Plant Phenotyping Market

Plant Phenotyping Market Snapshot (2023 to 2033)

The global plant phenotyping market size is expected to be valued at US$ 175.9 million in 2023. Expansion of cloud computing and data analytics, bolsters the overall scope for plant phenotyping market, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.0% between 2023 and 2033, totaling around US$ 497.4 million by 2033.

According to the analysis of Future Market Insights, the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques in plant phenotyping has brought significant advancements in the analysis and interpretation of phenotypic data. AI and ML algorithms enable automated and rapid data processing, feature extraction, and predictive modeling, revolutionizing the field of plant phenotyping.

Plant phenotyping generates large volumes of data, including images, sensor readings, and other measurements. AI and ML algorithms can process this data automatically, reducing the manual effort and time required for analysis. The algorithms can handle high-throughput phenotyping, enabling the efficient analysis of large-scale datasets. Automated data processing accelerates the phenotyping pipeline, allowing researchers and breeders to extract valuable insights and make informed decisions more quickly.

AI and ML algorithms excel in extracting meaningful features from complex datasets. In plant phenotyping, these algorithms can identify and extract relevant features from images, sensor data, or spectral information. ML algorithms, for instance, can analyze plant images and extract characteristics such as leaf area, plant height, or biomass. The extracted features provide quantitative information for plant growth, architecture, and physiological traits. AI and ML algorithms enable accurate and consistent feature extraction, overcoming subjective biases and human errors.

AI and ML techniques enable the development of predictive models that relate phenotypic data to various plant attributes or environmental conditions. The models can uncover patterns and relationships that may not be easily discernible through traditional statistical analysis. ML models, by training on historical data, can predict future plant performance, growth trajectories, or response to specific treatments or stressors. Predictive modeling empowers researchers and farmers to make data-driven decisions and optimize crop management strategies.

Plant Phenotyping Demand Analysis (2018 to 2022) Vs Market Outlook (2023 to 2033)

The global demand for plant phenotyping is projected to increase at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period between 2018 and 2022, reaching a total of US$ 497.4 million in 2033.

According to Future Market Insights, a market research and competitive intelligence provider, the plant phenotyping market was valued at US$ 156.5 million in 2022.

The increasing research focus in plant sciences has led to significant investments in plant phenotyping research, which is expected to drive the growth of the plant phenotyping market. Plant phenotyping plays a vital role in crop improvement and breeding programs. Researchers are increasingly interested in developing crop varieties that possess desirable traits such as high yield, disease resistance, drought tolerance, and nutritional quality.

Plant phenotyping provides a comprehensive understanding of plant traits, growth patterns, and responses to environmental factors. Researchers, by analyzing phenotypic data can identify and select plants with desired traits, accelerating the breeding process and the development of improved crop varieties. The demand for advanced plant phenotyping technologies and tools is growing to support these research efforts.

Climate change poses significant challenges to global food security and agriculture. Researchers are actively investigating ways to enhance the resilience of crops to changing environmental conditions. Plant phenotyping is crucial in studying plant responses to climate change-related factors such as heat stress, water scarcity, elevated CO2 levels, and changing pest and disease dynamics. Researchers, by analyzing phenotypic data, can identify plant traits associated with resilience and develop strategies to breed climate-resilient crops. The research focus drives the demand for plant phenotyping solutions that can accurately capture and analyze plant responses to changing environmental conditions.

Phenotyping research allows scientists to study the complex interactions between plants and their environment. Researchers, by analyzing how plants respond to different environmental factors, gain insights into the underlying mechanisms that govern plant growth, development, and stress responses. The knowledge contributes to the development of sustainable agricultural practices, optimized resource allocation, and effective crop management strategies. The demand for advanced plant phenotyping technologies and methodologies increases, as researchers strive to deepen their understanding of plant-environment interactions.

Which Drivers Underpin Plant Phenotyping Industry Expansion?

Advancements in Imaging Technologies to Fuel the Market Growth

Advancements in imaging technologies have significantly contributed to the improvement of plant phenotyping by enhancing the accuracy, efficiency, and data quality of plant analysis and characterization. Hyperspectral imaging involves capturing images across a wide range of narrow contiguous spectral bands. Hyperspectral imaging, unlike traditional RGB imaging, provides a more detailed spectral profile of plants, enabling the identification and analysis of specific biochemical and physiological characteristics. It allows researchers to detect subtle variations in plant health, nutrient content, water stress, and disease symptoms. Researchers, by analyzing hyperspectral data, can gain insights into plant physiology and make informed decisions regarding crop management practices.

