Driven by the wave of sustainable agricultural development, the market for biocontrol products, biostimulants, and biofertilizers witnessed record-breaking growth in 2022. Today, this sector has entered a new phase of selective integration and rational growth, presenting a host of notable new characteristics.​

Exclusive intelligence from DunhamTrimmer shows that a total of 597 deals were closed in the industry between 2013 and 2024, with an average of 49 transactions per year. 2022 marked a market peak, seeing 82 transactions completed throughout the year, including 32 merger and acquisition (M&A) agreements and joint ventures. Subsequently, affected by tighter credit conditions, rising capital costs, and the natural maturation of the bioproducts industry, transaction volume dropped by 41% to 48 deals in 2024. Nevertheless, strategic cooperation expanded concurrently, with distribution and co-development partnerships becoming the mainstream model. This approach has helped multinational enterprises acquire innovative technologies with lower financial risks.​

Market shifts have driven a change in investors' mindset, moving from a "scale-focused" to a "value-focused" approach. Ignacio Moyano, Vice President of Business Development for Latin America at DunhamTrimmer, noted: "The focus is no longer limited to company size; instead, greater emphasis is placed on management methods, financial health, and measurable competitiveness." Bio-inputs remain a hot investment area precisely because they combine innovation, scalability, and sustainability, aligning well with ESG investment principles.​

M&A and strategic cooperation play crucial roles in the industry's development. As a key catalyst, M&A helps startups connect with the distribution networks and compliance systems of multinational corporations, accelerating the commercialization of innovative technologies. Meanwhile, strategic cooperation provides enterprises with a secure channel for technology and market validation before deepening equity investment, reducing investment risks.​

On the global market map, Brazil stands out as a fast-growing potential market for bio-inputs. Rick Melnick, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner at DunhamTrimmer, described it as a "giant market still in its early stages of development." Brazil's vast arable land provides enormous application space for bio-inputs; its unique soil conditions and complex pest issues create an urgent demand for efficient and eco-friendly bio-inputs; and government support policies have fostered a favorable policy environment for industry growth. However, this opportunity-rich market also has high entry barriers, requiring enterprises to possess in-depth local knowledge to navigate its complex landscape. Focusing on market entry strategies and due diligence, DunhamTrimmer supports investment institutions in evaluating M&A opportunities and helps clients optimize market strategies. As Melnick emphasized: "In the Latin American market, seizing the right timing and positioning is crucial."​

To address the growing complexity of the industry, DunhamTrimmer has categorized market transactions into four types:​

Acquisitions: For non-organic entry into specific sectors, enabling companies to quickly enter new markets or acquire core technologies;​

Distribution partnerships: Allowing enterprises to access innovative technologies through non-controlling arrangements, reducing investment risks while facilitating technology sharing;​

Co-development: Emphasizing collaboration between multinational corporations to integrate advantages and enhance efficiency in technology R&D and market promotion;​

R&D partnerships: Providing a platform for innovators to expand commercially and accelerate the industrialization of innovative technologies.​

This detailed classification not only reflects the industry's complexity but also highlights the practical need for technological innovation to be closely integrated with regulatory compliance, logistics, and commercial capabilities—elements that are rarely concentrated in a single company, further underscoring the importance of cooperation.​

Looking ahead, the new round of M&A cycles in the global bio-inputs market will feature more refined, strategy-driven transactions, with proven technologies, strong execution capabilities, and long-term financial stability becoming core areas of focus. Industry evolution is driving in-depth changes in specialization, strict management, and value creation. For investors, rationality has replaced blind enthusiasm, and they will evaluate investment projects more cautiously, focusing on enterprises with long-term growth potential and core value. For innovators, cooperation has become the only way to achieve large-scale profitable growth. By establishing close cooperative relationships with various stakeholders to integrate resources and share advantages, they can achieve sustainable development in the fiercely competitive market. Guided by the concept of sustainable development, the global bio-inputs market is moving toward a more rational, healthy, and collaborative new stage, with win-win cooperation set to become the core melody of industry development.