Molecular Breeding Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Global Industry Analysis: By Markers (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, Simple Sequence Repeats, Expressed Sequence Tag, and Others), By Process (Marker-Assisted Selection, QTL Mapping, Marker-Assisted Backcrossing, Genomic Selection, and Others), By Technology (Microarray, Next Generation Sequencing, Genotyping-by-Sequencing, and Others), By Application (Cereals & Grains, Oilseeds & Pulses, Vegetables, and Others), and Region Forecast 2020-2031

Molecular Breeding Market size was valued at US$ 1,120 million in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 2,070 million by 2031, growing at a significant CAGR of 9.3% from 2025-2031. Moreover, the U.S. Molecular Breeding Market is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of US$ 680 million by 2031. The market is defined as the sector focused on applying advanced genetic techniques, such as DNA markers, gene sequencing, genetic mapping, and marker-assisted selection, to improve the genetic quality of crops and livestock. The market is primarily driven by the urgent need for high-yield and climate-resilient crops to ensure food security amid increasing environmental stress and shrinking arable land. Technologies such as marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection are enabling faster, more precise breeding, with strong government and private-sector support seen across major markets like India and China.

A key trend transforming this space is the rise of CRISPR-Cas9 and other genome editing tools, which allow targeted, DNA-specific trait modifications without foreign gene insertion, accelerating the development of pest-resistant and drought-tolerant crops. This is further reinforced by digital phenotyping, open-source breeding tools, and blockchain-based seed traceability. The most promising opportunity lies in integrating AI and big data to predict trait outcomes and streamline breeding cycles, improving scalability and performance.

However, the market faces key restraints, notably the high costs and infrastructure requirements of advanced breeding platforms, the lack of standardization, and challenges in implementation among smaller institutions and developing economies. Limited awareness and restrictive regulatory environments further hinder adoption. Despite these challenges, the market is set for strong growth due to its alignment with global agricultural sustainability goals and technological convergence.

Facts & Figures

• Demand for Climate-Resilient Crops: Climate change has intensified droughts, floods, and heatwaves, challenging global agriculture. Molecular breeding enables the development of crops with enhanced stress tolerance and adaptability. For instance, according to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), molecular tools have accelerated the development of drought-resistant maize, now adopted across parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The World Bank also notes that climate-resilient crops are key to food security in vulnerable regions.
• Rising Global Food Demand: With the global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, increasing agricultural productivity is critical. Molecular breeding allows for faster, more precise crop improvement to meet this demand. For instance, FAO data projects a 60% increase in food demand by 2050. Governments and private firms are investing in molecular breeding to meet these future needs, e.g., India's ICAR has scaled up MAS-based rice varieties for higher productivity.
• Advancements in Genomic Technologies: Rapid progress in high-throughput sequencing, SNP genotyping, and genomic selection has reduced time and cost, making molecular breeding more efficient and accessible. For instance, according to the NIH Genomic Data, the cost of whole-genome sequencing has dropped by over 99% in the past decade. Corteva and Bayer are leveraging these tools to optimize breeding pipelines and enhance seed traits.
• Government and Institutional Support: Supportive policies, research grants, and collaborations with public-sector institutions are accelerating the use of molecular breeding, especially in developing nations. For instance, China’s National Key R&D Program and the EU’s Horizon Europe projects are heavily funding genomic crop research. Even India’s National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) promotes marker-assisted breeding for pulses and cereals.

Key Developments:

• In January 2025, Moolec Science agreed to merge with Bioceres Group, Nutrecon, and Gentle Tech to scale molecular farming platforms, creating an entity generating over $500?million in annual revenue.
• In September 2024, Illumina partnered with LGC Biosearch to expand access to scalable genomics and genotyping solutions in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, supporting regional molecular breeding efforts.
• In September 2024, Corteva invested $40?million in Pairwise through its Catalyst platform and entered a 5-year joint venture to expedite gene-edited corn and soy for climate-smart agriculture.
• In August 2024, BioLumic raised $8.3?million to commercialize light-activated, non-GM seed technologies with potential yield increases of up to 20%, bringing fast trait deployment to crop breeding.

Molecular Breeding Market Segmentation:

Based on the markers:

• Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)
• Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR)
• Expressed Sequence Tag (ESTs)
• Others

The single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) segment holds the largest market share in the market due to its high throughput, automation compatibility, and ability to detect minute genetic variations across the genome. SNP markers are widely used in genomic selection, trait mapping, and marker-assisted selection, especially in crops like maize, soybean, and rice. Their scalability, cost-efficiency, and integration with modern sequencing platforms have made them the preferred choice for large-scale breeding programs. In contrast, expressed sequence tags (ESTs) hold the smallest market share as they are limited in genomic coverage and mainly serve as historical markers in gene discovery rather than mainstream breeding applications.

Based on the process:

• Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS)
• QTL Mapping
• Marker-Assisted Backcrossing (MABC)
• Genomic Selection
• Others

Based on the process, marker-assisted selection (MAS) holds the largest market share in the market. MAS is widely adopted due to its efficiency in selecting desirable traits early in the plant breeding cycle, reducing the time and resources needed for field trials. It is especially popular in crops like rice, wheat, and maize, where resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental stress is critical. MAS is relatively cost-effective, technically mature, and easier to implement in both public and private breeding programs. On the other hand, marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) currently holds the smallest market share as it is more complex, time-consuming, and typically used in niche trait introgression rather than broad-scale breeding efforts.

Based on the technology:

• Microarray
• Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
• Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS)
• Others

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) holds the largest market share in the market. NGS enables high-throughput, cost-efficient, and highly accurate sequencing of entire genomes or targeted regions, making it ideal for large-scale applications like genomic selection, QTL mapping, and trait discovery. It is widely adopted by both public research institutions and private seed companies due to its scalability and versatility across various crops and livestock. NGS supports precision breeding by generating comprehensive genomic data, which improves selection accuracy and accelerates breeding cycles. In comparison, microarray technology holds a smaller market share as it is less flexible, more limited in variant detection, and is gradually being replaced by sequencing-based methods.

Based on the application:

• Cereals & Grains
• Oilseeds & Pulses
• Vegetables
• Others

The cereals & grains segment holds the largest market share in the market due to their global dietary importance, large-scale cultivation, and heavy investment in genetic improvement programs. Crops such as rice, wheat, and maize are staple foods for a significant portion of the world’s population, making yield enhancement, disease resistance, and climate resilience critical. Molecular breeding technologies like marker-assisted selection and genomic selection are widely applied in cereals to meet growing food security demands. In contrast, the vegetables segment holds the smallest market share, primarily because of the crop diversity, lower commercial scale per variety, and comparatively less molecular breeding investment in niche or region-specific vegetable crops.