Traditional imaging techniques provide 2D representations of plants, which may limit the ability to accurately capture plant architecture and growth patterns. 3D imaging techniques, such as structured light scanning or laser scanning, enable the creation of high-resolution 3D models of plants, which allows for the precise measurement of plant height, volume, leaf area, branching patterns, and biomass distribution. Researchers can analyze these 3D models to understand plant growth dynamics, optimize plant breeding strategies, and assess the impact of environmental factors on plant development.

Drones equipped with imaging sensors have revolutionized plant phenotyping by providing a flexible and scalable solution for data collection over large agricultural areas. Drone-based imaging enables the monitoring of crops in real-time and at high spatial resolution, with the ability to capture images from various altitudes and angles. It allows for the rapid assessment of crop health, detection of stress factors, and identification of variability within fields. Drone-based imaging also facilitates the timely implementation of precision agriculture practices, such as targeted fertilization or irrigation, based on the obtained data.

Increasing Focus on Precision Agriculture to Accelerate the Market Growth

Precision agriculture involves the precise management of resources, such as water, fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds, to maximize crop productivity while minimizing input wastage and environmental impacts. Plant phenotyping plays a crucial role in enabling precision agriculture by providing essential data and insights for informed decision-making. Plant phenotyping allows for the continuous and non-destructive monitoring of crop health throughout the growing season. Phenotyping, by capturing data on plant morphology, physiology, and biochemical traits, provides insights into the overall health status of plants. The insights help identify early signs of stress, nutrient deficiencies, diseases, or pest infestations. Farmers, with this information, can take timely corrective measures, such as targeted application of fertilizers or pesticides, to prevent yield losses and maintain crop health.

Plant phenotyping enables the identification and characterization of stress factors affecting crops, such as drought, salinity, heat, or cold stress. Phenotyping, by monitoring plant responses to these stressors, provides valuable information on stress tolerance, adaptive mechanisms, and critical growth stages of crops. The monitoring helps farmers to implement site-specific management strategies and allocate resources effectively to mitigate the adverse effects of stress, ensuring optimal crop growth and productivity.

Precise resource allocation is a key objective of precision agriculture. Plant phenotyping data, combined with other geospatial and environmental data, can be used to create detailed maps of crop variability within fields. The maps help identify areas with varying nutrient requirements, water-holding capacity, or pest pressure. Farmers, by tailoring resource application based on these spatial variations, can optimize the use of fertilizers, water, and other inputs, reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact while maximizing crop yield.

Nikhil Kaitwade

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Which Factors are limiting the Growth of Plant Phenotyping Market?

High Initial Investment Cost to Restrain the Market Growth

The high initial investment costs associated with plant phenotyping technologies can present a significant barrier to the adoption and utilization of these advanced tools, especially for small-scale research institutions, agricultural organizations, and farmers with limited financial resources.

Implementing plant phenotyping technologies often requires the establishment of specialized infrastructure and facilities, which includes constructing or retrofitting greenhouse or growth chamber facilities with controlled environments, lighting systems, and temperature and humidity controls. Field-based phenotyping may require the setup of experimental plots or field stations equipped with sensor networks and data collection systems. The construction or modification of such infrastructure involves significant capital investment.

Plant phenotyping relies on a wide range of equipment and imaging systems to capture and analyze plant data, which includes high-resolution cameras, multispectral or hyperspectral imaging systems, lidar devices, spectrometers, and specialized sensors to measure plant characteristics such as biomass, leaf area, chlorophyll content, and water potential. These equipment and imaging systems can be expensive, especially when considering the need for high-quality and reliable instruments for accurate data acquisition.

Plant phenotyping often involves the use of various sensors to monitor environmental conditions and plant responses. The sensors can include temperature and humidity sensors, soil moisture sensors, nutrient sensors, gas analyzers, and weather stations. The cost of acquiring and maintaining these sensors can be significant, particularly when multiple sensors are required for comprehensive phenotyping studies.

Region-wise Insights

Will North America Continue Dominance in the Global Plant Phenotyping Market?

Favorable Government Initiatives in North America to Fuel the Market Growth

The plant phenotyping market in North America is expected to accumulate a prominent CAGR of 10.9% in 2023.

