Market Trends of Glyphosate Industry
Commercialization of Genetically Engineered Herbicide-tolerant Crops
Herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops, which resist potent herbicides, provide farmers with various options for effective weed control. Also, the farmers do not need to till the soil, which they normally do to get rid of weeds. According to the USDA, genetically engineered herbicide-tolerant crops now account for about 56% of global glyphosate use. Genetically Engineered (GE) seeds were commercially introduced in the United States for major field crops, with adoption rates increasing rapidly. Over 90 percent of US corn, upland cotton, and soybeans are now produced using GE varieties. Herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops, which tolerate potent herbicides (such as glyphosate, glufosinate, and dicamba), provide farmers with a wide variety of options for effective weed control.
According to USDA survey data, in 2021 and 2022, soybean HT acreage increased slightly to 95 percent, and cotton reached a high of 94 percent in 2021. In 2022, approximately 90 percent of domestic corn acres were planted with HT seeds. No pesticide has come remotely close to such intensive and widespread use in the United States. Glyphosate may remain the most widely applied pesticide worldwide in the future, and its demand may grow in quantifying ecological and human health impacts.
With millions of acres planted, large field crops, such as soybeans, corn, cotton, and sugar beets, have the highest total area treated and pounds applied with glyphosate. On average, 84% of glyphosate, in terms of volume, is applied to soybeans, corn, or cotton per year. These three field crops have glyphosate-resistant (GR) varieties that have been widely adopted. The average single application rate for field crops ranges from 0.72 to 1.00 lbs. a.e./acre. Thus, glyphosate remains a useful herbicide for users in agricultural settings because of its nature of the broad-spectrum application, is simple to use, and is often cost-effective.
Asia-Pacific and North America are Potential Markets
The Asia-Pacific and the North American regions present equally attractive opportunities to companies operating in the glyphosate herbicide market. On account of the increasing levels of penetration of herbicide-tolerant hybrids, the North American region is expected to remain one of the largest markets for glyphosate. It is estimated that almost 56% of glyphosate usage in the United States is for herbicide-tolerant crops. GM crops are grown commercially in North America, including potato, squash/pumpkin, alfalfa, aubergine, sugar beet, papaya, rape oilseed, maize, soya beans, and cotton.
In the Asia-Pacific region, the market is expected to achieve faster growth. The region has the highest arable land in the world with the highest crop diversity. Increased adoption of advanced agricultural practices such as zero-tillage is expected to deliver growth to the glyphosate herbicide market in the region. However, China has provided approval to grow herbicide-tolerant hybrids.
GMO crops that are tolerant to herbicides help farmers control weeds without damaging the crops. For example, when the ringspot virus threatened the Hawaii papaya industry and the livelihoods of Hawaiian papaya farmers, plant scientists developed the ringspot virus-resistant Rainbow papaya called GMO papaya, which is resistant to a virus and now it is grown all over Hawaii and exported to Japan. In addition, Genetically modified (GM) crops can help reduce agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and possible decreases in production emissions; GM yield gains also mitigate land-use change and related emissions.
Environment Ministry Approves the Cultivation of GM Mustard for those supporting commercial cultivation of GM crops, including greater food security due to increased yields, reduced costs for food production, reduced need for pesticides, and resistance to pests and disease. The transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11 has been developed by the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP) in India. The government has so far approved only one GM crop, Bt cotton, for commercial cultivation.
