Biologicals Market Landscape: Overcoming Challenges and Expanding Opportunities

The current state of the biologicals market is characterized by a favorable demand for both biopesticides and biofertilizers. Although the level of significance and adoption varies across countries and regions worldwide, several factors such as environmental concerns, consumer preferences, the rise of organic farming and regulatory pressures on conventional crop protection products collectively drive this demand. 

The Benefits of Biologicals

Biologicals offer a range of benefits, including protection against both abiotic and biotic stresses, enhancement of plant nutritional value and improvement of soil quality and health. However, these advantages are accompanied by significant obstacles that hinder their maximum potential within the global market. Primary challenges encompass regulatory complexities, product quality and shelf-life efficacy, formulation development intricacies and cost-related barriers. These factors collectively impede the wider acceptance and integration of biological products in various agricultural sectors. 

Nevertheless, these challenges also pave the way for numerous opportunities. The barriers that need addressing act as catalysts for driving transformative change within the biological sector. These hurdles pose immediate impediments as they simultaneously motivate advancements essential for the industry's growth. While the current trend is favorable, the ability of biological products to effectively compete with or complement conventional pesticides hinges on the resolution and improved management of these limitations and intricacies. 

For example, regulatory frameworks have historically presented obstacles for biologicals due to differing regulatory standards, procedures and data requirements across various countries and regions such as the U.S. and EU. Moreover, the lack of clear differentiation between biologicals and conventional pesticides has posed challenges. However, regulatory attitudes are evolving, as seen through amendments to regulations like (EC) No. 1107/2009 and (EU) 2019/1009, demonstrating a growing understanding of the significance of biologicals. Divergent timeframes and expenses associated with registrations, which exhibit considerable variation worldwide, can significantly constrain numerous enterprises. Regulators must expedite their response to this challenge to avert impeding expertise-driven innovation and align with their own imperative for seeking alternatives to conventional products, as exemplified by initiatives like the EU Farm to Fork program

Advancing Biological Farming

Biologicals, particularly microbial formulations, have encountered skepticism from farmers due to concerns regarding efficacy, versatility, poor product quality and shelf life. Nevertheless, advancements in technology, arising from both private sector efforts and collaborations between national institutes and academia, are reshaping this perception. These innovations have led to enhanced efficacy and formulation compatibility with conventional agricultural practices. Furthermore, microbial products are progressively enhancing their versatility in application scope, demonstrating resilience against environmental factors. This enables formulation compatibility with conventional active ingredients or other biological agents and showcases extended shelf life under a variety of storage conditions. The variety of co-formulants and adjuvants is also expanding, with companies investing in sustainable, innovative and biocompatible resources. 

While biologicals have a longstanding presence in agriculture, their competition with conventional chemicals has historically been challenging. However, recent research tools, deeper insights into their functionalities, formulation advancements, technological breakthroughs and the escalating emphasis on sustainable farming practices, consumer awareness and supportive regulations are collectively positioning biologicals as a promising and indispensable tool for modern farmers. 

How can Battelle Crop Protection Solutions help companies in the biologicals market? 

Battelle Crop Protection Solutions offers complete turn-key solutions for the entire development and regulatory process of biologicals, including bioformulation development, modelling, GLP product safety testing and regulatory consultancy.  

Battelle has a longstanding reputation in the U.S. and in Europe for being a trusted partner for formulating successful regulatory compliance strategies. Besides assisting with bioformulation development, Battelle supports our clients with their registration process for both biopesticides and biostimulants. 

We provide innovative full-scale registration and re-registration support, as well as expert advice in dossier compilation for conventional crop protection products and biologicals.  

Our end-to-end solutions approach allows us to provide support to our clients throughout the entire process, from the lab to the market. Battelle operates with an agile method, which speeds up the bioformulation development and winding registration processes. 

If you require any information about Battelle’s experience and end-to-end solutions, or how Battelle can help you across the complete process for both conventional and biological crop protection products, please do not hesitate to contact Dominik Reinhard at [email protected].