The global biological pest control agents market is expected to reach approximately USD 18.8 billion by 2036 from USD 7.45 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 9.7% from 2026 to 2036.

Biological pest control agents are living organisms or naturally derived substances used to suppress agricultural pest populations without relying on synthetic chemical toxicity. These solutions act through mechanisms such as predation, parasitism, pathogenic infection, and biochemical disruption, making them a foundational component of modern integrated pest management (IPM) systems.

Biological control products fall into three broad categories. Macrobial agents include beneficial insects, predatory mites, parasitic wasps, and entomopathogenic nematodes that directly consume or parasitize target pests. Microbial agents comprise bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa that infect and kill pests with high specificity. A third category encompasses biologically derived products, such as plant extracts, essential oils, pheromones, and insect growth regulators, which interfere with pest behavior, development, or reproduction while minimizing non‑target impacts.

The adoption of biological pest control has increased across the globe mainly due to stricter regulatory controls on synthetic pesticides, growing consumer demand for residue‑free food, and the rising incidence of pesticide resistance across key pest species. Regulatory bans and re‑registration hurdles in major markets have further constrained chemical options, increasing reliance on biological and nature‑based alternatives.

The commercial adoption of biological pest control agents has been strongest in high‑value crops, including greenhouse vegetables, organic produce, tree fruits, and ornamental plants. In these segments, yield protection, residue compliance, and brand positioning justify the generally higher per‑acre cost of biological interventions compared with conventional pesticides. As formulation stability, application efficiency, and integration with digital crop monitoring improve, biological control agents are increasingly viewed not as niche solutions but as scalable tools within mainstream crop protection programs.

Key Market Highlights:

• In 2025, Europe accounted for the largest share of the global biological pest control agents market, driven by stringent pesticide regulations, ambitious organic farming targets (25% of farmland by 2030), and well-established IPM infrastructure across greenhouse and field crop sectors.
• Asia-Pacific is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period, fueled by rapid adoption in China and India, government subsidies for biopesticides, growing food safety concerns, and expansion of protected agriculture facilities.
• Based on agent type, macrobial biocontrol agents held the largest share of the market in 2025, driven by proven efficacy in greenhouse systems, established production infrastructure for beneficial insects, and extensive use in integrated pest management programs for vegetables and ornamentals.
• Based on agent type, microbial biocontrol agents are expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period, driven by easier storage and distribution compared to live insects, longer shelf life, compatibility with conventional spray equipment, and expanding product registrations.
• Based on application mode, foliar spray dominated the market in 2025, owing to immediate pest knockdown capability, compatibility with existing spray infrastructure, and effectiveness across diverse crop types and pest pressures.
• Based on crop type, fruits and vegetables accounted for the largest share of the market in 2025, fueled by consumer willingness to pay premiums for residue-free produce, short pre-harvest intervals critical for fresh market sales, and prevalence of pest-resistant populations in intensive production systems.
• Based on end user, commercial agriculture commanded the largest share of the overall market in 2025, driven by adoption in organic operations, integrated pest management requirements from major food retailers, and economic viability in high-value specialty crops.
• North America shows strong growth in greenhouse production where controlled environments optimize biocontrol agent performance and eliminate weather-related application challenges faced in open-field systems.
• Latin America shows growing adoption in export-oriented fruit and vegetable production where European and North American markets increasingly demand reduced pesticide residues and sustainable production certifications.

Key Trends Shaping the Market:

Integration with Precision Agriculture and Digital Platforms

The integration of biological pest control with precision agriculture and digital farming systems is reshaping how biocontrol products are deployed and managed. In greenhouse and high‑value crop systems, automated monitoring tools, such as machine‑vision cameras and sensor‑based scouting are increasingly used to detect pest pressure early and enable targeted, localized releases of biological control agents. This approach improves efficacy while reducing overall input costs.

At the farm level, mobile and web‑based applications allow growers to visualize real‑time pest intensity, receive data‑driven recommendations on agent selection and release rates, and track temperature‑based development cycles critical for timing biological interventions. At scale, analytics platforms aggregate performance data across regions and cropping systems, enabling continuous optimization of integrated pest management (IPM) protocols across specific pest, crop, and climate combinations.
 

Growth of Combination and Synergistic Products

Combination products and synergistic formulations are emerging as a high‑growth segment within the biocontrol market. Manufacturers are increasingly developing multi‑organism solutions and hybrid products that combine biological agents with reduced‑risk chemical modes of action, reflecting grower demand for reliability and flexibility.

Mixed microbial formulations, such as products combining multiple Bacillus strains or bacterial‑fungal consortia, offer broader spectrum control and reduce the risk of pest or pathogen adaptation. Similarly, hybrid solutions pairing beneficial organisms with compatible low‑dose synthetic chemistries provide practical transition pathways for growers seeking to reduce chemical dependence without compromising crop protection outcomes.
 

Regionalization of Production Infrastructure

Expanding regional production capacity has become a strategic priority for leading biocontrol suppliers, driven by the biological nature of live organisms and the logistical challenges associated with long‑distance shipping. Local manufacturing reduces transit time, limits viability losses caused by temperature stress, and improves responsiveness to seasonal demand.

Koppert’s 2022 investment in Brazilian production facilities, including an 8,000‑square‑meter microbial formulation plant, illustrates this trend by enabling regional supply for Latin America without reliance on imports. Beyond logistics, local production supports the development of biocontrol solutions tailored to region‑specific pest pressures and environmental conditions, such as heat‑tolerant predatory mites or microbial strains optimized for specific soil types.

