An increasing global awareness about the negative health and environmental effects caused by chemical fertilizers has led to an outcry for more eco-friendly options, like biofertilizers.
What are Biofertilizers?
Biofertilizers are made from human, animal, and organic wastes and are natural and sustainable in nature. Biofertilizers contain microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, and fungi, alone, or in combination, and they enhance nutrient availability in plants.
The benefits of biofertilizers include improved crop yields and soil fertility, and they also revive the soil quality. Biofertilizers can be broadly classified as nitrogen fixing, phosphate solubilizing, and others, including potash mobilizing and zinc mobilizing based on product type.
Surge in Demand for Biofertilizers
Demand for biofertilizers is expected to rise globally, owing to growing consumer preference for organic food. According to TechNavio, The Global Biofertilizers Market is expected to post a CAGR of 14.08 percent from 2015-2019.
The market is witnessing increasing focus in restoring natural fertility, flowering, and maturity of crops, through the use of biofertilizers. Seed treatment using biofertilizers are aiding seed sustenance against bacterial and viral attacks, thus increasing crop yield.
Similarly, biofertilizers’ usage in soil treatment and nitrogen fixing are fast gaining popularity, especially in regions of South Asia and South America.
Four Key Factors Driving Adoption of Biofertilizers
TechNavio analysts have identified four key market drivers influencing growth in The Global Biofertilizers Market.
Growing Consumer Preference for Organic Food
Factors such as increased health consciousness, environmental awareness, and spending capacity are causing an unprecedented demand for organic food among consumers. Biofertilizers are essential components of organic farming and are increasingly in demand, owing to their chemical-free and environment-friendly nature. Biofertilizers augment fertility of the soil, and enhance crop yield, hence becoming the preferred solution for organic farmers.
Increase in Demand for High-quality Seeds
Agriculture is gaining importance as consumers prefer high-quality and nutritious food because of economic development and rise in the standards of living. To yield better quality crops and cereals, biofertilizers are widely used as they help in preserving natural fertility of the soil and hastening of seed germination.
Seed treatment using biofertilizers helps in replacing chemical fertilizers by 25 percent. This also helps in making the environment pollution free and eco-friendly. The growing adoption of biofertilizers for seed treatment is fueling market growth.
Growing Adoption of Soil Fertility Management Practices
Over the years, soil fertility management practices have gained importance, primarily because of loss of arable land and due to increase in demand for food. This situation demands maximum utilization of land resources, thereby necessitating the use of biofertilizers. Soil fertility management involves practices such as:
- Conservation tillage: Planned tillage of the soil, so that crop residues are not entirely lost. This practice helps conserve the soil surface, thereby reducing soil erosion
- Crop rotation: Alternate cultivation of crops that belong to different crop families on the same land
- Optimum use of chemical fertilizers and biofertilizers
Hazards Posed by Chemical Fertilizers
Though chemical fertilizers increase crop production and yield, their overuse harms the soil and the environment. Some of its hazardous repercussions include hardened soil, decreased fertility, polluted air and water, and the release of harmful greenhouse gases.
Chemical fertilizers pose serious challenges to the ecosystem, affecting its balance, and thus threatening the sustainability of human health and environment.
