Molecular Breeding Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, & Forecast, Segmented By Marker (Simple Sequence Repeat, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, Expressed Sequence Tags, Others), By Application (Plant, Livestock), By Process (Marker Assisted Selection, QTL Mapping, Marker assisted back crossing), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 7.79 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	8.01%
Fastest Growing Segment	Plant
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 12.37 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Molecular Breeding Market is expected to grow from USD 7.79 Billion in 2025 to USD 12.37 Billion by 2031 at a 8.01% CAGR. The Global Molecular Breeding Market centers on the application of molecular biology tools, specifically DNA markers, to select plants or animals with desirable genetic traits such as disease resistance or improved yield. This process, often distinct from genetic modification, accelerates the breeding cycle by allowing researchers to identify specific genes without phenotypic evaluation. The primary drivers fueling this market are the escalating global demand for high-quality food production and the urgent necessity for crops resilient to climate volatility. These fundamental requirements differ from temporary market trends, as they necessitate long-term solutions for food security and agricultural sustainability through precise selection methods.

However, the expansion of this market faces a significant challenge in the form of complex and fragmented regulatory frameworks across different international jurisdictions. Inconsistent policies regarding breeding technologies can create substantial compliance hurdles and delay the commercialization of improved varieties. According to the International Seed Federation, in 2024, nearly 75% of seed sector experts cautioned that inconsistent or non-science-based regulations threaten the industry's capacity to support global food security. Such regulatory uncertainty impedes the cross-border movement of genetic material and creates a difficult environment for research investment, potentially slowing the adoption of molecular breeding innovations.

Key Market Drivers

The integration of CRISPR-Cas9 and advanced gene-editing tools is fundamentally reshaping the Global Molecular Breeding Market by enabling precise genetic modifications without the introduction of foreign DNA. This technological shift allows breeders to develop climate-resilient and high-yielding crop varieties more rapidly than conventional methods, effectively bypassing the lengthy backcrossing cycles previously required. The regulatory landscape is increasingly accommodating these innovations, treating many gene-edited crops similarly to conventionally bred varieties, which significantly lowers commercialization barriers and compliance costs. According to Euroseeds, in January 2025, almost 300 regulatory decisions confirmed the conventional status of New Genomic Technique (NGT) plants globally by the end of 2024, signaling a harmonization of international policies that facilitates cross-border trade and accelerates market adoption.

Concurrently, a surge in public and private agrogenomic R&D investments is propelling the development of proprietary germplasm and advanced genotyping platforms. Leading agricultural corporations are allocating substantial capital to expanding their molecular breeding pipelines to secure intellectual property and competitive advantages in the seed sector. According to Corteva Agriscience, in early 2025, the company reported annual research and development expenses of $1.402 billion for 2024, underscoring the scale of financial commitment driving innovation. These investments translate directly into commercial success, as companies leverage molecular tools to capture market share. For instance, according to Syngenta Group, in March 2025, its Seeds business unit achieved full-year sales of $4.8 billion, reflecting the robust commercial demand for advanced seed products in the global marketplace.

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Key Market Challenges

The expansion of the Global Molecular Breeding Market is significantly hampered by complex and fragmented regulatory frameworks across different international jurisdictions. This regulatory disharmony creates substantial uncertainty for breeding companies, as varieties developed using molecular tools in one country may face rejection or require costly, redundant safety assessments in import markets. Such inconsistency forces organizations to navigate a labyrinth of compliance requirements, which directly increases research and development costs and extends the time-to-market for improved crop and animal varieties. Consequently, the high financial risk associated with these regulatory hurdles discourages investment in new breeding programs, particularly for niche crops that cannot absorb excessive compliance expenses.

The severity of this impediment is reflected in recent industry data. According to the International Seed Federation, in 2024, approximately 33% of global seed sector experts identified the implementation of predictable and science-based regulations as the most critical factor needed to unlock innovation. This statistic underscores that current regulatory barriers are acting as a primary bottleneck, effectively stalling the industry's ability to scale molecular breeding solutions and limiting the commercial availability of advanced genetic traits.

Key Market Trends

The deployment of AI-driven predictive breeding models is rapidly emerging as a transformative trend in the Global Molecular Breeding Market, fundamentally altering how genetic gains are realized. Unlike traditional selection methods that rely heavily on phenotypic observation, these advanced computational models analyze vast genomic datasets to predict trait performance with high accuracy, thereby optimizing parental selection and shortening development cycles. This technological shift is translating into tangible commercial success for major agriscience players who have integrated precision breeding platforms. For instance, according to Bayer, November 2025, sales within its Corn Seed & Traits segment surged 22.4% in the third quarter of 2025, a robust performance driven by the increased planted area and the market adoption of high-performance germplasm developed through these advanced breeding pipelines.

