Kynetec: Continuous and significant growth of the French biologicals plant health market

Between 2017-2022 the French biologicals plant health area increased by 43%, according to Kynetec’s FarmTrak™ farmer panel. Conversely, over the same period, the non-biologicals plant health area reduced by 13%.

For the biologicals segment, including biostimulants, biopesticides and biofertilizers, both economic and structural factors influenced the development of the market.

The annual plant health insights from Kynetec’s French FarmTrak panel involves interviewing more than 10,000 farmers growing row crops, grapes, fruit trees and vegetables.

Christophe Jounaux, Kynetec’s Director for Account Management and Business Development comments, ″biopesticide products, excluding copper, accounted for 6% of the value of the crop protection market. Biostimulants and foliar fertilizers represented 1% and 2% of the fertilizer market respectively.″

Christophe continues, ″Over the 5-year period, biopesticides gained 54 points in value and 49 points in area, while conventional products lost 20 and 15 points respectively. Biostimulants gained 31 points in value and 60 points in area, foliar fertilizers gained 21 points in value and 29 points in area.″

Two significant crop groups included vines and fruit trees. In vines, biopesticides represented 23% of the crop protection market in value. Over the 5-year period these solutions gained 62 points in value and 37 points in area. 2022 saw a setback, with a drop in the number of fungicide treatments from 8 to 6. In fruit trees, biopesticides represented 39% of the crop protection market. Between 2017-2022 the market increased by 37 points, both in value and area.

Arable crops, the field for growth

Whilst biopesticides represents only 1% of the crop protection market in arable crops, compared to 23% in grapes and 39% in fruit trees, biopesticide use in arable crops is showing strong growth, having gained 54 points in value and 94 points in area. Conventional products in arable crops lost 19 and 17 points in value and area respectively over the same period.

Christophe explains, ″biostimulants are gaining ground in field crops, with a growth of 44 points in value and 80 points in area. This progress is explained in particular by the increase in new users, applications on new crops such as corn and sunflower, and by incentives from distributors″

″Arable crops represent the breeding ground of tomorrow. When an arable farmer uses a biostimulant, it is across the entire farm,″ Christophe concludes.