Middle East and Africa Biorationals Market Outlook, 2030

The Middle East and Africa have developed a unique trajectory in the adoption of biologically based crop inputs, blending long standing reliance on natural remedies with modern scientific and regulatory initiatives that reflect the demands of export agriculture and food security. Countries such as Kenya, Morocco, and South Africa have led the way as producers of flowers, citrus, and grapes for European markets, where maximum residue limits are strictly enforced, making biological sprays, pheromone based mating disruption, and neem extracts essential tools.

South Africa’s Department of Agriculture has recognized microbial fungicides and semiochemicals within integrated pest management programs for vineyards and orchards, while Morocco has promoted greenhouse vegetable production with biocontrol strategies supported by European Union partnerships. The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi has played a crucial role by developing and promoting parasitoids, microbial bioinsecticides, and pheromone technologies suited to African climates. Donor funded projects from FAO and USAID have advanced farmer field schools in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Egypt, where training emphasizes reduced reliance on synthetic chemicals in vegetables and staple crops.

Codex Alimentarius residue standards and EU import restrictions have further pressured exporters to comply through adoption of GlobalGAP certified biological products. In North Africa and the Middle East, water scarcity and climate extremes have encouraged adoption of biostimulants and soil treatments that improve resilience alongside pest protection, aligning with national strategies for sustainable agriculture. Traditional use of neem, garlic, and chili extracts has transitioned into formalized supply chains where small manufacturers and cooperatives supply locally produced botanical formulations.

According to the research report "Middle East and Africa Biorationals Market Outlook, 2030,", the Middle East and Africa Biorationals market is expected to reach a market size of more than USD 780 Million by 2030. Koppert Biological Systems reported strong growth in sales of beneficial insects in 2023, driven by rising demand from greenhouse growers in North Africa and floriculture producers in Kenya. Marrone Bio Innovations completed successful trials of a plant extract fungicide on vineyards in North Africa, demonstrating that efficacy comparable to synthetic fungicides can be achieved while meeting organic certification standards.

Bayer and BASF have expanded their distribution of microbial fungicides and inoculants through local partnerships in Egypt and South Africa, reflecting multinational investment in residue free crop protection. Andermatt Biocontrol has introduced biofungicides for tomato and citrus growers in East Africa, supported by collaborations with regional distributors. Government backed programs in Kenya and Morocco have provided incentives for exporters to adopt biological inputs that meet EU residue standards, while international donors have supported farmer training projects that demonstrate pheromone dispensers and microbial sprays in vegetable and fruit crops.

Startups and cooperatives across Nigeria and Ghana are producing low cost neem formulations and distributing them through rural supply chains, while universities in South Africa and Egypt are working on microbial discovery and encapsulation technologies adapted to hot climates. Compared to the synthetic pesticide market, which dominates in broadacre staples, the biological sector is growing rapidly in high value horticulture and export crops because of strict compliance requirements and retailer pressure for low residue food. The region is also seeing early applications in forestry, public health, and soil biocontrol as governments integrate biologicals into broader sustainability and biosecurity agendas.

Market Drivers

• Export-driven compliance requirements: Countries like South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, and Egypt rely heavily on exporting fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers to the European Union, where strict residue standards apply. To meet these requirements and avoid rejection of shipments, farmers increasingly use biorationals such as pheromone traps, microbial fungicides, and neem-based formulations. This export dependence makes biologicals essential tools for staying competitive in international markets.
• Government and donor-led support: National governments and international organizations such as FAO, USAID, and African Union are actively funding projects that promote Integrated Pest Management with biologicals. For example, ICIPE in Kenya works on semiochemicals and microbial controls for maize and horticulture, while South Africa supports biological adoption in vineyards and citrus. These interventions provide training, subsidies, and access to bio-inputs for local farmers.

Market Challenges

• Limited awareness and technical knowledge: Many smallholder farmers in Africa and parts of the Middle East are unfamiliar with the correct application of biorationals. Misuse or poor timing often leads to unsatisfactory results, creating mistrust in these products. Without extensive extension services and training programs, the gap between product availability and farmer adoption remains a major challenge.
• Weak supply chains and product quality issues: Cold chain logistics and quality control systems are limited in many MEA countries, which affects the stability of microbial products. Locally manufactured bio-inputs sometimes face quality inconsistency due to lack of stringent regulation. Combined with infrastructure gaps, these issues hinder widespread adoption and reduce confidence in biorationals among growers.

