Market Trends of europe molluscicide Industry
The increasing mollusk population is leading to higher application per hectare
- In 2022, Italy emerged as the foremost consumer of molluscicides on a per-hectare basis, utilizing 40.8 grams. Pests like snails and slugs inflict harm on plant seeds, young plants, underground tubers, foliage, and fruits. The harm caused to young plants often leads to their demise, resulting in substantial reductions in production. Notably vulnerable are crops such as barley, canola, and pulses. The significance of the white Italian snail as a pest, like other species, is that they contaminate grain during harvest while also cogging and damaging harvest machinery.
- In Europe, the Netherlands ranks second in per-hectare molluscicide consumption, recording 25.7 grams per hectare in 2022. A wide range of vegetables are particularly susceptible to slug infestations. Notably, Brussels sprout buds and green and white cabbage often fall affected by slug nibbling, rendering them unsuitable for market sale. Slugs and snails lay insane amounts of eggs, up to 400, creating a situation that demands the use of molluscicides.
- Germany, France, and Spain were other prominent countries using molluscicides at the rate of 16.3 grams, 14.3 grams, and 10.3 grams per hectare, respectively, in 2022. Helix pomatia, also known as the Roman snail or Burgundy snail, is a species that can cause damage to agriculture in Germany. This large land snail is known to feed on various crops, including vegetables, fruits, and ornamental plants. Its feeding habits can lead to economic losses for farmers as the snails can damage the appearance and quality of the harvested produce. This makes Helix pomatia a concern for agricultural practices in Germany and other regions where it is found.
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Metaldehyde and ferric phosphate-based molluscicides are most commonly used to control slugs and snails
- Molluscicides are used to kill various mollusk species, including intermediate host snails involved in the lifecycle of schistosomes. Several molluscicides have been developed to control slugs and snails in crop environments, typically deployed as pellets placed around the plant base.
- In 2022, metaldehyde was valued at USD 52.5 thousand per metric ton. Widely used in field crops, gardens, and greenhouses, it is applied in various forms such as liquid, granules, sprays, dust, or pelleted/grain bait to effectively combat slugs, snails, and other garden pests. Commercial baits usually contain 4% or less metaldehyde as the active ingredient, while some granule baits may contain up to 5-10% metaldehyde. In Europe, bait with up to 50% metaldehyde is available.
- Ferric phosphate, priced at USD 52.0 thousand per metric ton in 2022, stands as a highly effective and environmentally friendly molluscicide. It poses no harm to humans, animals, non-target insects, plants, or soil microbes and exhibits stability and non-reactivity in the agroecosystem. Ferric phosphate remains the only molluscicide employed in UK agriculture. It acts by interfering with stomach calcium metabolism, causing mollusks to cease feeding, leading to their typical subterranean death. It is applied to soil in pellet form with bait to attract snails and slugs.
- Slugs represent one of the most destructive and challenging pests to manage. They preferentially target seedlings of numerous vegetables and flowers, posing difficulties in crop establishment. Preharvest feeding by slugs on fruits and vegetables results in wounds that can lead to fungal and bacterial contamination, spoiling the crop. Due to these challenges, European farmers rely on synthetic chemicals like metaldehyde and ferric phosphate for slug control.
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