Soil Treatment Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The Soil Treatment Market size is expected to grow from USD 41.89 billion in 2023 to USD 54.78 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 5.51% during the forecast period (2023-2028).

Key Highlights

• Soil treatment can be used to make contaminated soil usable for agriculture and other purposes. It helps enhance the performance and fertility of the soil. Biological treatment or bioremediation is widely used to remediate soil from organic components like fuel or oils using bacteria to break down the substances in the soil.
• Although biological treatment is economical, it is time-consuming and takes as long as 1 to several months to be carried out. The suitability of bioremediation depends on the contaminants, site conditions, and target levels. Remediation of polluted soil using microbial processes has proven effective and reliable due to its eco-friendly features, and the segment is likely to grow further in the coming years.
• Thermal treatment can remediate contaminated soil rapidly and reliably, but its energy-intensive nature and potential to damage soil properties make it seem less sustainable. The process is also comparatively more expensive; hence, the segment holds a smaller market share. By 2020, the Chinese government had turned 90% of the contaminated farmland into safe agricultural land for crops in China. As such, the government's careful examination of soil pollution in the country gave an impetus for the soil treatment industry to grow during that period.
• In April 2021, the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)invested around USD 21.7 million in several key programs to help agricultural producers manage the impacts of climate change on their lands and production. NIFA also invested USD 6.3 million for 14 Soil Health grants and $5.4 million for seven Signals in the Soil grants through its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).

Soil Treatment Market Trends

Decreasing Per capita Arable Land and Increasing Demand For Food

• According to the United Nations, the global human population reached 8 billion in mid-November 2022 and is expected to increase by nearly 2 billion persons in the next 30 years, from 8 billion in 2022 to 9.7 billion in 2050. With the increasing population levels, the demand for food is projected to double in the years to come. Supplying food to this growing population has become a concern. On the other hand, due to industrialization and urbanization, the area of arable land in major agricultural countries is declining.
• As per the resource outlook for 2050 released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), only 12% of the global land surface is used for crop production, and there is little scope for further expansion of agricultural land. Hence, there is pressure on the existing arable land to produce more food by using soil treatment products.
• As per the FAO, there is a decline of 54 million hectares of arable land in developed countries in regions like North America, Europe, and South Asia. The projections of this study indicate a further slow decline in the area of arable land to 608 and 586 million hectares in 2030 and 2050, respectively.
• Adequate and balanced use of soil treatment products may help feed the growing population using the available cultivable land.
• In addition to the declining agricultural land, micronutrient deficiency is widespread globally, and Asia-Pacific is one of the major regions affected by this deficiency. Over half of the cereal crop soils are zinc deficient, and around one-third of the cultivated soil is iron deficient. It is estimated that 40-55% of the soils are moderately deficient in zinc, 25-35% in Boron, and approximately 10-15% in other micronutrients. Due to large micronutrient deficiencies in the soil, crops are not responding to fertilizers and pesticides, leading to lesser yield. This issue can be addressed by using Ph adjusters.

North America Dominates the Market

• The increasing concern about soil contamination and remediation in the North American countries like the United States, Canada, and Mexico have triggered soil treatments in the cropland. Soils are a vital component of ecosystems and provide a wide range of ecosystem services that support human well-being and natural systems. Soils are the foundation for agricultural production, providing nutrients and water to crops and supporting the growth of plants that provide food, fiber, and fuel.
• Soils also play a crucial role in water and nutrient cycling, acting as a filter for water and pollutants, regulating water flow, and preventing erosion. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has laid down directives specifying the phytosanitary requirements for the import and domestic movement of soil and soil-related matter during 2020. It includes requirements for soil and items contaminated with soil, such as logs or lumber, vehicles, equipment, tools, and containers.
• According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the number and complexity of organisms in the soil in Canada make it nearly impossible for soils to be free of such pests. As a result, strict phytosanitary measures concerning soil are made necessary to limit the risks of the introduction and spread of significant soil-borne quarantine pests into Canada. In the year 2021, the Government of Canada is invested USD 162.6 million in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) over the next five years and USD 40 million per year on an ongoing basis to maintain the integrity of Canada's food safety system, protect the health of plants and animals from safeguarding the food supply, and provide ongoing support to Canadian businesses in their export and import activities to overcome soil erosion, and global trade volatility. Hence, there is adequate awareness in the country about soil treatment, and it is driving the market in the country.
• In Mexico, the remediation of soils is regulated by the Law for the Prevention and Management of Waste (LPMW), under whose provisions it is mandated that when hazardous chemicals contaminate a soil, immediate remedial action to prevent or reduce imminent health risks and the environment must be performed. These laws favor the use of soil treatment products in the country.
• The pesticide soil pollution in Mexico is a serious concern, and different research groups have developed biological strategies for assessing pesticide biodegradation, and bioattenuation, biostimulation, bioaugmentation, and bioaugmentation composting schemes for the treatment, remediation, and detoxification of pesticide-contaminated sites. This suggests that the market for soil treatment is rapidly gaining popularity in the country.

Soil Treatment Industry Overview

The market studied is highly fragmented, with numerous players holding the market share in the market. However, companies such as Bayer Crop Science AG, Corteva AgriScience, BASF SE, Syngenta, and AMVAC Chemical Corporation are some players striving to strengthen their market share in the market. In the global soil treatment market, companies, along with innovative product launches, are also focusing on strategic mergers and acquisitions and expansion as their key adopted strategies. Along with innovations and expansions, investments in R&D and developing novel product portfolios will likely be crucial strategies in the coming years.

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