Market Trends

• Expanding greenhouse and protected farming: The Middle East, particularly in countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia, is investing heavily in greenhouse agriculture to ensure food security. These enclosed systems depend on biological solutions such as predatory insects, microbial biofungicides, and biostimulants because chemical residues can damage crops in controlled environments. This is creating a strong niche for biological inputs.
• Rising role of international partnerships: Partnerships with global leaders like Koppert, Bayer, and BASF are increasing access to advanced biological solutions in Africa and the Middle East. These collaborations often involve technology transfer, farmer demonstrations, and joint ventures with local distributors. By working closely with governments and NGOs, international firms are embedding biological solutions into mainstream agriculture across the region.Botanicals dominate because traditional practices, abundant plant resources, and ease of adoption make them the most accessible and widely used form of biorationals in the region.

Across the Middle East and Africa, plant-based pest control has been part of farming culture for centuries, and this long history has created an environment where botanicals are naturally trusted and widely adopted. Farmers in rural Africa, for example, have long used home-prepared neem, garlic, chili, or tobacco extracts to deter insects in vegetables and grains. In modern agriculture, these same plants now provide the foundation for commercial botanical biopesticides, with neem oil and azadirachtin-based products being especially popular in Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt.

Neem trees grow abundantly in many African countries, making raw material sourcing relatively inexpensive and ensuring a steady supply for both small-scale producers and larger agro-input firms. The ability of botanicals to degrade quickly under the region’s hot climatic conditions is another factor driving their use, as it reduces concerns about chemical residues on produce, which is critical for exporters. Kenya’s flower industry, which supplies much of Europe, relies heavily on botanicals for pest management to comply with strict EU residue limits. Similarly, Moroccan and South African fruit growers use plant-based sprays to ensure their grapes, citrus, and avocados meet international quality requirements.

NGOs and organizations like FAO and ICIPE have played a major role in popularizing botanicals through farmer training and integrated pest management projects, helping smallholders replace or supplement synthetic pesticides. Because they are safer for farmers to handle, cheaper to produce locally, and compatible with organic farming, botanicals are often the first choice for growers with limited resources.

Fungicides are significant because fungal diseases threaten key crops in MEA, and biorational fungicides provide safer, residue-free control for both local and export markets.

Fungal diseases represent one of the most persistent and costly challenges for farmers across the Middle East and Africa. Powdery mildew, downy mildew, rusts, and blights are widespread in crops ranging from grapes in South Africa to tomatoes in Egypt and Kenya, and their impact is made worse by the region’s warm climates and irrigation practices that favor fungal growth. Conventional fungicides are heavily restricted in many export markets, which forces farmers to seek alternatives that can be used throughout the season without risking residue issues.

Biorational fungicides based on microbial strains such as Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma species, and yeasts have gained importance because they suppress fungal pathogens by competing for space on plant surfaces, producing antifungal compounds, or stimulating plant defenses. In South African vineyards, biofungicides are used to protect grapes against mildew while ensuring compliance with EU residue rules, which are vital for the country’s wine industry. Greenhouse vegetable producers in Morocco and Tunisia rely on Bacillus- and Trichoderma-based sprays because enclosed environments amplify disease pressure but limit the safe use of chemical fungicides.

International research institutions and development agencies encourage adoption by funding trials and extension projects that demonstrate how biological fungicides can reduce losses while protecting beneficial organisms. Beyond disease control, these products help improve soil microbial diversity and crop resilience, giving farmers added value. Their ability to provide season-long disease suppression, align with export requirements, and integrate with sustainable farming initiatives explains why fungicides are a significant category in MEA’s biorational market.

Fruits and vegetables are the fastest-growing crop category because they dominate regional exports and must meet strict residue standards in global markets.

Fruits and vegetables are the lifeline of export agriculture in MEA, with crops like citrus, grapes, avocados, mangoes, pomegranates, and cut flowers shipped primarily to Europe, which enforces some of the strictest maximum residue levels in the world. Farmers in South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco face constant pressure to comply with these standards, and biorationals have become essential tools for achieving this. Citrus exporters in Egypt use biofungicides to manage post-harvest decay without residues, while grape producers in South Africa rely on pheromone-based mating disruption to combat moth infestations without spraying chemicals close to harvest.

Kenya’s floriculture sector, one of the largest in the world, depends heavily on biorational inputs like microbial sprays and neem products to meet EU residue rules for cut flowers. Beyond exports, rising urban demand for healthy and organic foods in countries like South Africa and the Gulf states is also pushing horticulture producers to adopt biological alternatives. Fruits and vegetables are especially sensitive to cosmetic damage and post-harvest losses, which makes residue-free and environmentally safe pest control even more critical.

