Post-Harvesting Treatment Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Type (Coating, Ethylene Blockers, Cleaners, Fungicides, Sprout Inhibitors, Sanitizers, Other), By Crop Type (Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers & Ornamentals), By Origin (Natural, Synthetic), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 1.55 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	7.86%
Fastest Growing Segment	Coating
Largest Market	Asia Pacific
Market Size (2031)	USD 2.44 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Post-Harvesting Treatment Market will grow from USD 1.55 Billion in 2025 to USD 2.44 Billion by 2031 at a 7.86% CAGR. Post-harvesting treatment refers to the physical and chemical processes applied to agricultural produce immediately after harvest to maintain quality, extend shelf life, and minimize spoilage. The primary drivers fueling market growth include the rising global demand for fresh produce and the critical necessity to reduce food waste within expanding international supply chains. These economic pressures are increasing reliance on preservation technologies to ensure food security and profitability. According to the Global Cold Chain Alliance, in 2024, the top 25 global temperature-controlled warehousing operators added over 600 million cubic feet of capacity, highlighting the substantial investment in infrastructure that supports these preservation efforts.

However, a significant challenge impeding broader market expansion is the insufficient logistical infrastructure in developing regions. The lack of reliable electricity and integrated supply chain networks often restricts the effective adoption of advanced treatment solutions, which prevents these high-production markets from maximizing their agricultural output and reducing losses effectively.

Key Market Drivers

The critical imperative to mitigate post-harvest food losses is a primary force propelling the adoption of advanced treatment methodologies across the agricultural sector. As global supply chains lengthen to accommodate distant markets, the vulnerability of perishable goods to physiological deterioration and microbial spoilage increases, necessitating robust chemical and physical interventions. These treatments are essential not only for preserving the aesthetic quality of produce but also for maintaining nutritional value and minimizing economic waste during distribution. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, August 2024, in the 'Fiscal Year 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program' announcement, the agency awarded $72.9 million to fund projects aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of specialty crops, with a specific focus on food safety and post-harvest handling improvements to reduce waste. This funding highlights the institutional support driving the market toward more efficient preservation technologies.

Escalating international trade of perishable commodities further amplifies the reliance on specialized post-harvest treatments to ensure produce viability during complex logistical operations. Exporters are increasingly compelled to utilize sophisticated coatings, fungicides, and sanitizers to meet the rigorous quarantine protocols and quality expectations of importing nations. According to Frutas de Chile, September 2024, in the '2023-2024 Season Review', Chilean fresh fruit exports reached 2.5 million tons, demonstrating the massive volume of produce requiring effective preservation for global transit. To manage the volatility of such high-volume trade, the industry is seeing a tighter focus on inventory retention. According to the World Apple and Pear Association, August 2024, in the 'Prognosfruit 2024 Forecast', European apple production was projected to reach 10.2 million tonnes, a volume that necessitates advanced storage treatments to extend marketing windows and stabilize supply throughout the year.

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Key Market Challenges

The insufficient logistical infrastructure in developing regions constitutes a primary barrier hampering the growth of the Global Post-Harvesting Treatment Market. Advanced preservation methods, such as controlled-atmosphere applications and protective coatings, require consistent electricity and integrated transport networks to maintain their efficacy. In markets where power grids are unreliable and supply chains are fragmented, stakeholders cannot effectively deploy these temperature-dependent treatments. This technical limitation renders high-value preservation solutions impractical for local producers, as the underlying physical framework required to support chemical stability and continuous monitoring is absent.

Consequently, the inability to implement modern treatment standards prevents these high-production regions from integrating fully into the global value chain, thereby restricting the total addressable market for technology providers. This deficit in essential facilities creates a disparity that stalls the adoption of preservation protocols in areas where they are needed most. According to the Global Cold Chain Alliance, in 2025, the total temperature-controlled capacity in Latin America was recorded at 16.4 million cubic meters, significantly trailing the 141.5 million cubic meters established in North America. This substantial infrastructure gap illustrates the physical limitations that directly constrain the effective application and scalability of post-harvest technologies in emerging economies.

Key Market Trends

The Rising Adoption of Plant-Based and Edible Coating Formulations represents a shift from synthetic waxes toward sustainable, biodegradable solutions. This transition is fueled by consumer scrutiny regarding chemical residues and a regulatory push for plastic-free packaging. Manufacturers are developing organic-certified barriers that maintain physiological stability without compromising the "clean label" status of the fruit. According to Postharvest Biz, January 2024, in the 'Citrosol arrives in Berlin with an impressive space to showcase its catalog' article, Citrosol's SunSeal Vegan and PlantSeal coatings have demonstrated the capacity to reduce weight loss in citrus fruit by up to 45%, significantly optimizing commercial shelf life while meeting ecological standards.

