Agrochemicals industry in France is one of the most prominent segments of the global chemical industry. The global agrochemicals sector was valued at USD 208 billion in the year 2020. Agrochemicals are used in the management of ecosystems in the agricultural sector. Agrochemicals also include synthetic fertilizers, hormones, and other growth agents.
The evolution in synthetic chemical manufacture has vastly improved pesticide processes to improve crop yield and efficiency. Agrochemicals are an essential segment of the chemical industry to accommodate the enormously growing global population and the consequent increase in food demand. As per research, nearly 40% of the world’s crops are spoiled by plant diseases and pests. Therefore, it is important to effectively use agrochemicals to protect crops. When agrochemicals are used in higher concentrations, they result in surface water pollution and adversely affect the environment. Therefore, the production of bio-based fertilizers and pesticides must lead to new opportunities for the key market players.
The global agrochemicals industry is segmented based on geography and type. Based on type, agrochemicals can be categorized into pesticides and fertilizers. Fertilizers are expected to dominate the global agrochemicals market. The major nutrients that are present in fertilizers are divided into micronutrients and macronutrients. Phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium are the macronutrients essential for the growth of a plant. The other nutrients are micronutrients, required by the plant in small quantities. Based on geography, the global agrochemical market is segmented across Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, and LAMEA. The Asia-Pacific region accounted for the largest share of the agrochemicals market due to high agricultural activity in the region.
Types of Agrochemicals
There is a collaborative effort to implement a broad range of agrochemicals to maintain and control the global food supply. This ensures consistently high quality for widespread consumption. There are various types of agrochemicals. The most common among these are pesticides. These are the chemicals that are engineered to destroy pests and other unwanted organisms including weeds, etc. The demand for synthetic fertilizers has increased over the past few decades. These chemicals are used to encourage crop growth by saturating soils with nutrients. Several other chemicals are used to enhance crop properties and increase crop yield. Limiting agents and acidifiers are used to alter the pH levels of soils. These chemicals make the soil suitable as per the required planting properties of given crops. Soil conditioners, like gypsum, impart high sodium to the soil, improving the planting conditions. Synthetic chemicals or growth hormones are also used to increase the growth rate in crops.
Advancements in the agrochemicals sector include the engineering of synthetically resistant crops. Emerging agrochemical methods also include crops that produce insecticides.
France Agrochemicals Market Insights
Europe has a strong prominence in the global agrochemicals market. This region is one of the fastest-growing exporters of food grains. The agrochemicals market is one of the most important sectors in France. The French agrochemicals market was valued at roughly USD 80 billion in the year 2017. This market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.9% during 2020-2025. France produced nearly 71 thousand metric tons of agrochemicals in the year 2017. The country uses the major proportion of agrochemicals produced for food applications.
Rising requirement for food safety along with significant government support helps the country invest in the agrochemicals industry. Agrochemicals have several benefits and have therefore become very common in agriculture. However, the toxicity of synthetic products is one of the major challenges for this industry. International trade restrictions can also form drawbacks for the industry as France is an export-oriented market. It is necessary to follow an integrated approach in this sector to meet future growth prospects. In the product segment, nitrogenous fertilizers form the major share of the fertilizer market. The pesticides sector is led by herbicides, followed by insecticides and fungicides.
Key Players in the French Agrochemicals Market
Several key market players and companies have entered the agrochemical industry as a result of the large operational area and high demand. The key players in the French agrochemical sector include Syngenta, Bayer, Dow Agro, Monsanto, and BASF Agro. Syngenta was founded in 2000. It is one of the leading companies in the agrochemical sector. Syngenta provides crop and seed protection solutions to farmers all around the world. The total sales by Syngenta in the year 2019 were valued at USD 13,582 million. Dow Agro is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dow Chemicals Company. Dow agro specializes in agricultural chemicals, such as pesticides, along with seeds and biotechnology solutions. BASF Agro division manufactures and markets a set of solutions for farmers. The company provides solutions intended to protect crops against diseases, weeds, and pests. Monsanto is an American agriculture and biotechnology company. It was acquired by Bayer as part of its crop science division. Monsanto specializes in providing genetically engineered seeds. The company generated total sales of nearly USD 14.6 billion in the year 2017. Various other key players in this segment include Yara International ASA, Makhteshim Agan Industries Ltd, Agrium, among many others.