Plant activators are chemicals that induce plant defense responses to a broad spectrum of pathogens. They activate the defense genes in plants by providing signals via the signal transduction pathway mediated by salicylic acid. Since plant activators do not have any pesticide or antibiotic activity, their adverse effects on human health and the environment are minimal. In addition, since they do not interact directly with the pathogens, it is unlikely that plant pathogens develop resistance to these chemicals.
The plant activators market is driven by factors such as growing consumer preference for organic foods, new product registrations, decrease in arable land, and technological advancements in the agricultural industry.
The plant activators market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.6%, to reach a value of USD 878.38 Million by 2023 from USD 636.76 Million in 2018.
Companies such as Syngenta (Switzerland), Isagro (Italy), Plant Health Care (US), Arysta LifeScience (US), and Nihon Nohyaku Co., Ltd. (Japan) are key market players.
On the basis of source, the biological segment dominated the plant activators market in 2017. Biological plant activators play an important role in plant growth as they help improve nutrient use efficiency. Their benefits include improving crop nutrient, promoting growth & yield, and providing insect control and disease protection. The high cost of developing new chemical pesticides, increase in insect & weed resistance to chemical treatments, and high regulatory pressure to limit chemical usage with respect to ecosystem damage have contributed to the need for these biological products.
On the basis of crop type, the fruits & vegetables segment accounted for the largest market share; this can be attributed to growing health-consciousness among consumers and rising incomes which result in increased consumption of a wide variety of products, particularly fruits & vegetables. The rise in the production of fruits & vegetables results in an increased demand for plant activators.
On the basis of form, the plant activators market was led by the solutions segment in 2017. Solution compositions, also known as flowable concentrates, are mainly in the form of emulsifiable suspensions or soluble liquid concentrates. Solution formulations are mainly preferred as they do not cause dust formation on spraying, do not cause toxicity or flammability, provide high efficiency due to smaller particle size, and low packaging volume.
Europe accounted for the largest market share for plant activators in 2017. Owing to the decreasing agricultural land in Europe, optimization of available arable land has gained increasing importance in the region, which, in turn, drives the demand for plant growth regulators. Plant activators have been receiving wide-scale acceptance as they are expected to increase long-term agricultural productivity and help realize the goal of food self-adequacy.
