Report on the Global Crop Growth Regulator Market: Projections and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The global market for crop growth regulators (CGRs) is projected to undergo significant expansion, contributing to key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Market revenue is estimated at US$ 3.68 billion in 2024 and is forecast to reach US$ 7.07 billion by 2034, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7%. This growth is intrinsically linked to the global imperative for sustainable agriculture, food security, and responsible production.

Market Drivers and Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Advancing SDG 2: Zero Hunger

The primary driver for the CGR market is the increasing global population and the corresponding demand for food security. CGRs directly support the objectives of SDG 2 by enabling farmers to increase agricultural productivity. Key contributions include:

• Enhanced crop yields and quality through precise control over plant development.
• Improved crop resistance to environmental stressors, ensuring more stable food supplies.
• Optimization of flowering, fruit set, and ripening, particularly in high-value horticulture crops.

Supporting SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

The market’s expansion is also fueled by a growing awareness of sustainable agricultural practices, aligning with the principles of SDG 12. CGRs facilitate more responsible production patterns by:

• Reducing the need for resource-intensive inputs such as excessive fertilization and pesticide applications.
• Enabling targeted agricultural interventions that maximize resource efficiency and minimize environmental impact.
• Promoting farming practices that are both economically viable and environmentally compliant.

Competitive Landscape and Strategic Initiatives

Key Market Participants

The market is characterized by a competitive environment with numerous global and regional entities. Leading companies are focused on innovation and product development to meet the dual demands of productivity and sustainability. Major players include:

• Dhanuka Agritech Ltd.
• BASF SE
• PBI-Gordon Companies, Inc.
• Corteva Agriscience
• Syngenta Group
• FMC Corporation
• Bayer AG
• Tata Chemicals Ltd.
• UPL
• Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.
• Nufarm
• Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.

These organizations are investing in research and development to create advanced CGRs, often integrating them with crop protection chemicals to offer comprehensive solutions that support sustainable intensification.

Recent Industry Developments

Recent activities highlight the industry’s focus on innovation and market expansion to provide farmers with advanced tools for sustainable agriculture.

1. August 2023: AMVAC launched Mandolin, a plant growth regulator for citrus fruits, designed to improve fruit development, uniformity, and quality, thereby reducing food loss and increasing grower value.
2. March 2023: Sumitomo Chemical India Ltd. introduced Promalin®, a novel plant growth regulator in North India, to optimize flower induction and fruit set in high-value horticultural crops, enhancing local agricultural productivity.
3. June 2022: Valent Canada Inc. and Nufarm Agriculture Inc. renewed a distribution partnership in Canada, strengthening the supply chain to ensure farmers have timely access to essential agricultural technologies.

Market Segmentation and Regional Analysis

Market Segmentation

The CGR market is segmented by product type, application, and crop type. Significant application is noted across various crops, which are crucial for global food systems.

• Crop Types: Fruit crops, vegetables, cereals, and plantation crops. Fruit crops represent a substantial market share due to the high demand for quality and uniformity in high-value produce.

Regional Insights

Regional market dynamics reflect varying levels of adoption of advanced agricultural technologies that support the SDGs.

• North America and Europe: These regions are leading markets, characterized by advanced farming practices and stringent regulations that encourage the adoption of sustainable solutions like CGRs.
• Asia-Pacific: This region is identified as a high-growth market, driven by government initiatives promoting modern farming, expanding horticultural activities, and increasing farmer awareness of technologies that enhance yield sustainably.

Future Outlook and Strategic Opportunities

The crop growth regulator market is poised for sustained growth through 2034. The trajectory will be shaped by innovations that further align agricultural productivity with environmental stewardship. Key opportunities include the development of eco-friendly CGR formulations and the integration of CGRs with digital agriculture platforms. Market participants focusing on research, regulatory compliance, and expansion into emerging markets will be best positioned to contribute to a future where agriculture effectively meets the goals of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the crop growth regulator (CGR) market connects to several Sustainable Development Goals by focusing on agricultural productivity, sustainability, and innovation. The primary SDGs addressed are:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: This is the most prominent SDG, as the article directly links the growth of the CGR market to the “rising demand for food security” and the need for “enhanced crop yields” to feed a growing global population.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article highlights the role of “innovative agricultural technologies” and continuous “research and development” by key companies to create new and more effective CGRs. This focus on technological advancement and industry innovation is central to SDG 9.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The text emphasizes the adoption of CGRs for “sustainable farming practices” that “minimize resource-intensive practices such as excessive fertilization and pesticide use.” This aligns with SDG 12’s goal of promoting sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article mentions “strategic collaborations” and “partnerships” as key strategies for market growth, such as the collaboration between Valent Canada Inc. and Nufarm Agriculture Inc. to expand distribution. This reflects the spirit of SDG 17, which promotes partnerships to achieve sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s discussion, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):
   • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers. The article supports this by explaining that CGRs improve “crop quality, yield, and resistance to environmental stressors,” which directly contributes to increasing agricultural productivity and helps “maximize returns for farmers.”
   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production. The article explicitly mentions the drive towards “sustainable farming practices” and how CGRs help improve crop “resistance to environmental stressors,” which is a key component of resilient agriculture.
2. Under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure):
   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries… encouraging innovation. The article details how key companies are “increasingly investing in research and development to introduce innovative CGRs” and highlights recent product launches like ‘Mandolin’ and ‘Promalin®’ as outcomes of this innovation.
3. Under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
   • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The article states that CGRs help “minimize resource-intensive practices,” which implies a more efficient use of resources like water and soil nutrients.
   • Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil. The article’s point about CGRs helping to minimize “excessive fertilization and pesticide use” directly relates to reducing the release of agricultural chemicals into the environment.
4. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The article provides a concrete example of a private-private partnership with the renewed collaboration between “Valent Canada Inc.” and “Nufarm Agriculture Inc. to expand its distribution network,” demonstrating a key strategy for achieving market and development goals.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article, being a market analysis, does not use official SDG indicator terminology but provides several implied metrics and data points that can serve as indicators of progress:

• Crop Yield and Quality Improvement: The article repeatedly mentions “enhanced crop yields” and “improving crop quality” as primary benefits of CGRs. These outcomes can be measured and serve as direct indicators for progress towards SDG Target 2.3.
• Market Growth and Adoption Rate: The projection of the market growing from “US$ 3.68 billion in 2024” to “US$ 7.07 billion by 2034” at a “CAGR of 6.7%” indicates the increasing adoption of these sustainable agricultural technologies. This financial growth can be used as a proxy indicator for the implementation of sustainable practices (Target 2.4) and technological upgrading (Target 9.5).
• Investment in Research and Development (R&D): The article notes that companies are “increasingly investing in research and development.” The amount of R&D investment by agricultural technology companies would be a clear indicator for measuring efforts towards Target 9.5.
• Number of New Product Launches: The mention of specific product launches, such as AMVAC’s ‘Mandolin’ (August 2023) and Sumitomo’s ‘Promalin®’ (March 2023), serves as a qualitative and quantitative indicator of innovation and progress in the sector (Target 9.5).
• Reduction in Fertilizer and Pesticide Use: The claim that CGRs help “minimize… excessive fertilization and pesticide use” implies that a measurable reduction in the volume of these chemicals per hectare could be used as an indicator for progress towards Target 12.4.
• Number of Strategic Partnerships: The example of the collaboration between Valent Canada and Nufarm suggests that tracking the number and scale of such partnerships within the agricultural industry can be an indicator for progress on Target 17.17.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: openpr.com