The regional market growth is attributed to the factors such as the favorable government initiatives and funding. Governments in North America have been actively supporting agricultural research and development initiatives. They have been providing grants, funding programs, and incentives to promote innovation in agriculture and address food security challenges. Such support and funding for plant phenotyping research and technology development drive the growth of the sector by enabling the establishment of advanced phenotyping infrastructure and encouraging research collaboration. The market in the United States is anticipated to reach at US$ 87 million by 2033.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers various grant programs and funding opportunities to support agricultural research and innovation. For instance, the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) provides grants through programs like the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). The programs include funding streams for plant phenotyping research and technology development, enabling researchers to advance the field.

North America is home to renowned research institutions and academic centers that focus on plant sciences and agricultural research. The institutions have the expertise, facilities, and resources necessary for conducting cutting-edge plant phenotyping research. The presence of strong research and academic institutions contributes to the growth of plant phenotyping by fostering innovation, attracting talent, and facilitating collaborations with industry partners.

North America has a well-established technology and innovation ecosystem, with numerous companies and startups actively engaged in developing plant phenotyping technologies. Technological advancements, such as high-resolution imaging systems, sensor networks, and data analysis algorithms, enhance the efficiency and accuracy of plant phenotyping. Collaboration between industry players, research institutions, and agricultural organizations further drives innovation and accelerates the adoption of advanced plant phenotyping solutions.

How Will Growth of the Plant Phenotyping Market unfold in Asia Pacific?

Technological Advancements in the Region to Fuel the Market Growth

The plant phenotyping market in Asia Pacific is expected to accumulate a significant CAGR of 10.8% in 2023.

The Asia Pacific plant phenotyping market is expected to witness significant growth attributed to the increasing population and food demand. The region is experiencing rapid population growth and increasing food demand. To address food security challenges, there is a growing need for improved crop productivity, crop resilience, and sustainable agricultural practices. Plant phenotyping technologies play a crucial role in achieving these goals by providing insights into plant performance, stress tolerance, and crop improvement strategies.

The region is witnessing significant technological advancements in various fields, including imaging technology, sensor technology, and data analytics. The advancements contribute to the development of advanced plant phenotyping techniques and tools. Collaborations between research institutions, academia, and industry players foster innovation, accelerate technology transfer, and drive the growth of the plant phenotyping market in the region.

The Asia Pacific region is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including changing rainfall patterns, temperature extremes, and increased pest and disease pressures. There is a growing emphasis on developing climate-resilient crops and sustainable agricultural practices. Plant phenotyping plays a crucial role in understanding plant responses to climate stresses and identifying traits that can enhance crop resilience.

The adoption of precision agriculture techniques is increasing in the region as farmers seek to optimize resource utilization, minimize environmental impact, and increase farm efficiency. Plant phenotyping provides valuable data for precision agriculture applications, such as targeted nutrient management, irrigation optimization, and disease detection. The integration of plant phenotyping technologies in precision agriculture practices drives the demand for advanced phenotyping solutions.

Category-wise Insights

By Equipment, which Plant Phenotyping Category will remain prominent?

Imaging Systems Segment to beat Competition in Untiring Market

On the basis of equipment, the market is dominated by imaging systems segment, which is expected to hold a CAGR of 10.8% over the analysis period.

Continuous advancements in imaging technologies, such as hyperspectral imaging, multispectral imaging, thermal imaging, and fluorescence imaging, are driving the growth of this segment. The technologies allow for the capture of detailed information about various plant characteristics, including chlorophyll content, water stress, disease symptoms, and canopy structure. The development of high-resolution imaging systems with improved accuracy and speed enhances the capabilities of plant phenotyping and contributes to the segment's growth.

Imaging systems offer non-destructive data collection, allowing repeated measurements on the same plants over time without harming the samples. The non-destructive nature is particularly beneficial for longitudinal studies and enables researchers to track plant growth and development continuously. Imaging systems can capture data from multiple plants simultaneously, facilitating high-throughput phenotyping, which is crucial for large-scale experiments and breeding programs.

Imaging systems generate vast amounts of image data that require sophisticated analysis techniques. The integration of advanced analytics, such as image processing algorithms, computer vision, and machine learning, enhances the interpretation and extraction of meaningful insights from imaging data. The techniques enable the identification of specific plant traits, disease symptoms, stress factors, and growth patterns, driving the adoption of imaging systems for plant phenotyping applications.

Imaging systems are versatile and can be applied to various phenotyping approaches, including leaf-level phenotyping, canopy-level phenotyping, and root phenotyping. They provide a comprehensive view of plant performance and enable the assessment of multiple phenotypic traits simultaneously. The flexibility and scalability of imaging systems make them suitable for different research objectives and contribute to their increasing adoption in plant phenotyping.

