Market Trends of Australia Seed Treatment Industry
Increasing Area under Field Crops
Wheat, barley, canola, sorghum, and cotton dominate Australia's field crop landscape. Wheat, in particular, holds the lion's share, covering 50.2% of the total field cropland. The leading states in field crop production are Western Australia, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland.
Since 2021, Australia has witnessed a notable increase in field crop acreage, with a 2.8% increase between 2021 and 2022. This surge can be attributed to global and domestic demand for agricultural products, particularly wheat, barley, sorghum, and canola. Notably, a significant portion of Australian wheat is exported, with a remarkable 64% surge in exports seen in 2022-23 compared to 2019-2020
The expansion of acreage is also fueled by rising farmer incomes, buoyed by favorable seasonal conditions and surging commodity prices. Additionally, the ongoing grain dispute between Ukraine and Russia, centered around the Black Sea, has further bolstered Australian wheat prices, benefiting local farmers.
Government initiatives, including subsidies and incentives, have played a pivotal role in encouraging farmers to expand their field crop acreage. These policies, aimed at boosting agricultural production and export potential, were evident in the Australian government's USD 30 million investment in 2023. This funding was specifically earmarked to help grain growers navigate risks such as drought and market volatility.
Given the trends of expanding crop acreage, rising farm incomes, robust government support, and growing global and domestic demand, the demand for seed treatment chemicals is poised to surge.
Increase In Farm Sizes
The growing population in the region demands more and more food, though the new area under cultivation has been decreasing at a rapid rate. This, therefore, translates into increasing the sizes of existing farmlands, which gives rise to alterations in management practices. Under such circumstances, farmers tend to undertake early planting in order that their complete acreage is sown. However, the conditions of early sowing may not be optimal, such as the prevalence of cool and wet conditions that are not conducive to planting. This increases the potential of seedling damage, which makes a strong case in favor of risk management techniques. Seed treatment is one such technique that can help in protecting young seedlings against pathogens and insect attacks. The Australian seed treatment market is growing at a rapid rate due to factors such as economic benefits of high yields, better quality, improved returns, better rates of disease control in early sown seeds, protection of high-value seeds, reduced tillage, and cost-effective solution to enhance production, which drives the market.