The Deployment of Automated and Robotic Sorting Systems is transforming quality control by integrating artificial intelligence with optical inspection to minimize physical handling errors. These technologies enable facilities to process delicate commodities with high precision, identifying internal defects and removing debris that mechanical methods often miss. This automation is critical for maintaining consistent output quality and reducing reliance on manual labor. According to Potato News Today, February 2024, in the 'TOMRA Food revolutionizes food processing with AI-driven solutions and new organizational structure' article, the TOMRA Neon blueberry pre-grader utilizes AI modeling to remove more than 95% of clusters, ensuring consistent grading efficiency.

Segmental Insights

The Coating segment is recognized as the fastest-growing category within the Global Post-Harvesting Treatment Market, primarily driven by the escalating demand for sustainable solutions to extend produce shelf life and reduce global food waste. This growth is fueled by a significant shift toward plant-based, edible coatings that create effective barriers against moisture loss and oxidation, replacing traditional synthetic waxes. The adoption of these innovations is further accelerated by safety clearances from major regulatory bodies, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which validate these natural formulations for safe consumption, encouraging widespread implementation by exporters.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific commands the leading position in the Global Post-Harvesting Treatment Market, primarily driven by its extensive agricultural output and rising export activities. As the largest global producers of fruits and vegetables, nations such as China and India heavily utilize preservation solutions to mitigate high post-harvest loss rates and ensure regional food security. The region's market expansion is further fueled by the growing international demand for exotic produce, which requires compliant treatments to extend shelf life for long-distance transport. Consequently, strong government support for modernizing supply chain infrastructure continues to accelerate the adoption of these essential agricultural technologies.

Recent Developments

• In March 2025, Hazel Technologies announced the release of a new packaging technology specifically engineered to eliminate the necessity of using ice during the shipping of broccoli. This innovative solution utilized modified atmosphere capabilities to effectively control the respiration rate of the vegetable, preserving its freshness, texture, and hydration throughout the supply chain. By removing the reliance on ice, the technology offered shippers a way to significantly lower freight costs and reduce water usage. The company emphasized that this product launch addressed critical food safety and sustainability challenges while optimizing the logistics of transporting perishable greens.
• In January 2025, Decco expanded its product portfolio by securing the registration of azoxystrobin for post-harvest use on citrus in Spain, marketing the solution under the name Decco Zox. This development marked the first approval of this active ingredient for post-harvest citrus application in Europe. The launch was intended to provide growers and packers with a new, effective tool to control decay and extend the shelf life of their produce amidst increasing international market demands. The company stated that this new offering underscored its commitment to developing sustainable solutions that reduce food losses and ensure the delivery of high-quality fruit to consumers.
• In October 2024, Citrosol officially launched the CATsystem, an advanced automatic control system for post-harvest treatments, at the Fruit Attraction trade fair. This technological breakthrough was designed to maintain constant concentrations of fungicides, disinfectants, and food additives within defined ranges during the treatment process. By automating the monitoring and dosing in real-time, the system aimed to eliminate human error and ensure the precise application of active ingredients. The company positioned this innovation as a key tool for minimizing food waste and preventing the development of resistance in pathogens, thereby optimizing the efficacy of post-harvest operations for its clients.
• In March 2024, AgroFresh Solutions, Inc. completed the acquisition of Pace International LLC, a global provider of sustainable post-harvest solutions, from Valent BioSciences. This strategic transaction integrated Pace’s extensive portfolio of edible fruit coatings, fungicides, and sanitizers into AgroFresh’s existing offerings, significantly expanding its reach in key fruit-growing regions across North and South America. The collaboration allowed the company to offer a more comprehensive suite of technologies and services to support high-value crops. Management highlighted that the combined expertise would better address customer needs across the fresh supply chain and further the mission of protecting produce quality.

Key Market Players

• Syngenta Crop Protection AG
• Nufarm Ltd.
• Agrofresh Inc.
• Bayer AG
• BASF SE
• Citrosol SA
• Hazel Technologies Inc.
• Lytone Enterprises Inc.
• Shandong Aoweite Biotechnology Co. Ltd.
• Fine Chemicals Inc.

By Type	By Crop Type	By Origin	By Region
Coating Ethylene Blockers Cleaners Fungicides Sprout Inhibitors Sanitizers Other	Fruits Vegetables Flowers & Ornamentals	Natural Synthetic	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

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

• Post-Harvesting Treatment Market, By Type:

• Coating
• Ethylene Blockers
• Cleaners
• Fungicides
• Sprout Inhibitors
• Sanitizers
• Other

• Post-Harvesting Treatment Market, By Crop Type:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Flowers & Ornamentals

• Post-Harvesting Treatment Market, By Origin:

• Natural
• Synthetic

• Post-Harvesting Treatment 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