Europe Forage Seeds Market Revenue to cross US$ 5.58 Billion by 2031

Italy Dominated Europe Forage Seeds Market During 2023–2031

According to our new research study on “Europe Forage Seeds Market Forecast to 2031 – by Species,” the market was valued at US$ 3.57 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$ 5.58 billion by 2031; it is expected to register a CAGR of 5.7% from 2023 to 2031. The report highlights key factors propelling the market growth and prominent players along with their developments in the market. Apart from growth drivers, the report covers the Europe forage seeds market trends and their foreseeable impact during the forecast period.

Industrial livestock production has undergone a significant transformation due to increasing demand for meat-based products and dairy products. Livestock products account for 16% of energy and 34% of the protein in human diets. Livestock production also accounts for ~19% of the value of food production and 30% of the global value of agriculture. The demand for livestock products is driven by changing lifestyles and food preferences, increasing urbanization, growing income, and the rapidly rising world population. With burgeoning livestock demand, the consumption of protein-rich meat products is surging.

Europe Forage Seeds Market

According to the European Commission, the European Union (EU) has a sizeable livestock population, and by the end of 2023, there were 133 million pigs, 74 million bovine animals, and 68 million sheep and goats. Thus, the increasing consumption of livestock products such as meat and increasing milk production has encouraged manufacturers to focus on providing good quality forage crops for feeding livestock.

In Europe, livestock production subsequently drives the demand for forage seeds, especially as farmers look for sustainable ways to meet the rising consumer demand for meat and dairy products. Countries such as Germany, France, and the UK are witnessing an increasing shift toward sustainable livestock systems that prioritize animal welfare and environmental conservation. In these systems, forage crops play a crucial role in maintaining healthy pastures and ensuring that livestock have consistent access to high-quality feed.

The growth in livestock production is likely to create a demand for better forage crops, as people are highly concerned about the quality of meat they consume. The growth in the demand for forage crops can only be supported with better-quality forage seeds. Nutrient deficiencies in livestock can be resolved by providing them with forage feed that maintains the growth rate of livestock, their health, and well-being. People are becoming more conscious about their health, and thus, preference is given to organic food, as it does not contain pesticides. Thus, with surging demand, the production of healthy livestock is increasing, further driving the forage seeds market across Europe.

The scope of the Europe forage seeds market report focuses on Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, the UK, and the Rest of Europe. Italy dominated the Europe forage seeds market size in 2023. According to the Alltech Feed survey 2019, pork feed production in Italy accounted for a significant share of 3.731 million metric tons of feed production, followed by poultry feed production value of 2.940 million metric tons. Thus, the increasing production denotes the rising demand for feed in the country. Cattle production was relatively stagnant in the early 21st century, with much of the industry devoted to fattening calves that had been imported from France. Italy has a high propensity for alfalfa and ryegrass cultivation in this area due to the favorable weather conditions and soil composition. These factors fuel the demand for forage seeds in the country.

The European Union's focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting soil health has led to the increased adoption of cover and forage crops. As a result, seed manufacturers are consolidating to strengthen their ability to meet regulatory demands and offer innovative solutions. Therefore, strategic development initiatives by manufacturers are a major driving force behind the growth of the forage seeds market in Europe. Through product innovations, partnerships, expanded distributions, marketing efforts, and sustainability initiatives, manufacturers are responding to the growing demand for sustainable agriculture.

Countries in Europe are encouraging the use of technologically modified seeds for better yield and pest resistance. This factor is driving technological advancements in the Europe forage seeds market. The seed manufacturers have developed different varieties or traits of seeds, such as hybrid, GMO, non-GMO, and organic seeds, with technological developments. The farmer's preference for these transgenic varieties is slowly rising in various forage-growing regions to minimize crop losses by weeds and diseases and enhance the quality of seeds. The hybrid seeds are developed by special, carefully controlled cross-pollination of two different parent plants of the same species to produce new traits that cannot be created by the inbreeding of two of the same plants. This factor is expected to boost the Europe forage seeds market growth during the forecast period.

Europe Forage Seeds Market: Segmental Overview

The Europe forage seeds market analysis has been performed by considering the species segment.

By species, the market is segmented into alfalfa, white clover, red clover, hybrid clover, crimson clover, Egyptian clover, Persian clover, perennial ryegrass, timothy, birdsfoot trefoil, meadow fescue, tall fescue, forage mixtures, annual ryegrass, Italian ryegrass, hybrid ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and others. The forage mixtures segment held the largest Europe forage seeds market share in 2023. Forage seed mixtures are widely used because of superior quality and highly nutritious forage. Usually, a combination of alfalfa, timothy, and clover seeds is used for the economy hay mixture. For economy pasture mixture, a combination of timothy, meadow fescue, bromegrass, orchard grass, and white clover seeds are used. All of these mixtures have great potential to make high-quality forage. The forage mixtures are based on the soil type and its application.

In terms of revenue, the alfalfa segment held significant Europe forage seeds market share in 2023. Alfalfa is a perennial crop and a member of the legume family. Alfalfa can be harvested ~11 times a year under favorable climatic conditions. They often grow 3 feet tall, with roots that penetrate more than 15 feet into the earth. Alfalfa is a rich source of phosphorus, potassium, iron, copper, sulfur, manganese, and other micronutrients. It is one of the primary sources of protein and fiber for dairy cows, beef cattle, horses, sheep, and meat rabbits. Benefits of alfalfa include improved reproduction of animals, strengthened bone health, and increased weight gain. Alfalfa requires a higher amount of water for its growth. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the exports of alfalfa hay account for ~40% of the total US hay exports. Alfalfa is known as the “Queen of Forages” due to its high nutrient content, higher yield, and easy adaptability. The meat and dairy industries are essential consumers of alfalfa forage as it is one of the significant sources of nutrients such as protein, minerals, and fibers for ruminants. The increasing demand for alfalfa seeds for manufacturing forage mixtures for livestock feed is driving the Europe forage seeds market growth.

Nutrien Ag Solutions, KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA, DLF Seeds AS, LIDEA, Deutsche Saatveredelung AG, Lantmännen ek, Cerience, Limagrain Uk Ltd, Feldsaaten Freudenberger GmbH & Co KG, and Nordic Seed AS are among the leading companies profiled in the Europe forage seeds market report.

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