Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market - Forecast(2024 - 2030)
Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market Overview
The global
blue-green algae bio-fertilizers market
size is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.4% during the forecast period
2022-2027. Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, are prokaryotic algae. Blue-green algae are the only
prokaryotes that can perform photosynthesis.
Blue-green algae can adapt to various soil types and environments. These microorganisms play a
major role in agricultural fields as nitrogen fixers. Due to this ability, they are used as nitrogen
biofertilizers. They are also useful for soil treatment. They restore the soil’s natural
nutrient cycle and build soil organic matter. The increasing preference towards the use of biofertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers are a major driver for the growth of the global
blue-green algae bio-fertilizers market.
COVID-19 Impact
The COVID-19
pandemic resulted in severe economic repercussions. The agriculture sector felt
the heat due to supply chain issues, pricing issues, and market disruptions.
Lockdowns impacted the restaurant, hospitality, and transportation sectors,
causing the demand for fresh produce, sugar, and other raw and manufactured
agricultural products to shrink. The WHO declared COVID-19 as a pandemic in March,
which is close to springtime during which fruits and vegetables are harvested.
Fruits and vegetables are usually handpicked. The number of migrant farmworkers
reported positive for COVID-19 rose steadily leading to a shortage of labor.
Farms and orchards in Europe employ thousands of seasonal workers from all over
the region to help. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, fewer seasonal workers
were able to travel to Europe due to travel restrictions. This translated into
reduced supply and higher prices of fruits and vegetables at the grocery
stores. On account of the closing of restaurants and schools and COVID-19
outbreaks at processing facilities, the food supply chain faced major
challenges. This also impacted the market for blue-green algae biofertilizers.
Report Coverage
The report: “Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market
Report – Forecast (2022-2027)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis
of the following segments of the blue-green algae bio-fertilizers industry.
Key Takeaways
- Asia-Pacific dominates the global blue-green algae bio-fertilizers market on account of the agrarian economy in the region. According to Invest India, India’s agriculture technology to attain US$24.1 billion by 2025.
- Blue-green algae are also known as cyanobacteria and have great potential as nitrogenous biofertilizers.
- Blue-green algae have the ability of photosynthesis as well as biological nitrogen fixation. This makes them an effective and economical alternative to chemical fertilizers.
- The major opportunity for this market is increasing awareness regarding the economic benefits of using blue-green algae biofertilizers.
Figure: Asia-Pacific Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market Revenue, 2021-2027 (US$ Billion)
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Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market Segment Analysis – By Type
The Anabaena segment
held the largest share in the global blue-green algae bio-fertilizers market in
2021. Blue-green algae are capable of fixing the atmospheric nitrogen and
converting it into an available form of ammonium required for plant growth.
Dominant nitrogen-fixing blue-green algae are Anabaena, Nostoc, Aulosira,
Calothrix, Plectonema, Tolypothrix, etc. Blue-green algae add growth-promoting
substances including vitamin B12, improve the soil’s aeration and water holding
capacity and add to the biomass once their life cycle ends. Azolla is an
aquatic fern found in small and shallow water bodies and in rice fields. It has
a symbiotic relationship with Anabaena and can help rice and other crops
through dual cropping or green manuring of soil. Anabaena-Azolla contributes
nitrogen up to 60 kg/ha/season and also enriches soils with organic matter. According
to the International Fertilizer Association (IFA) Medium-Term Fertilizer
Outlook 2021-2025, global nitrogen fertilizer demand appears to be set to
increase in 2022. Nitrogen experienced a 4.1% increase in demand to 110 MMT in
2020-21. Due to the rising prices of natural gas, prices of nitrogen
fertilizers also increase. Using cyanobacteria as nitrogenous biofertilizers can help reduce the
amount spent on nitrogen fertilizers.
Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market Segment Analysis – By Crop Type
The grains and cereals segment held the largest share in the global blue-green algae bio-fertilizers market in 2021
and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 10.1% during the forecast period. Nitrogen is the most limiting element in almost all soils. Thus, the proper application of nitrogen fertilizers is vital to improve crop growth and
grain yields. The United Nations estimates that the world population will reach
8.5 billion by 2030, and by 2050 the population will be 9.7 billion. To
cultivate crops on such a large scale, cyanobacteria emerge as an economically
viable biofertilizer. Blue-green algae are one of the main components of the
nitrogen-fixing biomass in agricultural fields. They provide a potential source
of nitrogen at no cost. Due to the important characteristic of nitrogen fixation,
cyanobacteria
contribute to enhancing productivity in a variety of agricultural and
ecological situations. Cereals rank among the most widespread crops worldwide
and are the major source of energy in the human diet. According to the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), rice, wheat, and corn
together account for over 90% of the world’s cereal production. Several studies
have shown that the grain yield in rice can be improved by using nitrogen
fertilizers. According to the US Geological Survey, large corn plantations
maintain the continued demand for nitrogen fertilizers in the US. According to
the US Department of Agriculture, US corn growers planted 37.4 million hectares
of corn in crop-year 2021, 3% more than the area planted in crop-year 2020. As
cereals and grains are a major carbohydrate source and form a bulk of the food
consumed, increasing the grain yield can help ensure food security. Therefore,
the grains and cereals segment is expected to dominate the global blue-green
algae bio-fertilizers market during the forecast period.
Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market Segment Analysis – By Geography
The Asia-Pacific region held the largest share in the global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers market in 2021 up to 39% owing to the high agricultural activities in the region. Asia is predominantly an agrarian society, where a majority of the population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. Rice is a staple food in Asia. According to FAO, China is the largest producer of various crops in the world, including rice, wheat, fruits, and vegetables. In India, agriculture is the backbone of the economy. India is the leading producer of millets, pulses, and spices, among others, and the second-largest producer of rice in the world. Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Bangladesh are also important rice-growing regions. Rice fields are generally flooded with water. Azolla, a floating fern, and its symbiont, the blue-green alga, Anabaena, are widely found in the rice fields in Asia. Azolla-Anabaena forms a green mat over water and fixes the atmospheric nitrogen which benefits the rice crop. According to the Philippine Rice Research Institute, the Azolla-Anabaena association can fix about 1.2kg N/ha daily or about 864kg N/ha annually, which is equivalent to about 34 bags of urea. The APAC region has the highest rate of population growth which means there is a high need for increasing food production. The demand for various agrochemicals is escalating in the region. Data from the FAO is evident of this fact. Asia represented 56% of the world’s total agricultural use of inorganic fertilizers in 2019. Fertilizer use per cropland area in 2019 was the highest in Asia, at 180 kg/ha. Therefore, this region is expected to continue to dominate the global blue-green algae bio-fertilizers market during the forecast period.
Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market– Drivers
Increasing Preference towards Biofertilizers
Fertilizers provide the major nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium) that plants need. Unless the nutrients are replenished, the soil’s
productive capacity declines with every harvest. The over usage of chemical fertilizers has
degraded the soil quality and also poses environmental problems are they runoff
in the water causing eutrophication and other issues. On account of these
problems, awareness about biofertilizers has increased. Biofertilizers are
substances that contain microorganisms
that help in promoting the healthy growth of plants by increasing the supply
and availability of essential nutrients to the plants. Certain species of
fungi, algae, and bacteria are used as biofertilizers. Fungal biofertilizers
withdraw minerals from the organic matter for the plants whereas cyanobacteria or blue-green algae have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and provide an
important nutrient to the plant. The growing popularity of organic farming also
promotes the use of biofertilizers. Organic farming is a production system
that avoids the use of chemical
fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, and growth regulators. According to
Eurostat, organic farming covered around 14.7 million hectares of agricultural
land in the EU in 2020 compared to 13.8 million hectares in 2019. Organic
farming corresponds to 9.1% of the total utilized agricultural area of the EU. The organic farming system relies on eco-friendly methods such as crop rotations, animal
manures, green manures, farm organic wastes, biofertilizers, biopesticides, and
other methods of biological origin for soil treatment. Therefore, the
increasing preference towards biofertilizers over chemical fertilizers acts as a driver for the global blue-green algae bio-fertilizers market.