The relatively high value of these crops compared to staples also means farmers are willing to invest in advanced solutions such as microbial fungicides, semiochemicals, and biostimulants. Supported by both international trade requirements and domestic consumer demand, fruits and vegetables are expanding faster than other crop categories in the biorational sector of MEA.

Liquid formulations dominate because they are practical, compatible with spraying practices, and widely used in greenhouse and field systems.

Liquid formulations are the most widely adopted form of biorationals in MEA because they align perfectly with the established pest management practices of farmers in the region. From smallholders using backpack sprayers in Kenya to commercial farms in South Africa operating mechanized systems, spraying remains the default method for pesticide application, and liquid products fit seamlessly into these routines. Farmers prefer liquids because they can be easily diluted and applied evenly across crops, offering consistent coverage against pests and diseases.

Export-oriented fruit growers in Morocco and South Africa rely on liquid microbial fungicides that can be applied repeatedly without residue concerns, ensuring compliance with European buyers. In greenhouse systems in North Africa, where vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers are grown intensively, liquid formulations are used through misting systems or fertigation lines, delivering effective disease suppression without chemical build-up.

Companies prioritize producing liquid formulations because they are versatile across different crops and climates, and extension agencies find them easier to demonstrate during training programs. For farmers, the familiarity of spraying and the immediate results they see with foliar-applied liquids build confidence in using biologicals. The accessibility, versatility, and strong integration into existing agricultural practices explains why liquid formulations remain the largest form in MEA’s biorational market.

Foliar spray is the fastest-growing application method because it is the most accessible, affordable, and effective way to apply biorationals across varied crops and farm sizes.

Foliar spraying is growing fastest in MEA because it is the most practical and familiar way for farmers to protect crops from pests and diseases. Smallholder farmers across Africa depend on knapsack sprayers, while commercial farms in South Africa and Egypt use mechanized equipment, but in both cases foliar spraying is the default method of application. Biorationals such as neem-based insecticides, Bt formulations, and Bacillus-based biofungicides are designed to be applied as foliar sprays, delivering direct protection where pests and pathogens attack.

Export-focused producers, especially in fruits, vegetables, and flowers, value foliar sprays because they can be used right up to harvest without leaving residues, ensuring compliance with EU and Gulf market regulations. Greenhouse producers in Morocco, Tunisia, and Kenya also integrate foliar sprays with biocontrol insects to create robust integrated pest management systems. Development agencies and government extension services favor foliar spraying when training farmers because it produces quick, visible results that help build trust in biological products.

For growers, the affordability of sprayers, the ability to apply treatments flexibly throughout the growing season, and the reassurance of export compliance all make foliar spraying the fastest-expanding application method for biorationals in the Middle East and Africa. It also allows farmers to adapt rapidly to sudden pest outbreaks, which is vital in regions with unpredictable weather patterns. The method is scalable, working effectively for both smallholders managing a few hectares and large commercial estates producing for export. South Africa leads because of its advanced agricultural sector, strong export orientation, and regulatory support for biological control.

South Africa’s leadership in the Middle East and Africa biorational market comes from its unique position as the region’s most advanced agricultural economy with both large commercial farms and strong export markets. The country exports citrus, grapes, avocados, and other fruits to the European Union, which has strict residue regulations, so farmers rely heavily on biopesticides and semiochemicals to ensure compliance. Government agencies have supported biological registration and streamlined approval processes, making it easier for companies to introduce microbial fungicides, insecticides, and pheromone products.

South African universities and research institutes actively study local pests and pathogens, and many collaborate with global firms to adapt products to regional conditions, such as controlling codling moth in apples or fruit fly in citrus. The presence of multinational companies like Bayer, Syngenta, and BASF, along with specialist firms like Koppert, has created a robust market where farmers have access to advanced biological solutions. Domestic innovators are also emerging, producing neem formulations and microbial inoculants tailored to African conditions.

Extension programs run by government and industry educate farmers on how to integrate biologicals into Integrated Pest Management, which is critical in a country where pest resistance to chemical pesticides is a persistent issue. Beyond agriculture, South Africa also uses biorationals in forestry and public health, with microbial larvicides employed in mosquito control.

Consumer demand for residue-free produce in urban centers adds further pressure for adoption. The combination of regulatory clarity, export pressures, active research, and a sophisticated farming sector makes South Africa the natural leader in biorationals within the MEA region, and its role as a testing ground for tropical and subtropical pests provides lessons for other African nations seeking to follow the same path.

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