Technological advances are shaping the market for agricultural pheromones – photo-exclusive.
Analysts predict that the value of the agricultural pheromone market will reach $6.21 billion by 2026 at a CAGR of 15.3%. Syngenta and BASF are leaders in the development and production of pheromones for the agro-industrial complex
Agropheromones are biological pesticides, organic in nature and safe for the environment. Pheromones help animals and insects in social interaction and in finding food through their characteristic scent. Agricultural synthetic pheromones are mainly used for trapping crop-destroying insects: detection and monitoring, mass capture, mating disturbance and other functions in tilled, vegetable, horticultural and other types of crops using dispensers, traps and sprayers.
In most countries, the use of pheromones and traps for monitoring purposes is not regulated. Analysts at The Business Research Company expect the global market for agricultural pheromones to grow to $6.21 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 15.3%.
Demand for organic products and awareness of the risks associated with chemical pesticides is driving the growth of the agricultural pheromone market, as is innovation. Technological progress is shaping the market for improved agropheromones.
In 2022, biotech company Provivi and agrochemical company Syngenta launched Nelvium, a pheromone-based product for rice pest control. This Nelvium pheromone solution is already used in Indonesia.
In December 2020, pest control company Biobest bought Beneficial Insectary for an undisclosed amount to take a leading position in the North American market, where demand for soybean aphid control pheromones is particularly strong.
Key market players (BASF SE, Syngenta, Bio Controle, Biobest Group NV, Novagrica, Pherobank BV, Provivi Inc, Russell IPM, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd, Suterra LLC, International Pheromone Systems Ltd, Exosect, Pheromone Chemicals and Barrix) are investing funds for the development of pheromones. These are new trap designs, microencapsulation and pheromones (for example, bioorganic synthesis of pheromone molecules using bacteria and yeast).
Multipurpose insect pheromone dispensers are also being developed. Typically, pheromones target a specific target and therefore one species during the period of their application. For example, in apple orchards, when codling moths are detected by observation and trapping, other secondary pests (brown marble bug) go unnoticed. Thus, it is necessary to create a product that will affect more than one species at the same time. Developing multipurpose pest pheromone dispensers is a challenge for many agricultural pheromone companies.
North America is expected to be the fastest growing region in the global agricultural pheromone market during the forecast period. Advertising on the Internet, according to analysts, will become an important trend in the development of the agricultural pheromone market in terms of sales in terms of value. Manufacturers and distributors are making the most of the internet to spread the word about their products and services to their target consumers.