Growing Interest in Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. SDG2 of the UN aims for zero hunger. One of the key targets of this goal is to achieve food security through sustainability in agriculture. According to this, by 2030 the UN aims to ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, to help maintain ecosystems and thereby improve land and soil quality. Cyanobacteria are the most abundant group of organisms on the earth. They are prokaryotic algae with the ability to carry out photosynthesis. They have the potential to fix atmospheric nitrogen, which makes them useful as a biofertilizer. Apart from controlling the nitrogen deficiency in plants, they also improve the aeration of the soil and the water holding capacity. These microorganisms also excrete phytohormones such as auxin and gibberellins, vitamins, and amino acids, which promote healthy plant growth. The indiscriminate use of nitrogenous chemical fertilizers in agriculture is a global concern. Sustainability considerations mandate that alternatives to nitrogen fertilizers must be urgently sought. Biological nitrogen fixation is an economically attractive method of providing plants with this essential nutrient as also helps in soil treatment. Efficient applications of cyanobacteria have been reported in agricultural practices to fix approximately 10–30 kg/ha of nitrogen. Therefore, the growing interest in sustainable agriculture drives the global blue-green algae bio-fertilizers market.
Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market– Challenges
Low Awareness Regarding the Use of Algal Biofertilizers
Fertilizers
are beneficial for plant growth and also promote a high yield of the crop as
they supply the three essential nutrients, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous.
According to the FAO, the total agricultural use of inorganic fertilizers was 189
million tons in 2019, of which nitrogen was the highest at 56% or 108 million
tons. Nitrogen is the dominant nutrient and the use of nitrogenous fertilizers
accounts for more than half of the world’s fertilizers. However, the use of chemical
fertilizers affects soil quality and also poses environmental problems. The
use of biofertilizers helps in maintaining soil quality and provides a low-cost
approach to managing crop yield along with protecting the environment. Using
blue-green algae as biofertilizers provide numerous benefits such as they
provide nitrogen, release plant growth promoting hormones, and improve the
quality of the soil. In addition, studies reported that cyanobacteria can limit the
growth of pathogenic microorganisms
and reduce the incidence of diseases in crop plants. However, a lack of
awareness is hindering the application of algal biofertilizers in agriculture. This
may prove to be a challenge for the global blue-green algae bio-fertilizers
market.
Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Outlook
Product launches, acquisitions,
and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the global blue-green algae bio-fertilizers market. Global blue-green algae bio-fertilizers market top
10 companies are:
- Algenol
- AlGIX LLC
- Cyamonia Bio
- Algaenergy S.A.
- AlgEnerg Pvt Ltd
- ALGAE Biotecnologia
- Aurora Algae, Inc.
- Global Algae
- Pond Technologies Holdings Inc.
- Beijing Gingko Group
Relevant Reports
Fertilizer Additives
Market- Forecast (2022-2027)
Organic Fertilizers Market- Forecast (2022-2027)
Report Code: CMR 1149
Nitrogenous
Fertilizer Market- Forecast (2022-2027)
Report Code: CMR 0542
For more Chemicals and Materials Market reports, please click here
LIST OF TABLES
1.Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market, by Type Market 2023-2030 ($M)2.Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application Market 2023-2030 ($M)
3.Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market, by Type Market 2023-2030 (Volume/Units)
4.Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application Market 2023-2030 (Volume/Units)
5.North America Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market, by Type Market 2023-2030 ($M)
6.North America Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application Market 2023-2030 ($M)
7.South America Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market, by Type Market 2023-2030 ($M)
8.South America Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application Market 2023-2030 ($M)
9.Europe Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market, by Type Market 2023-2030 ($M)
10.Europe Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application Market 2023-2030 ($M)
11.APAC Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market, by Type Market 2023-2030 ($M)
12.APAC Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application Market 2023-2030 ($M)
13.MENA Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market, by Type Market 2023-2030 ($M)
14.MENA Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application Market 2023-2030 ($M)
LIST OF FIGURES
1.US Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)2.Canada Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
3.Mexico Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
4.Brazil Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
5.Argentina Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
6.Peru Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
7.Colombia Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
8.Chile Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
9.Rest of South America Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
10.UK Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
11.Germany Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
12.France Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
13.Italy Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
14.Spain Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
15.Rest of Europe Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
16.China Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
17.India Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
18.Japan Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
19.South Korea Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
20.South Africa Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry Market Revenue, 2023-2030 ($M)
21.North America Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry By Application
22.South America Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry By Application
23.Europe Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry By Application
24.APAC Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry By Application
25.MENA Global Blue-Green Algae Bio-Fertilizers Industry By Application