Agricultural Activator Adjuvants Market

[616 Pages Report] The global agricultural activator adjuvants market is projected to reach USD 3.5 billion by 2028 from USD 2.6 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 6.0% during the forecast period in terms of value. Agricultural activator adjuvants are essential components in modern agriculture, as they enhance the performance of pesticides, herbicides, and other crop protection products. They are used to improve the efficacy and overall effectiveness of these agrochemicals, which helps in increasing crop yields and reducing the environmental impact of farming. These are added to crop protection products or agrochemicals to enhance the efficacy of active ingredients and improve the product’s overall performance. The effectiveness of a pesticide increases manifold with the addition of adjuvants, wherein agrochemicals and agricultural adjuvants are formulated to be compatible with each other. Adjuvant aids in the compatibility of different pesticides, facilitating tank-mixing and reducing the need for separate applications. This compatibility simplifies spraying, saves time and labor, and allows for more efficient pest management strategies. These activators adjuvants also help in overcoming challenging environmental conditions that impact pesticide performance.

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Market Dynamics

Drivers: Increase in demand for green solutions

Consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental and health impacts of conventional agricultural practices, and they are demanding products that are produced in a more sustainable way. This includes the use of green adjuvants, which are less harmful to the environment and human health than traditional adjuvants. Governments around the world are increasingly regulating the use of conventional adjuvants. This is due to the growing awareness of the environmental and health risks associated with these products. As a result, there is a growing demand for green adjuvants that meet these regulations.

In recent years, companies have been developing eco-friendly, bio-based adjuvants, such as methylated seed oil (MSO), modified vegetable oils, and organo-modified siloxanes. Such biologically derived adjuvants are considered eco-friendly due to their high levels of safety and biodegradability. Manufacturers are, therefore, keen on adapting to this changing trend of utilizing green adjuvants in their products. Players such as Wilbur-Ellis Holdings, Inc. (US) and Precision Laboratories, LLC (US) offer methylated seed oil products.

Restraints: Increase in oil prices

The increase in demand for oil prices has a significant impact on the cost of agricultural activator adjuvants. Agricultural activator adjuvants are a type of additive that is used to improve the performance of pesticides and herbicides. They are typically made from petroleum-based products, such as mineral oil and vegetable oil. As a result, the price of agricultural activator adjuvants is directly tied to the price of oil. The rising cost of oil has led to an increase in the price of agricultural activator adjuvants. This has made it more difficult for farmers to afford these important products, which can lead to a decrease in crop yields and an increase in the cost of food.

Moreover, the adjuvants industry observed a high demand for crop and vegetable oil concentrates due to the continuous fluctuations observed in petroleum/crude oil prices. This has restricted manufacturers from investing in petroleum-based oil concentrates and increased the shift toward crop oil concentrates such as methylated soybean oil. Hence, changes in raw material prices have a huge impact on the final cost of an agricultural adjuvant product, which affects the demand for products at the end-user level.

Opportunities: Development of low-impact formulations of oil-based adjuvants

The development of low-impact formulations of oil-based adjuvants in agriculture is a crucial aspect of sustainable farming practices. Oil-based adjuvants are used to enhance the effectiveness of pesticides, herbicides, and other agricultural chemicals. However, traditional oil-based adjuvants can have negative environmental impacts, such as excessive residue buildup and harm to non-target organisms. The development of low-impact formulations seeks to mitigate these issues while maintaining the benefits of adjuvants.

In recent years, a few low-impact oil-based adjuvants were developed such as Vegetable oil-based adjuvants and plant-based adjuvants, that are developed from vegetable oils (soya bean oil and rapeseed oil) and plant-based materials (chitosan and lignin). They are less harmful to the environment than mineral oil-based adjuvants and they can also improve the effectiveness of pesticides and herbicides.

Sustainable and non-oil adjuvants are required to maintain the viability and pesticide efficiency of agricultural biostimulants and biofertilizers. Hence, there is a scope for the market’s growth with the increase in demand for adjuvants for biological products.

Challenges: Rising environmental concerns

Agricultural activator adjuvants are commonly used due to rising environmental health concerns because they can help to reduce the amount of pesticide that is needed to be applied to crops. This is because activator adjuvants improve the effectiveness of pesticides by helping them to spread and adhere to plant surfaces more easily. This can lead to a reduction in the overall amount of pesticide that needs to be used, which can help to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in developing more sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices. This includes the development of new types of activator adjuvants that are less toxic to aquatic life and less irritating to humans and animals. There is also a growing interest in using natural products, such as plant extracts, as activator adjuvants.

Market Ecosystem

Fungicides are one of the agricultural activator adjuvants applications which accounted for the second highest market share in 2022.