Simultaneously, the market is witnessing a significant expansion of molecular applications into livestock and aquaculture, moving beyond its historical concentration in crop science. This trend is characterized by the widening adoption of genomic selection tools to enhance feed efficiency, disease resistance, and reproductive traits in animal populations, which is crucial for meeting the growing global demand for protein. The commercial viability of this expansion is evident in the recent financial results of leading animal health companies. According to Zoetis, November 2025, the company achieved a 10% growth in livestock organic operational revenue during the third quarter of 2025, reaching $725 million, which underscores the increasing reliance of cattle and swine producers on advanced genetic and health solutions to maximize productivity.

Segmental Insights

The plant segment currently registers the fastest growth in the global molecular breeding market, primarily due to the rising demand for high-yield commercial seeds. This trend is accelerated by the urgent need to ensure food security for a growing population, prompting extensive research into crop varieties that withstand pests and environmental fluctuations. Major seed companies and institutions such as the USDA are prioritizing marker-assisted selection to improve staple crops like maize and wheat. Consequently, the agricultural sector increasingly relies on these genomic tools to shorten breeding cycles and enhance productivity efficiently.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominates the Global Molecular Breeding Market, primarily driven by the critical need to ensure food security for its rapidly growing population. This leadership is sustained by substantial government investments in agricultural research and the widespread adoption of molecular breeding technologies for staple crops such as rice and wheat. Key institutions, including China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), actively support these initiatives through favorable funding and regulatory frameworks. This strategic focus on increasing crop resilience and yield cements the region's position as the global market leader.

Recent Developments

• In September 2025, Neogen Corporation released a new genomic selection tool named Smart Flock Select, designed to enhance flock productivity for Merino sheep producers. This product was launched to rank sheep within a flock for economically significant traits, enabling faster and more accurate selection decisions for both rams and ewes. The service was specifically targeted at commercial and stud operations that were not currently utilizing established breeding values, offering a cost-effective method to apply genomic selection without extensive on-farm measurement programs. A technical product specialist at the company highlighted that this tool provided breeders access to advanced genomic technology.
• In December 2024, KeyGene and the biotech company Annogen announced the successful results of their joint research utilizing a proprietary screening platform to identify sequence variants that upregulate important traits in plants. The collaboration demonstrated the efficacy of this technology in systematically screening for variants that result in improved crop characteristics, such as higher yields and resistance to pathogens. The research identified several candidate variants that positively changed the expression of trait-relevant genes in tomatoes. A senior scientist at KeyGene stated that the experiments highlighted the significant value of the platform in identifying gain-of-function variants without growing individual plants.
• In September 2024, Corteva Agriscience entered into a strategic collaboration with Pairwise to accelerate the delivery of advanced gene-edited solutions for agriculture. As part of this partnership, Corteva Agriscience invested $25 million in the technology company to expand the reach of gene editing to a wide variety of staple and specialty crops. The two entities also formed a joint venture to develop and deploy gene-edited products aimed at increasing crop yield and resilience to extreme weather events. The Chief Technology and Digital Officer at Corteva Agriscience noted that this technology would advance climate resilience in farming.
• In July 2024, Benson Hill announced significant advancements in its innovation pipeline, leveraging its proprietary molecular marker technology and computational prediction capabilities to enhance soybean traits. The company reported that it had achieved rapid genetic gains in complex traits, such as protein and oil content, which were previously difficult to attain. These developments were specifically aimed at optimizing products for the animal feed, soybean oil, and biofuel markets. A scientific advisor to the company described the integration of these sophisticated technologies into the plant breeding process as a revolutionary step for driving genetic improvements.

Key Market Players

• Eurofins Scientific SE
• GC Group
• Illumina Inc.
• SGS SA
• Thermo-Fisher Scientific Inc.
• Intertek Group plc
• LemnaTec GmbH
• Charles River Laboratories International Inc.
• Bayer AG
• Slipstream Solutions

By Marker	By Application	By Process	By Region
Simple Sequence Repeat Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Expressed Sequence Tags Others	Plant Livestock	Marker Assisted Selection QTL Mapping Marker assisted back crossing	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Molecular Breeding Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Molecular Breeding Market, By Marker:

• Simple Sequence Repeat
• Single Nucleotide Polymorphism
• Expressed Sequence Tags
• Others

• Molecular Breeding Market, By Application:

• Plant
• Livestock

• Molecular Breeding Market, By Process:

• Marker Assisted Selection
• QTL Mapping
• Marker assisted back crossing

• Molecular Breeding Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE