What’s happening in the seed industry affects every agrochemical company—viewing the next phase of pesticide formulations and biostimulants through the lens of seeds

Who is responsible for realizing genetic potential? That’s where biostimulants come in. The data speaks for itself: globally, seed treatment accounts for approximately 22.8% of biostimulant applications (foliar spraying ~46.3%; soil irrigation ~30.9%). Applications targeting abiotic stress resistance (drought, salinity, high temperature) have grown by 22.8%, making it the most closely watched functional category among all application directions. (Note: Market-sizing estimates for biostimulants vary significantly across institutions. The global market is projected to reach USD 4.5–6.2 billion in 2025; China’s market is estimated at roughly RMB 580 million. Annual growth rates generally fall between 12% and 20%. These figures are cited only for directional reference—not as precise benchmarks.) Now consider the even more intimate seed-treatment market: China’s seed treatment materials market is expected to reach USD 2.8–3.2 billion by 2026, growing annually by 8%–9%. Among these, biological agents are expanding fastest—by 14%–18% per year—and are projected to account for 20%–25% of this market by 2035. The logic is already clear: the more expensive the seed, the greater farmers’ need for insurance—“Don’t let this premium seed go to waste.” Old Zhu’s assessment: the strongest value proposition of biostimulants isn’t “yield increase”—it’s “realizing the genetic yield potential encoded in the seed.” This is the sole, unassailable rationale that tightly binds biostimulants to the seed industry—and one no competitor can easily replicate. Are you still telling farmers, “My product boosts yields by X%”? Try reframing it: “You paid a premium for that seed package—I’ll help you recover the yield it was bred to deliver.” A subtle but important connection: this is also why I’ve long been bullish on yeast-derived peptide-based solutions—low molecular weight, well-defined bioactivity, and consistent batch-to-batch performance make them far more reliable for seed treatment and stress-resistance applications than vague, multi-purpose “miracle liquids” whose composition remains unclear. IV. Separation vs. Integration: Global Giants Split Up; China’s Frontline Players Unite Here’s another intriguing development—where exactly is “from seed to harvest” integration headed? Globally, giants are splitting up: Corteva’s seed business is slated for spin-off on October 1, 2026, forming two independent companies—Vylor (seeds and genetics) and New Corteva (crop protection and biologicals). BASF has likewise announced plans to list its Agricultural Solutions division separately. Yet elsewhere, Syngenta continues pursuing integrated “seed + crop protection”: in 2024, its seed business generated ~USD 4.8 billion, while its crop protection business reached ~USD 13.2 billion—two legs walking forward together. Split or integrate? My view: this isn’t a divergence in strategic direction—it’s a disagreement over *where the boundaries lie*. The question with integration has never been *whether* to do it—but *on what basis*. Aggregating products haphazardly creates a messy stew; integrating around crop systems—where seeds, crop protection, and fertilizers truly function as one coherent unit—is the right way. Even more interesting is what’s happening on China’s frontline. Recently, I read an interview with a veteran who spent over two decades at Bayer and BASF. He noted that county-level distributors—serving large-scale growers—are already “crossing boundaries”: seed sellers now offer crop protection products; crop protection sellers now carry seeds. Why? Because large growers demand turnkey, bundled solutions. So while global headquarters are splitting up, county-level China is integrating. Why? Because whether “integration” actually works isn’t determined by corporate organizational charts—it’s determined by whether someone on the ground—the last kilometer—can execute it.

Zheng Ziqin, President of Corteva Agriscience Greater China: Agriculture Is Facing Systemic Challenges

Reporter: Tian Jin In 2025, potato cultivation encountered one of the most difficult years in recent memory, with multiple regions hit by extreme weather—including late-spring cold snaps, sandstorms and gales, drought, and excessive rainfall later in the season. During field visits, Corteva’s team found many farmers initially believing, “Even if we plant, we won’t profit,” and some even considered exiting potato farming altogether. In contrast, in major production areas such as Zhangjiakou in Hebei Province and Wuchuan in Inner Mongolia, Corteva’s team entered fields early in the potato planting season. Based on anticipated climate and soil conditions for the year, they proactively identified likely challenges and delivered tailored product combinations and management protocols to farmers *before* problems emerged—not as reactive fixes after damage occurred. Field feedback showed that plots adopting the integrated approach consistently exhibited healthier plants, more uniform tubers, and greater stability in marketable quality. In Zhangjiakou, average revenue from table potatoes increased by approximately RMB 300 per mu; in Wuchuan’s demonstration zones, disease incidence dropped markedly, and yields rose about 6.5% compared to control plots. On February 10, in an exclusive interview, Zheng Ziqin, President of Corteva Agriscience Greater China, shared this experience. He explained that this case gradually led the company to realize agriculture is no longer confronting isolated technical issues—but rather systemic challenges spanning the entire crop growth cycle. Against this backdrop, no single enterprise—anywhere in the industry—can independently provide farmers with all the solutions they require. Throughout the interview, Zheng repeatedly emphasized the importance of collaboration among agricultural enterprises. He stated that, both globally and within China, Corteva is actively promoting a more open cooperative model—identifying local partners to address specific gaps in products or services, based on concrete problems raised by farmers. The core objective is no longer “whether our own products are used,” but rather whether an integrated solution can resolve multiple, concurrent challenges farmers face across an entire production cycle. As a global agricultural company, Corteva has operated in China since the 1970s. Today, its network of partners spans 28 provinces and includes over 7,000 key retailers. Its innovative products serve staple crops—including corn, rice, and wheat—as well as high-value crops such as fruits and vegetables. Exclusive Interview The Complexity of Agricultural Production Economic Observer: How have farmers’ expectations of agribusinesses changed, based on your team’s field research? Zheng Ziqin: Amid increasingly frequent extreme weather and rising uncertainty in farming, farmers’ central concerns are shifting—not just “Which new technology should I adopt?” but “Will I achieve stable yields this season?” “Are my inputs controllable?” and “Is my return predictable?” Secondly, as the industry becomes more professionalized and consolidated, an increasing number of specialized, professional farmers are emerging as the dominant market players. In an environment of relatively flat demand growth and intense competition, these farmers focus on sustaining their competitiveness through improved management capability, effective technology adoption, and differentiated cropping strategies. Economic Observer: What distinctive features characterize agricultural production in China, according to your observations? Zheng Ziqin: In the Chinese market, the complexity of the farmer structure stands out sharply. Overall, the average cultivated area per household remains comparatively small—even smaller than India’s, by international comparison. At the same time, markets and technologies continue advancing rapidly—but changes in farmer behavior do not keep pace. Different types of growers exhibit markedly divergent adoption timelines for new technologies and integrated solutions.

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