Wheat Seed Market By Seed Type (Conventional Seeds, Genetically Modified (GM) Seeds), By Wheat Type (Hard Wheat, Soft Wheat, Durum Wheat, Specialty Wheat, Heritage Wheat), By Application (Food Industry {Breads & Baked Goods, Pasta & Noodles, Snacks & Biscuits} Feed Industry, Biofuels, Others), By Distribution channel (Direct Sales, Retail, Online Sales, Wholesale Distribution), and By End-user (Commercial Farmers, Small-Scale Farmers, Agricultural Companies, Government & NGOs, Others), Global Market Size, Segmental analysis, Regional Overview, Company share analysis, Leading Company Profiles And Market Forecast, 2025 – 2035

Industry Outlook

The Wheat Seed market accounted for USD 5.53 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 8.7 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of around 4.2% between 2025 and 2035. The market includes producers, distributors, and sellers of seeds used to grow wheat, one of the most important cereal crops in the world. The seeds available in the market include hybrids, genetically modified (GM) seeds, and traditional open-pollinated varieties (OPVs), all tailored for different climatic conditions and soil types.

These seeds are essential in agriculture, and consumers who support farmers can benefit from improved production yields, better pest control, and enhanced grain characteristics. This demand spans local and export markets, driven by increasing food demands, advancements in agri-biotechnology, and global support for environmentally sustainable farming practices.

Report Scope:

Market Dynamics

Rising demand for food drives wheat production, boosting the Market.

The wheat seed market grows due to expanding global food needs from both growing populations and evolving eating habits. Markets grow larger when more people in developing markets eat wheat product foods. Technological improvements in seed science deliver better crop harvests and better disease resistance, which makes the market grow rapidly.

The market thrives under government agricultural aid from research support and farming subsidies. FAO data shows wheat production climbed to 776.2 million tons in 2022 because of good farming policies and improved crop management methods. Market growth in the wheat seed sector continues because these elements work together to provide enough supplies for rising food demand.

Adoption of hybrid and genetically modified (GM) seeds with higher yield and disease resistance accelerates growth.

The wheat seed market has seen significant growth over time, primarily due to the demand for high-yielding and disease-resistant plants. This growth has been driven by the adoption of hybrid and genetically modified (GM) seeds, the implementation of better pest and disease resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance. Such improvements ensure economic growth as they push for efficiency as the world population grows and demands food. P Farmers are using modern seeds to reduce other risks they may face in farming and thus have better yields to support their kinfolk.

The acceptance of GM crops has been a linchpin to increases in crop yields, increasing by 22% globally more than triple the report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The market also remains a dynamic one, and future developments of long-duration, higher-yielding seed varieties are expected to keep it moving forward.

High Cost of Certified and Hybrid Seeds may deter small-scale farmers.         

The wheat seed market faces significant restraints due to small farmers not being able to afford expensive certified and hybrid seeds. Hybrid and certified seeds cost more because companies must invest in research to add product features before they can sell to farmers. The expensive costs block small farmers who work with restricted budgets from buying certified and hybrid seeds.

The limited availability of financing makes it difficult for farmers to obtain the resources needed to apply new agricultural technologies. Small landowners keep using cheaper traditional seeds even though these varieties have lower output levels. These circumstances prevent small-plot farmers from employing superior seeds, which limits potential output gains and market expansion in farming regions.

Rising preference for eco-friendly and bio-enhanced wheat seed varieties to support sustainable farming practices.

The rise of customers seeking environmentally friendly wheat seed options creates a major market opportunity for producers. The recent shift toward sustainable farming creates a strong market demand for wheat seeds that help both the planet and farming operations. Through pest and disease resistance built into bio-enhanced seeds, farmers can diminish their need for chemical pesticides while embracing sustainable agriculture. In addition, these seeds increase soil health and water use efficiency, two critical needs to battle climate change. The global push for organic and regenerative agriculture also increases demand for such seed breakthroughs.

 Farmers are progressively embracing the seeds to fulfill consumer demand for safely produced food products, hence fostering growth in the wheat seed market. The trend is backed by government incentives and policies encouraging sustainable agriculture, hence promising great growth prospects for companies investing in eco-friendly wheat seed innovations.

Focus on creating climate-resilient and nutrient-rich wheat seed varieties to address environmental challenges and nutritional demands.

The wheat Seed market has a high growth opportunity with a focus on developing more heat tolerant and higher protein wheat seed to meet increasing demand in growing environment crisis and Nutritional requirements. Harden conditions in the form of increased temperatures, unreliable rains, and poor soils have increased the need for seed varieties that persist and produce high yields under stress.

Furthermore, there is a likewise noticeable tendency in consumers to prefer the improved nutritional quality of wheat, like wheat with a higher protein or micronutrient content as a response to worldwide malnutrition. Government and research and development organizations have great support to have for this wheat Seed market. For instance, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) while working on a climate-smart wheat seed was able to raise yield under the worst kind of conditions by as much as 15%. Such trends are central to food security and sustainable agriculture around the world.

Industry Experts Opinion

"The continuous improvement of wheat seeds through hybridization and genetic innovation is essential to meet the rising global demand for wheat. Enhancing disease resistance and nutrient content in wheat seeds not only supports farmer livelihoods but also addresses global nutritional needs."

• Dr. Alison Bentley, Director of the Global Wheat Program at CIMMYT

Segment Analysis

Based on the seed type, the market of wheat seed has been classified into Conventional Seeds and Genetically Modified (GM) Seeds. Conventional Seeds occupy a bright and dominant position because of their popularity and applicability. Such seeds have not been genetically modified, and therefore make good candidates for export – especially to parts of Europe where genetically modified Organisms are suppressed. Due to their ability to grow in varying local conditions as well as their compatibility with conventional farming methods, they are a farmer’s choice worldwide.

