The North America Corn/Maize seed treatment market is projected to register a CAGR of 8.5% during the forecast period. North America has been witnessing a sustained demand for seed treatment and is among the fastest-growing global market. The crop has a high degree of penetration in commercial hybrid seeds, including genetically modified seeds, and farmers adopt advanced farming practices for maize cultivation in both developed and developing markets. In the last three years, there was a widespread incidence of the pest fall armyworm in maize cultivation. Proper seed treatment can go a long way in protecting young plants against this deadly pest. Companies have also been engaging in R&D to develop products that target fall armyworm.

Key Market Trends

Increasing Seed Replacement Rate Leading to Boom in the Commercial Segment

North America has been witnessing a sustained demand for seed treatment and is among the fastest-growing global market. Commercial maize hybrids are increasingly becoming popular across the world and traditionally, North America has been cultivating commercial maize hybrids, for the last two decades. An increase in the number of seed companies selling maize hybrids has also supported the market for commercial applications of maize seed treatment products. The next frontier of hybridization and increased seed replacement rates is projected in the region, where the metrics related to these are expected to increase at a robust pace over the forecast period. There has been increased investment in developing new products in North America. Bayer CropScience US introduced a new biological corn seed treatment, named Poncho VOTiVO 2.0 in 2018, and it will be available through seed partners, like Beck’s Hybrids. In 2017, Monsanto added a new microbial seed treatment called Acceleron B-300 SAT to all its new corn hybrids.

Canada Dominated the Seed Treatment Market

In Canada, the PMRA administers the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) which regulates all pest control products. Growing awareness among farmers over the use of seed treatment has resulted in support from the government. Various regulations and government agencies are encouraging the use of seed treatments. The Food and Drugs Act (FDA) prohibits the sale and distribution of contaminated and adulterated food. In the case of agricultural chemicals, whenever the residue exceeds the prescribed maximum residue limit (MRL). According to USDA, seeds treated with seed treatment chemicals increase the marketability of seeds and help companies to expand in new markets. Therefore, it is mandatory by USDA to treat all commercially available seeds before selling them on a commercial scale. In addition, neonic seed treatments have a harmful impact on the environment, especially bees, which led to the introduction of regulatory restrictions on neonics in North America. Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA), Canadian Seed Institute (CSI), Registered Seed Establishments (RSE’s), Authorized Seed Crop Inspection Services (ASCIS) and Licensed Seed Crop Inspectors (LSCI) are some of the major actors with regulatory authorities.

Competitive Landscape

The North America maize seed treatment market is highly consolidated, with the top global players occupying the majority of the market share. The greater market shares of these players can be attributed to a highly diversified product portfolio and numerous acquisitions and agreements. Moreover, these players are focusing on R&D, expansion of product portfolio, wide geographical presence, and aggressive acquisition strategies. Some of the key players in the market include BASF SE, Syngenta AG, Adama Agricultural Solutions, UPL Limited, and Bayer Crop Science, among others.

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