By Software, which Plant Phenotyping Category to dominate?

Data Management & Integration Software Segment to Drive the Plant Phenotyping Market

Based on the software, the commercial segment is expected to expand at rapid rate of 10.7% CAGR over the analysis period.

The segmental growth can be attributed to the increasing number of efficient data organization and integration. Plant phenotyping involves the collection of diverse data types, including imaging data, sensor data, genomic data, environmental data, and metadata. Data management software provides tools and functionalities to organize and integrate these heterogeneous data types into a unified database. Efficient data organization and integration enable researchers to access and analyze comprehensive datasets, leading to a more holistic understanding of plant performance and traits.

Plant phenotyping experiments generate large volumes of data, requiring scalable and secure storage solutions. Data management software facilitates the storage and retrieval of phenotypic data, ensuring data integrity and accessibility. Scalable and secure data storage capabilities are crucial in managing and archiving phenotypic data for future reference, collaboration, and reproducibility of experiments.

Phenotypic data collected from different sources or experiments may have variations and inconsistencies. Data management software provides functionalities to perform quality control checks, data cleaning, and standardization procedures. The capabilities ensure the accuracy and reliability of phenotypic data, enabling researchers to make informed decisions based on high-quality data.

Data management software that can integrate with other phenotyping tools, imaging systems, or analytical platforms provides seamless workflows and data exchange capabilities. Integration with imaging analysis software, statistical analysis software, or genomic analysis tools allows for efficient data transfer and analysis, streamlining the phenotyping workflow and enhancing collaboration among researchers.

The Start-Up Ecosystem: How key Players are opening Frontiers for Future Growth?

Plant phenotyping market startup players are adopting various marketing strategies such as new product launches, geographical expansion, merger and acquisitions, partnerships and collaboration to create a larger customer base. For instance,

• Started in 2016, Aspera Technologies is a United Kingdom based startup that develops phenotyping platforms for the agricultural industry. The company's platforms are used by farmers, researchers, and government agencies to improve crop yields and reduce crop losses.
• Founded in 2015, PhenotypeX is a Canadian company that develops phenotyping platforms for research and commercial use. The company's platforms are used by universities, governments, and private companies to study plant growth and development.
• Established in 2013, Aerobotics is a South African startup company that uses drones to collect data on plant health. The company's data is used by farmers to improve crop yields and reduce crop losses.

Who are the Leading Players in the Plant Phenotyping Market?

Prominent players in the plant phenotyping market are LemnaTec GmbH, Qubit Systems Inc., Phenospex B.V., Keygene N.V., Rothamsted Research, CropDesign (a BASF company), Lemnatec Corp., Phenomix AG, PSI - Plant Phenotyping and Imaging Research Centre, and Heinz Walz GmbH, among others.

Recent Developments:

• In 2023, Delta-T Devices launched the Delta-T FieldSpec® X5 portable phenotyping system. The system is an upgraded version of the Delta-T FieldSpec® X4 system and includes new features such as a thermal camera and a wider range of sensors.
• In the same year, KeyGene launched the KeyGene Phenotyping Suite 2.0. The suite is a software platform that helps researchers and growers to design, conduct, and analyze plant phenotyping experiments. The suite includes new features such as a module for simulating the effects of climate change on plant growth.
• In 2023, OptiSens launched the OptiSens Canopy Sensor 2.0. The sensor is a non-intrusive sensor that measures canopy light interception and photosynthesis. The sensor has been upgraded to include a new algorithm that can more accurately measure these parameters.
• In 2022, BASF partnered with Bayer CropScience to develop new phenotyping technologies for the agricultural industry. The partnership will focus on developing technologies that can be used to improve crop yields and reduce crop losses.

Report Scope

Key Segments Covered in the Plant Phenotyping Industry Analysis

Plant Phenotyping Market by Equipment:

• Growth Chambers/Phytotrons
• Imaging Systems
• Robotics and Automation
• Phenomobiles

Plant Phenotyping Market by Software:

• Imaging Analysis Software
• Data Management & Integration Software
• Statistical Analysis and Modeling Software

Plant Phenotyping Market by Sensors:

• Environmental Sensors
• Physiological Sensors
• Spectral Sensors

Plant Phenotyping Market by Region:

• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• South Asia
• East Asia
• Oceania
• Middle East & Africa