the UK biostimulant market is segmented into cereals and grains, oilseeds and pulses, fruits and vegetables, turf and landscapes, and others. The foliar spray segment held the largest UK biostimulant market share in 2023, and the seed treatment segment is expected to register the highest CAGR from 2023 to 2031. Foliar sprays are used to spray liquid fertilizers on the plants. Foliar spray is the most efficient technique for applying fertilizers, such as biostimulants, to plants. Liquid fertilizers, such as biostimulants, contain primary micronutrients and nutrients applied to the leaves. These liquid fertilizers are effectively absorbed through the epidermis layer of the leaves. The unique benefits of foliar sprays, such as the uniform distribution of nutrients, easy application, and increased agricultural output, have led to the increasing demand for foliar sprays in lawns and gardens, thereby contributing to the growth of the foliar spray segment. Biological seed treatment includes microorganisms that protect seeds from soil and seed-borne diseases. Seed treatment is a more effective alternative to chemical treatments. High-value industrial crops yield high and provide a higher net per hectare of product produced. These include sugarcane, hybrid maize (corn), cotton, soybean, potatoes, vegetables, spices, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Biostimulant enhances stress tolerance, which is beneficial for crop development. These treatments activate plant stress-responsive genes, synthesizing protective compounds and strengthening antioxidant defense mechanisms.

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