Global Plant Breeding and CRISPR Plants Market to Reach US$50.1 Billion by 2030

The global market for Plant Breeding and CRISPR Plants estimated at US$21.7 Billion in the year 2024, is expected to reach US$50.1 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 15.0% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Conventional Breeding, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is expected to record a 11.8% CAGR and reach US$16.0 Billion by the end of the analysis period. Growth in the Biotechnological Method segment is estimated at 16.7% CAGR over the analysis period.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at US$5.9 Billion While China is Forecast to Grow at 14.4% CAGR

The Plant Breeding and CRISPR Plants market in the U.S. is estimated at US$5.9 Billion in the year 2024. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$7.8 Billion by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 14.4% over the analysis period 2024-2030. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at a CAGR of 12.9% and 13.0% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 11.3% CAGR.

Global Plant Breeding and CRISPR Plants Market – Key Trends & Drivers Summarized

What Is Plant Breeding and Why Is It Critical for Modern Agriculture?

Plant breeding is the science and art of improving plants by selecting desirable traits, such as yield, disease resistance, and climate resilience, and introducing them into new generations of crops. This process has been central to agricultural development for thousands of years, allowing farmers to create more productive and robust crop varieties. In modern times, plant breeding has evolved into a sophisticated field that integrates genetics, molecular biology, and biotechnology to achieve more precise and rapid improvements in plants. The ability to develop crops that can thrive under diverse environmental conditions, resist pests, and deliver higher nutritional value has become increasingly important as the global population continues to rise and climate change alters agricultural landscapes. Traditional breeding techniques, such as crossbreeding and hybridization, have played a significant role in producing staple crops that feed billions of people worldwide. However, these methods can be time-consuming and imprecise. Recent advances in molecular breeding techniques, including marker-assisted selection (MAS), have accelerated the process of identifying and incorporating beneficial traits. Nevertheless, it is the advent of CRISPR technology that has revolutionized plant breeding by allowing for more targeted and efficient genetic modifications. As food security becomes a critical global concern, plant breeding remains a vital tool in ensuring the sustainability and resilience of agriculture.

How Has CRISPR Technology Revolutionized Plant Breeding?

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology has fundamentally transformed plant breeding by enabling precise and efficient editing of plant genomes. This gene-editing tool allows scientists to modify or delete specific genes in a plant’s DNA, introducing or enhancing traits with remarkable speed and accuracy. Unlike traditional breeding techniques, which rely on crossing plants and selecting offspring with desired traits, CRISPR enables direct intervention at the genetic level, bypassing the lengthy process of trait selection across generations. CRISPR’s precision also allows for the development of crops that are not only higher yielding but also more resilient to environmental stresses like drought, heat, and pests. One of the most notable aspects of CRISPR is its ability to make specific genetic edits without introducing foreign DNA, distinguishing it from traditional genetic modification (GM) methods. This has spurred interest from regulators and consumers, as CRISPR-edited crops are often considered more natural than genetically modified organisms (GMOs). For example, CRISPR has been used to create crops with enhanced nutritional profiles, such as rice varieties with higher vitamin A content, and to remove allergens from foods like peanuts. Moreover, the technology holds great promise for accelerating the breeding of crops that can withstand the challenges posed by climate change, offering a powerful tool to safeguard global food supplies.

What Challenges Are Driving the Adoption of CRISPR in Plant Breeding?

The adoption of CRISPR in plant breeding is being driven by several significant challenges facing global agriculture. Chief among these challenges is climate change, which is making it increasingly difficult to grow traditional crop varieties due to rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events. CRISPR allows breeders to rapidly develop new plant varieties that are better suited to these changing conditions, such as drought-tolerant or heat-resistant crops. Another major challenge is the growing global population, which is expected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, creating an urgent need to increase food production without further expanding agricultural land. CRISPR offers a solution by enabling the development of high-yielding crop varieties that require fewer inputs, such as water and fertilizers, thereby enhancing productivity in a sustainable manner. Additionally, the rise of pests and diseases, some of which are becoming more prevalent due to global trade and changing climates, is threatening crop yields and food security. CRISPR enables the creation of pest- and disease-resistant crops, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and promoting more environmentally friendly farming practices. Furthermore, the increasing consumer demand for healthier, more nutritious food is pushing the adoption of CRISPR, as the technology can be used to enhance the nutritional content of crops, such as developing wheat with lower gluten or potatoes with reduced levels of harmful acrylamide. These challenges highlight the urgent need for advanced plant breeding solutions, with CRISPR at the forefront of innovation in addressing them.

What Factors Are Driving the Growth in the Plant Breeding and CRISPR Plants Market?

The growth in the plant breeding and CRISPR plants market is driven by several critical factors that are transforming the agriculture and biotech industries. First, the increasing demand for food security in a world facing population growth and resource constraints is a major driver. CRISPR technology enables the development of crops that can deliver higher yields and resist environmental stressors, helping to meet the rising food demand. Advances in genetic research and biotechnology have made CRISPR more accessible and efficient, reducing the time and cost associated with developing new crop varieties. Another factor is the growing focus on sustainable agriculture, as both consumers and governments demand more environmentally friendly farming practices. CRISPR allows for the creation of crops that require fewer inputs, such as water and fertilizers, reducing the environmental footprint of farming. Furthermore, regulatory support is playing a crucial role in the market’s expansion, as several countries are moving towards less stringent regulations for CRISPR-edited plants compared to traditional GMOs, which helps to accelerate the adoption of CRISPR technologies. The increasing investment in agricultural biotechnology, driven by both public and private sectors, is further fueling the market’s growth. Major agricultural biotech companies, research institutions, and startups are heavily investing in CRISPR-based research to create new crop varieties with desirable traits. Additionally, consumer preferences for healthier, non-GMO food products are influencing market dynamics, as CRISPR plants are often viewed more favorably by consumers compared to traditional GM crops. Together, these factors are creating a strong growth environment for the plant breeding and CRISPR plants market, positioning it as a key component of the future of agriculture.