Conventional seeds can guarantee a stable and high yield, and very often synchronize with the aggressive practices of organic farming, which increases their popularity. These seeds are economical because they can be used over and over again, something that saves a lot of money. The global wheat seed market highly depends on the extensive use of seeds that play a huge role in food security and the sustainability of agriculture. They are accepted in different regions and markets showing that they play the most crucial part in the development of the wheat seed market. Therefore, conventional seeds continue to play a vital role in fulfilling world wheat requirements. 

Based on the wheat type, the market of wheat seed has been classified into Hard Wheat, Soft Wheat, Durum Wheat, Specialty Wheat, and Heritage Wheat. The hard wheat segment emerges as the most significant segment because of its use in bread making and other bakery products. It is highly appreciated for its excellent gluten content and protein levels to produce high-quality flour, thus has great potential for wheat seed market demand in regions where bakery and food processing are well developed. A growing global population and, more importantly, the urbanization culture have led to a drastic increase in demand for processed foods and convenience foods thereby enhancing its market dominance. Since hard wheat is tolerant to a range of climatic factors, and has high yield potential, the crop remains suitable for use by farmers all over the world. Furthermore, its application as an ingredient in premium and export-quality flour products is a factor that cannot be overlooked. These factors put together place hard wheat as the leading segment in the global market.

Regional Analysis

Asia-Pacific has been leading the worldwide wheat seed market and is anticipated to continue in the dominant position in the years to come. The Asia-Pacific market plays an important role in the region’s agricultural environment and shows great promise for future growth due to food requirements, population growth, and improvement in seed technology. Leading market players in the region are India, China, and Australia, and their practices depend on climatic and soil characteristics. Dr Redo is of the view that the use of high-yielding drought and disease-tolerant wheat varieties has received attention due to government promotion and research spending on crop improvement. The market trends that are affecting the export of wheat products are; increasing choice of the consumer for healthy & organic foods. However, export-oriented economies are using improved seed technologies to increase yields to meet the exporting international market thus creating a competitive market.  

The African wheat seed market is currently growing due to rising consumption of wheat occasioned by population growth and enhancement of the quality of diet among people. Many countries such as Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa produce most of the wheat needed in the region since they have the right climatic conditions besides being highly developed as far as farming techniques are concerned. However, the market is also faced with problems like poor access to good seeds, poor physical infrastructure, and unfavorable weather conditions that may affect plant yield. To counter these challenges, regional cooperation and funding commitment for research and development of drought and high-yield tolerant wheat seeds are emerging. On the other hand, good policies in government and collaboration with foreign seed industries are assisting in the increased availability and distribution of improved seeds of wheat in the continent.

Competitive Landscape

Key operating players in the wheat seed market are KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA, Groupe Limagrain, Syngenta, Corteva Agriscience Bayer CropScience, Warburtons Seeds Gansu Dunhuang Seed Co., Ltd. and Bioceres Crop Solutions. These companies dominate the market mainly due to their emphasis on the generation of high-yield resistant wheat through technological advancement. These include the KWS SAAT which has transformed its main concentrating on the production of drought-resistant wheat varieties to fit the changed weather patterns, Syngenta which has invested in the improvement of the quality of the wheat crops and the farming methods used in their production.

Corteva Agriscience’s hybrid wheat seed is finding its footing in the market by developing high-yield seeds in different weather conditions. These developments together with the partnerships and cooperation assist these companies to remain relevant in an ever-growing environment. This innovation is also catalyzed by the increasing trend towards sustainable and precision farming on the one hand, and the need to create higher-yielding and disease-resistant seeds on the other hand.

Wheat Seed Market, Company Shares Analysis, 2024

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Recent Developments:

• In October 2022 BASF and its commercial partner Seednet released two new wheat varieties, Kingston and Reilly, into the Australian market for the 2023 winter cropping season.
• In February 2022 Limagrain Cereal Seeds launched the first CoAXium soft white winter wheat varieties with PNW-adapted pedigrees. This variety offers good straw strength, medium height, and heavy test weight and carries the allele for the soil-borne wheat mosaic virus.
• In July 2021 BASF introduced the Ideltis seed brand for its future hybrid wheat, which aims to enable higher and more stable performance in yield and quality for farmers

Report Coverage:

By Seed Type

• Conventional Seeds
• Genetically Modified (GM) Seeds

By Wheat Type

• Hard Wheat
• Soft Wheat
• Durum Wheat
• Specialty Wheat
• Heritage Wheat

By Application

•  Food Industry
  • Breads & Baked Goods
  • Pasta & Noodles
  • Snacks & Biscuits

• Feed Industry
• Biofuels
• Others

By Distribution channel

• Direct Sales
• Retail
• Online Sales
• Wholesale Distribution

By End-user

• Commercial Farmers
• Small-Scale Farmers
• Agricultural Companies
• Government & NGOs
• Others

By Region

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• U.K.
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Mexico
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

• GCC Countries
• South Africa
• Rest of Middle East & Africa

List of Companies:

• KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA
• Groupe Limagrain
• RAGT Seeds
• DLF Seeds A/S
• AGT Foods and Ingredients Inc.
• Mahyco Seeds Ltd
• Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd
• ProHarvest Seeds
• Western Seed International
• Warburtons Seeds
• Gansu Dunhuang Seed Co., Ltd.
• Bioceres Crop Solutions
• Zhangjiakou Academy of Agricultural Science Seed Co., Ltd.
• Pacific Seed Company
• Krishidhan Seeds Pvt. Ltd.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)