As markets in Asia, Latin America, and Africa move from early adoption toward scale, localized production infrastructure is becoming a critical differentiator. Companies with regional breeding, fermentation, and formulation capabilities are better positioned to compete on performance, reliability, and cost as biological control transitions from niche application to mainstream crop protection strategy.

Market Dynamics:

Driver: Regulatory Restrictions and Pesticide Bans

Regulatory restrictions on conventional pesticides are a key driver increasing adoption of biological pest control solutions. As regulators tighten approval criteria for synthetic active ingredients, particularly those associated with environmental persistence, biodiversity loss, or human health risks, growers increasingly face gaps in available pest control options.

In the European Union, the restriction of several broad‑spectrum insecticides and seed treatment chemistries, including neonicotinoids, has reduced the range of approved control tools across multiple crops. Similar regulatory pressure is evident in other major markets, where re‑registration requirements and use limitations are narrowing the chemical toolkit available to growers.

For growers, the loss of familiar chemical solutions creates immediate demand for alternatives that can be integrated into existing pest management programs. For biocontrol manufacturers, this environment presents both opportunity and execution risk: the opportunity to capture share as chemical options disappear, and the need to scale production, technical support, and distribution fast enough to meet rising demand before growers adopt substitute strategies.
 

Driver: Expansion of Organic Agriculture and Premium Produce Markets

The continued expansion of organic agriculture is expected to drive demand for biological pest control agents. Organic certification standards generally prohibit synthetic pesticides, making biocontrol solutions essential rather than optional for organic producers. As organic acreage grows across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia‑Pacific, demand for effective non‑chemical pest management is expected to increase significantly through 2036.

Beyond certified organic systems, conventional producers are also increasingly adopting sustainability‑oriented practices to meet retailer, processor, and consumer expectations. Reduced pesticide residue claims, integrated pest management compliance, and participation in sustainability certification programs are driving the market for biological pest control beyond strictly organic farms.

Segment Analysis:

By Agent Type

Macrobial agents commanded the largest share of the overall biological pest control market in 2025, reflecting their long-established use in both greenhouse and select field applications. This segment includes beneficial insects, predatory mites, parasitic wasps, and entomopathogenic nematodes, with predatory mites representing the most widely deployed subgroup. Species such as Phytoseiulus persimilis, Amblyseius swirskii, and Neoseiulus californicus are foundational to pest management in European greenhouse vegetables, where biological control has become the industry standard. Parasitic wasps, including Encarsia and Trichogramma species, provide highly targeted control, while entomopathogenic nematodes are widely used against soil‑dwelling pests. Large‑scale insectaries operated by suppliers such as Koppert, Biobest, and BioBee underpin reliable global supply through industrialized rearing and quality assurance systems.

Microbial agents are expected to grow at the fastest CAGR through 2036, driven by various advantages including longer shelf life, compatibility with conventional spray equipment, and lower distribution complexity. Products based on Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria, Metarhizium, and viral agents are increasingly used in both organic and conventional production. Advances in formulation such as microencapsulation, UV protection, and multi‑strain blends have improved field persistence and broadened use cases.

By Application Mode

Foliar application commanded the largest share of the overall market in 2025 due to its flexibility, rapid response capability, and compatibility with existing sprayer infrastructure.

However, the soil applications market is growing rapidly, especially for biological nematodes, beneficial fungi, and bacterial inoculants that establish longer‑lasting root‑zone populations. These treatments are widely used in greenhouse systems, nurseries, and during planting through in‑furrow or drip irrigation delivery.

By Crop Type

Fruits and vegetables segment held the largest share of the overall biological pest control agents market in 2025, driven by premium pricing, strict residue requirements, and short pre‑harvest intervals. Greenhouse vegetables, soft fruits, tree fruits, and organic leafy greens show particularly high adoption, with biological control often forming the backbone of pest management programs.

By End User

Commercial agriculture is the largest end‑user segment, spanning both certified organic operations and conventional growers integrating biocontrol into IPM programs. The adoption of biological control agents is further increasing significantly among large fruit, vegetable, and export‑oriented producers with access to technical advisory networks and incentives tied to residue compliance and sustainability certification. However, the market for the greenhouse and nursery operations segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2026 to 2036.

Regional Insights

Europe commanded the largest share of the global biological pest control agents market in 2025, driven by stringent pesticide regulations, Farm‑to‑Fork targets, a 25% organic farming goal by 2030, and advanced greenhouse production systems. The Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain set global benchmarks, supported by strong research institutions and leading suppliers such as Koppert and Biobest.

Asia‑Pacific is the fastest‑growing market for biological pest control agents, driven by food safety concerns, government promotion of biopesticides, and rapid greenhouse expansion. China and India lead this market, complemented by advanced systems in Japan and export‑oriented growth in Southeast Asia and Oceania.

North America shows high adoption in greenhouse, organic, and specialty crops, particularly in California and protected agriculture systems in Canada. Field‑crop adoption remains limited but innovation is supported by streamlined biopesticide regulation and strong technical advisory infrastructure.

Key Players:

The major players in the biological pest control agents market include BASF SE, Bayer AG, Syngenta AG, Corteva Agriscience, FMC Corporation, UPL Limited, Koppert Biological Systems, Biobest Group NV, BioBee Biological Systems, Valent BioSciences LLC, Certis USA LLC, Marrone Bio Innovations (Bioceres Crop Solutions), Andermatt Biocontrol AG, BioWorks Inc., and Novozymes A/S., among others.