Plant growth regulators are a class of compounds that affect the growth and development of plants by regulating their endogenous hormones. They are widely used in field crops, gardening, lawn management and other fields. According to CCM research, the global PGR market size has reached US$4.67 billion in 2024 and is expected to maintain rapid growth in the next few years.
1 Market drivers
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Food security needs: By 2050, global food production needs to increase by 70% to meet population needs, and PGR can significantly increase yields.
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The rise of organic agriculture: Consumers' preference for chemical residue-free food drives the organic PGR market, which is expected to reach US$2.5 billion in 2030.
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Precision agriculture technology: The intelligent spraying system combined with the Internet of Things and AI optimizes the efficiency of PGR use and reduces waste.
2 Regional market analysis
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North America: occupies 35% of the global share, and the United States has become the main market due to its support for organic agriculture policies.
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Europe: France leads with a market share of 21.7%, and the UK has strong demand due to its long growing season.
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Asia-Pacific: China and India grow fastest, while Indonesia's import demand surges due to agricultural expansion.
3 Scientific breakthroughs: from hormone regulation to environmentally friendly formulas
Auxin-salicylic acid seesaw mechanism
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The latest research has found that plants coordinate growth and insect defense through the dynamic balance of auxin (Auxin) and salicylic acid (SA) at different growth stages. Young plants are dominated by auxin to promote rapid growth; SA accumulation in adulthood enhances insect resistance. This discovery provides a theoretical basis for the development of new insect-resistant regulators.
Stress resistance potential of triacontanol (TRIA)
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As a natural long-chain alcohol PGR, TRIA alleviates drought and salt stress by improving photosynthetic efficiency and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity, and performs well in crops such as cotton and rice.
Innovation in environmentally friendly regulator formula
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The onion-like layered liquid crystal emulsion (LCE) encapsulation technology developed by Shihezi University significantly improves the stability and leaf affinity of Uniconazole. Field trials show that cotton yields increased by 8.3%.
3 Industry Challenges and Future Opportunities
Despite the broad prospects, the PGR industry still faces the following challenges:
-Residue problem: Traditional triazole retardants (such as paclobutrazol) have serious soil residues, while the new procyclohexane calcium (Pro-Ca) has become an alternative due to its non-polluting properties.
-Cost barriers: Organic PGRs are expensive and their promotion in developing countries is limited.
In the future, the industry will focus on:
✔Gene editing technology combined with PGR to precisely control crop traits.
✔Nanocarrier technology improves the absorption efficiency of drugs and reduces the dosage.
✔Policy support: For example, the EU plans to increase the proportion of organic agriculture to 25% by 2030.
The plant growth regulator industry is at a critical stage of technological upgrading and market expansion. As sustainable agriculture becomes a global consensus, efficient and low-toxic PGR products will become the core driving force of agricultural modernization. Enterprises need to keep up with scientific research trends and optimize product structure to meet the growing needs of food security and environmental protection.
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