Biocontrol
Importance of biocontrol
The biocontrol market has doubled from 2016 to 2022
According to the latest IBMA Global member survey of IBMA (Q4 2023), the biocontrol market in Europe was already worth over 1.6 billion Euro in 2022, representing about 10% of the European crop protection market. The biocontrol market has doubled from 2016 to 2022.
Natural Substances and Invertebrate Biological Control Agents make up about 80% of the European Biocontrol Market
All four biocontrol categories are growing
Invertebrate Biological Control Agents, which benefit of a significantly shorter authorisation process, have grown most with an estimated 65% increase in sales volume between 2019 and 2022.
The Natural Substances category has grown the most in terms of absolute value, increasing by 168.3 Million Euros since 2019.
Figure 3: Repartition of the 4 categories in the European Biocontrol Market 2022 (EUR Million).
Trend towards biocontrol
Biocontrol comprises a range of innovative and effective plant protection technologies that are crucial to European farmers’ tool box in the control of pests and diseases.
Biocontrol products are key elements in sustainable agriculture, both conventional and organic agriculture, and in home and garden, especially within the framework of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). According to the EU Directive 2009/128/EC, this strategy involves an integrated approach for the prevention and/or suppression of organisms harmful to plants through the use of all available information, tools and methods. Biocontrol products are an essential tool in this approach, as they contribute to a sustainable production and resilient agriculture.
Based on the active substances currently being evaluated at European level, 39 out of the 68 substances (i.e. 57%) should meet the biocontrol criteria. A recent survey of IBMA Global members shows that more than 100 biocontrol active substances are under development. This suggest that biocontrol will represent a significant part of crop protection in a near future.
Biocontrol in Belgium
IBMA Belgium represents more than 20 companies, research institutes and consultants active in the biocontrol sector.
IBMA Belgium members research, develop, manufacture, place on the Belgian market (and beyond) and/or give regulatory and commercial support to more than 200 biocontrol products and solutions.