4th Beyond-Agriculture Seminar held successfully in Shanghai

On the occasion of the holding of the 15th China International Agrochemical & Crop Protection Exhibition (CAC 2014), the 4th Beyond-Agriculture Seminar was also held successfully during the same period. The Seminar was co-organized by CCPIT Sub-council of Chemical Industry and Xenex Associates, attracted some 100 delegates’ warm participations.

According to the research data from the world's leading consulting firm GfK Kynetec, the global pesticide market value (end-user level) for crop protection is estimated to be $80 billion in 2013, and for Beyond-Agriculture (”B-A”) is about $27 billion. The average annual growth rates (1990-2013) of these two areas are 4.75% and 5.7%, respectively. The Beyond-Agriculture market is obviously growing faster than the crop protection market. In addition to the market value for products, there are significant added value service markets, such as in pest management where almost US$1 billion product sales are used in support of a service market valued at over US$20 billion. The B-A market is experiencing rapid growth and showing great potential for development and exciting business opportunities. These are all why more and more companies want to get into this market.



Rod Parker of Xenex Associates, introduced that glyphosate is not the only option in B-A herbicide market, although it’s an important herbicide, and still accounts for 50% of the market. The advantages of glyphosate in B-A market are gradually diminished, because the market share was grabbed by more new products with more competitive prices and novel mode of actions.

Peter May outlined the development history of global bio-control industry and M&A activities in this area in recent years. He also showed the audiences some outstanding bio-control products used in home & garden, ornamental, turf, pest management and forestry. Rob Fryatt, also from Xenex Associates, shared his views on how to enter into the European B-A markets. Rob highlighted that there are three steps should be implemented by the new entrants: understand the features of the market; identify real opportunities based on the understanding of regulatory position, product information and market competition situation; and finally establish the partnerships.

Mr. Zhou Xiaogang, from Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, highlighted the species and harms of major weeds in non-crop field, and how to control them. Prof. Zhao Meiqi of China Agricultural University outlined the 30 years development history of Chinese golf market and the development bottleneck. She also summarized the pesticide use and trends for controlling of the pest & disease in golf field.

Mr. David Loughlin from Sentomol described the market situation and bio-control products used in the European market. David also highlighted that the 3R’s (pest resistance, government registration and crop residues) play an important role in driving the development of bio-control market.

The Seminar also invited Peter Whittall of Rentokil Initial to elaborate why sustainability is so important in developing B-A market. Alejandro Golfari, the general manager of Chemotecnica, highlighted how a successful agriculture company became the leader of the B-A market with the actual example of his own company.