As part of its growth strategy, the leading company in agricultural microbiology resolved 10 years ago that 30% of its turnover come from the international market. Along this path, it has positioned itself to have the largest market share in the soybean inoculants niche on a global scale.
Inoculation adoption rate is remarkably high in Argentina (today, around 90% of the seeds are treated); however, this is not the case in all countries. Among the greatest adherents to this practice are Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and, in the northern hemisphere, Ukraine, Russia, Romania and Canada. To a lesser extent, but increasingly, the United States, South Africa and Turkey stand out. Therefore, the potential market is more than interesting for a company that historically bet on agricultural microbiology. Without going any further, it currently covers 60% of the African market.
While inoculants are a traditional input in Argentinian agriculture, there is a great demand for increasing innovation to solve constant challenges. In fact, technology and quality applied to this input have significantly intensified in the last 20 years: developments in bacterial survival (seed treatment is now possible 220 days before planting) and technologies for bacterial osmoprotection, as well as inclusion of bioinductors and drought-tolerant bacteria have allowed Rizobacter to add increased value to its inoculant technology.
One of the greatest strengths of the company is research; thanks to its quality and proven performance, it has managed to gain ground in the world and become a market leader, ahead of recognized and first-line international competitors.
“Growth expectations respond to several factors. These products are environmentally friendly, cheaper and safer for the grower, they prevent soil degradation, improve the quality and yields of crops and integrally favor regenerative agriculture. At the same time, these advantages are paired with a greater demand for food, stricter regulatory requirements of those countries that promote chemicals use reduction, and the consumers' growing demands,” explains Matías Gorski, Global Product Manager for Biologicals.
Among the top five biologicals in the world
In 2021, Rizobacter landed in Australia and Kazakhstan, after arriving in Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Malawi, Ghana and Chile. Currently, it is present in 45 countries worldwide and it is among the top five biologicals companies in the world, with the same shared challenge: expanding its range of biological products (biofungicides, bioinsecticides, biostimulants, inoculants for crops other than soybean, among others) and consolidating a comprehensive offer.
“There are many challenges today, but there are also opportunities. The results are safer and more sustainable. We have to work on multiplying products in order to have a greater reach,” says Gorski.
From March 2020 to the present, Rizobacter has obtained 56 new international registrations, and has recently applied in the European Union for the registration of Rizoderma, the biological seed treatment developed together with National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA). This means that soon the technology that is already being used by Argentine growers will become the first national industry fungal biocontroller to be commercialized in Europe, where regulation is considerably strict.
Benefits of inoculants:
- Drive higher yields
- Supply 70% of the crop's nitrogen requirements
- Cost 50 times less than chemical fertilizers
- Are 100% organic´
- Are formulated with beneficial microorganisms
- Do not pose handling risks
- Do not pollute
- Do not impact on groundwater
- Unlike traditional fertilizers, market conditions for certain commodities do not affect their value
