Market Trends of europe forage seed Industry
An increase in the demand for quality feed for livestock and a suitable climate are driving the forage cultivation
- Europe is one of the largest producers of forages in the world, as it has diverse landscapes and a suitable climate for forage cultivation. The total forage cultivation area in the region reached 9.1 million ha in 2022, which increased by 4.6% between 2017 and 2022 due to increasing feed demand from livestock. For instance, in 2022, organic forage production in Europe exceeded more than 250,000 metric ton due to the increasing demand for organic feed.
- Among forage crops, forage corn and alfalfa have the largest area under cultivation. They accounted for 63.5% and 35.4% of the European forage cultivation area in 2022, respectively, due to their high demand in the region driven by their high energy content and easy digestibility. In recent years, the area of forage sorghum in Europe has constantly grown due to its increasing demand for animal feed and the production of alcohol and biofuels. Another reason for the increasing area under cultivation is the rising drought in some parts of the region. Therefore, farmers are shifting to sorghum farming as it has inherent drought tolerance. The initiatives by organizations are helping in the expansion of areas under cultivation. For instance, the French National Federation of Maize and Sorghum Seed Production (FNPSMS) and the PZPK (Poland) are promoting the benefits of maize and sorghum and their cultivation in Spain, France, Germany, and Bulgaria.
- Germany and France held the major areas in Europe, and they accounted for 25.6% and 18.6% of the overall forage cultivation in the region in 2022, respectively, due to their significant agricultural land and suitable climate. Therefore, the growing demand for animal feed in the region is estimated to put pressure on farmers to expand the area under forage crops to meet the demand.
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Hybrid forage seeds are gaining traction with wider adaptability and early matured traits
- Alfalfa and forage corn are popular forage crops extensively cultivated across Europe. Due to their significance in the livestock industry, scientific efforts are being made to enhance the yield and quality of alfalfa through breeding techniques. As the climate changes, so do the environmental factors that impact crops the most. Consequently, demand for high uniformity and wider adaptability alfalfa cultivars that adapt to regional conditions has increased and are widely employed by farmers.
- Companies such as Bayer, DLF, and Barenbrug have introduced many varieties of alfalfa and forage corn in the United Kingdom, such as Alfalfa (DKC 3218, DKC 3204, Debalto, and Marcamo), as well as forage corn (Daisy, Fado, and Power 4.2). These varieties possess the ability to withstand diverse environmental conditions, adapt to various soil types, and withstand field stress and heat conditions.
- The demand for seeds with early maturity and high starch content characteristics is estimated to grow rapidly. These varieties offer a shorter growing period, allowing farmers to harvest sooner, and the high starch content in forage corn enhances its nutritional value for animal feed. Moreover, the EU Commission initiated a new project called REFORMA (2016-2020) to address farmers' requirements. This project aims to develop advanced breeding techniques and introduce new cultivars of alfalfa and other forage crops.
- The demand for robust varieties of alfalfa and forage corn with traits such as disease resistance, high dry matter content, insect resistance, long shelf life, and drought tolerance is projected to increase significantly during the forecast period to compensate for yield losses and increase productivity to meet consumption requirements.
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OTHER KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS COVERED IN THE REPORT
- Hybrid breeding is the major segment in the European forage seed market, with corn being the major forage crop