Activator adjuvants are commonly used with fungicides because they can help to improve the effectiveness of the fungicide and reduce the need for higher application rates. This can lead to several benefits, including improved crop protection, reduced pesticide use, reduced environmental impact, and increased crop yields.

Adjuvants are added to fungicides to ensure that fungicide powders are easily wettable and evenly dispersed in the tank. Non-ionic surfactants are increasingly used with fungicides. These surfactants help fungicides to stick to plant surfaces, which are also called stickers. With the increased adhesion to the leaf surface, the absorption of fungicides in the leaf remains high, which increases the efficacy of fungicides. In addition, stickers decrease the rate at which rain washes off the fungicide or sunlight breaks down the fungicide (photodegradation).

China is one of the largest growing markets for agricultural activator adjuvants in Asia pacific

China is the largest growing market for agricultural activator adjuvants in the Asia Pacific region. This is due to several factors, including the large and growing agricultural sector, increasing awareness of the benefits of activator adjuvants, and government support for the agricultural sector. Chinese farmers are becoming more aware of the benefits of activator adjuvants, such as improved crop yields, reduced pesticide and fertilizer use, and increased resistance to pests and diseases. This is leading to increased adoption of activator adjuvants in China. The Chinese government is supportive of the agricultural sector and is investing in research and development of new agricultural technologies, including activator adjuvants. This is helping to drive the growth of the activator adjuvant market in China. Additionally, increasing urbanization and rising incomes, growing awareness of food safety, and stricter environmental regulations are also contributing to the growth of the agricultural activator adjuvants market in China.

Key Market Players

The key players in this market include Corteva. (US), Evonik (Germany), Solvay (Belgium), BASF SE (Germany), CHS Inc. (US), Corda International Plc (UK), Nufarm (Australia), Clariant (Switzerland), and Stepan Company (US).

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Scope of the Report

This research report categorizes the agricultural activator adjuvants market, based on adoption stage, type, application, crop type, and region.

Target Audience

• Pesticide manufacturers, formulators, and blenders
• Pesticide traders, suppliers, distributors, importers, and exporters
• Government Agricultural Authorities
• Chemical Intermediate and Technology Providers
• Agricultural adjuvant manufacturers
• Commercial research & development (R&D) organizations and financial institutions
• Government agricultural departments and regulatory bodies such as the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), Government agencies and NGOs, and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Report Scope:

Agricultural activator adjuvants Market:

By Adoption Stage

• In-formulation
• Tank-mix

By Type

• Surfactants
• Oil-based Adjuvants

By Application

• Oil-based Adjuvants
  • Herbicides
  • Insecticides
  • Fungicides
  • Other Applications
• Surfactants
  • Herbicides
  • Insecticides
  • Fungicides 
  • Other Applications

By Crop Type

• Cereals & Grains
  • Corn
  • Wheat
  • Rice
  • Other Cereals & Grains
• Oilseeds & Pulses
  • Soya beans
  • Other Oilseeds & Pulses
• Fruits & Vegetables
  • Banana
  • Citrus Fruits (Orange, Lime, and Grapefruit, among others)
  • Root & Tuber Vegetables
  • Leavy Vegetables
  • Pome Fruits
  • Berries
  • Other Fruits & Vegetables
• Other Crop Types

By Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• South America
• Rest of the World (RoW)

Recent Developments

• In April 2023, INNVICTIS introduced a new adjuvant technology called ‘Inntero.’ The new technology provides seven unique, multi-functional, and full-strength adjuvants for a low application rate.
• In March 2023, Precision Laboratories introduced a versatile granular soil surfactant called ‘Precip G.’ The product improves the soil hydration length, saving labor costs and water. The product is versatile and is used on home lawns.
• In April 2022, Clariant introduced a new adjuvant technology approach, DropForward, to drone-specific adjuvants and formulations called Synergen DRT. This adjuvant helps to control the drift and volatility of droplets, while also improving the coverage and penetration of the actives in the leaves. This boosts biological performance and makes drone spraying more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
• In August 2021, CHS introduced Advatrol, designed for use with a broad range of herbicides where a high surfactant oil concentrate adjuvant is recommended. It is a highly concentrated blend of emulsifiers and methylated seed oil.
• In April 2021, Nufarm Group Mexico partnered with Attune Agriculture, a US-based developer of performance-based agricultural products using hydrocolloid technology. Under the partnership, Nufarm is distributing Attune’s Ampersand adjuvant across Mexico.
• In January 2021, Precision Laboratories launched Activo, a novel activator adjuvant developed with a green pigment to enhance the efficacy of pesticides and the appearance of turfgrass. The product is developed in partnership with Michigan State University. The product offers enhanced pesticide performance that makes it perfect for application on wide tracts of land in combination with fungicides and plant growth regulators.

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