Market Trends of Biosolids Industry
Agricultural Land Application to Dominate the Market
- Biosolids can be used on agricultural land, in forests, on rangelands, or in disturbed land needing reclamation.
- In terms of consumption, agricultural land applications consume the most biosolids. Consistent population growth across Asia-Pacific and North America is expected to augment the need for agricultural yields, which may positively affect the consumption of biosolids in the sector.
- According to the International Grains Council, in FY 2021-2022, the total grain production globally was about 2,294 million metric tons, about 3.05% more than the previous year. Furthermore, as per the council's estimation in FY 2022-2023, the total global grain production will decrease to 2,267 million metric tons. However, it is anticipated to reach 2,310 in FY 2023-2024.
- China accounts for about 7% of the overall crop production globally, thus feeding 22% of the world’s population. The country is the largest producer of different crops, including rice, cotton, potatoes, and other crops.
- According to the Third Advance Estimates for crop production by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, total foodgrain production in the country in 2022-23 was valued at 330.5 million tonnes (MT) from 315.6 MT.
- Scientists and farmers are looking for new technologies to increase the productivity of crops and meet the food demand arising from disproportionate population growth. In addition, there has been a decrease in the total available cropland area in countries such as the United States over the last decade.
- Biosolids can be effectively used as fertilizers and soil conditioners for human crop production. These are usually incorporated into the soil with conventional farm equipment. They are also used as fertilizer for animal crop production.
- Big enterprises and farmers are increasingly making their presence felt in cattle farming and meat products. They are augmenting the demand for animal crop production, which is providing impetus to the application of biosolids as fertilizers for animal crop production. This has led to an increase in demand for biosolids in agricultural land applications.
- They also help reduce fertilizer costs and provide many micronutrients for crop growth. The increasing world population is expected to give rise to a growing need for agriculture, which may impact the use of biosolids in the sector.
- Hence, agricultural land application is expected to dominate the market studied during the forecast period.
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North America to Dominate the Market
- North America dominated the market owing to the government and public support for environmental-friendly technologies in countries such as the United States and Canada.
- In the United States, the biosolids market is mostly driven by the fact that both the government and the public want to use technologies that are good for the environment.
- The US EPA adopted the name "biosolids" to differentiate high-quality treated sewage sludge from raw sewage sludge, which contains large amounts of pollutants.
- There are two ways to get rid of biosolids from wastewater that cannot be used again (like putting them in a landfill) and ways to use them in a good way (like landfilling with biogas and energy recovery).
- Biosolids are generated during wastewater treatment processes and are extensively used to satisfy the US EPA's 40 CFR Part 503 regulations.
- The majority of the biosolids that are currently generated in the country are expected to be EQ or PC biosolids containing low levels of pollutants. About half of the biosolids produced in the country are being beneficially used to improve soils.
- In the United States, biosolids are either recycled or applied as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and stimulate plant growth. By treating sewage sludge, the biosolids are used as valuable fertilizer instead of taking up space in a landfill or other disposal facility. Approximately half of all biosolids are recycled to land.
- The demand for food is growing rapidly with the rising population in the United States. In 2022, the average household spending in the United States on food increased by about 12.72% and was valued at USD 9,343.
- The rising agriculture sector is expected to further boost the consumption of biosolids. Agriculture and related industries contributed to about 5.5% of the US gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022.
- Therefore, due to the above factors, North America is anticipated to have the largest market share during the forecast period.
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