Patenting in the vast Agrifood super-domain is largely protected domestically
The Agrifood sector is vast and comprises over 3.5 million published patent families (inventions) over the past 20 years, which are split into two main categories: AgriTech, representing 60% of the total patent count (2.1m), and FoodTech, making up the remaining 40% (1.5m). Most Agrifood patents come from Asia, with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and India as major contributors, followed by North America and Europe. Only 12% of patent families (450,000) are filed outside of their IP office of first filing. Notably, patent applications from Asia, specifically those from China, are more likely to seek patent protection only within their home countries.
The United States has always been a dominant player, but recent increases in R&D investment by China and Japan appear to be changing the global patent landscape in the Agrifood sector
Of the 450,000 international Agrifood patent families, 66% are in AgriTech and 34% in FoodTech. In recent years, both industries have experienced moderate annual growth rates, 6.9% in AgriTech and 3.3% in FoodTech respectively.
The United States has historically been a key player in Agrifood, but recent growth in R&D investments in China and Japan, with impressive annual growth rates, signal a possible shift in the global landscape of the Agrifood super-domain.
AgriTech patent growth is attributed to the increasing interest in agricultural automation and IoT technologies
AgriTech sub-domains with the most patents over the last two decades are Pest/disease management, Crop adaptation and genetics, Livestock management, and IoT-related areas such as Connectivity/sensors/smart farming, Precision agriculture and Mapping/imagery. Additionally, Planting/harvesting/storage, Robotics and drones, and Soil and fertilizer management have also seen significant developments since 2004.
The top AgriTech inventor locations are the United States, followed by Asian countries such as China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
The top filing authorities show a focus on Pest/disease management and Crop adaptation and genetics, with Germany standing out in Connectivity/sensors/smart farming innovations.
The top AgriTech patent applicants are industrial manufacturers of agricultural machines from the US, Japan and Europe, and agrochemical companies from Germany, China and Japan. Technology companies from Asia are prominent in IoT-related sub-domains.
Supply chain and Food chemistry lead FoodTech research, with the United States as the primary R&D hub
In FoodTech, the top patenting sub-domain over the past 20 years relates to the Supply chain, followed by Food chemistry, Food technology, Consumer technology and Food services. The overall growth of FoodTech sub-domains has been relatively stagnant, with the exception of Food chemistry and Food services, which have benefited from increased investment in alternative and sustainable nutrition sources.
The United States is the primary location for FoodTech patenting, with Asia and Europe also playing key roles in specific areas. When analyzing the top filing authorities, Supply chain, Food chemistry and Food technology are prevalent, with Asia leading in Food chemistry and Israel focusing on developing new alternative nutrient sources for human food. Different companies lead in each sub-domain, with Nestlé, unsurprisingly, emerging as a significant player in FoodTech.
Precision agriculture, soil and fertilizer management, non-pesticide pest and disease management, and alternative nutrients are key research hotspots in Agrifood industries
Research hotspots can be categorized into four groups:
Precision agriculture – this is the most prominent segment, and includes advancements in robotic/autonomous agriculture vehicles and automation through artificial intelligence (AI) and software
Soil and fertilizer management – this has emerged as the second leading sub-domain, encompassing general soil management systems and innovative fertilizer formulations
Non-pesticide pest and disease management, especially the use of microorganisms in fertilizer formulation and as pesticide alternatives
The exploration of Alternative sources of nutrients for sustainable human food – this also stands out as a significant area of development within the Agrifood sector.
North America dominates patenting in the Soil and fertilizer management AgriTech sub-domain
The data collected from 23,736 international patent families in the Soil and fertilizer management sub-domain from 2017 to 2021 shows a moderate annual growth rate of +5.6%, reflecting increasing interest. North America leads in patent filings, followed by Europe and Asia. The United States is the primary R&D location for Soil and fertilizer management, but significant growth is seen in Asia, particularly in India and China.
Autonomous guidance and fertilizer formulations are leading technology trends, with microorganism-enriched fertilizers and autonomous guidance booming. Top players in the segment are manufacturers of agricultural machineries and German chemical companies. Emerging technologies in the Soil and fertilizer management domain point towards autonomous guidance of agricultural machines and innovative soil analysis methods.
Flat growth in patent activity and high specificity of pest control methods reflect the challenges in Non-pesticide pest and disease management
Over the past decade, sustained patent filing activity has been observed in the field of non-pesticide pest and disease management, showcasing various innovative approaches to control crop pests without relying on chemical pesticides. These approaches include the use of living organisms, compositions, devices and genetic modification. Regional policies from countries such as China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, France, Spain and the United Kingdom support sustainable agriculture practices and reduction in pesticide usage. The top patent applicants in this domain are industrial actors such as BASF and Bayer, with a focus on diverse biocontrol technologies.
A flat growth is characteristic to the whole sub-domain, with a slow trend identified in microorganism use. The absence of a disruptive technology that would stop the use of conventional pesticides, even under regulatory pressure from the state, probably reflects the nature of this pest protection approach characterized by very high specificity: one biocontrol agent can be used to prevent or treat only a very restrained group of closely related infections or pests. A semantic analysis of key concepts in pest control patents highlighted legume cultures and moths as the most targeted culture types and pests, respectively, with specific methods and compositions designed to target particular species of pests.
Significant investments and strategic partnerships propel growth in patents for alternative nutrient sources
In recent years, there has been a notable surge in innovative solutions within the food industry aimed at providing alternative proteins to traditional animal products, driven by a growing interest in sustainable food options. This trend has attracted significant investments, with venture capital flowing into startups specializing in alternative meat products, as well as egg-free and dairy-free products.
Patent filings in the field have shown a moderate growth rate, with North America leading but closely followed by Asia and Europe. Major players such as Nestlé, Bayer and Cargill are broadening their portfolios to include insect-, algae- and plant-based proteins. Startups are forming partnerships with fast-food chains and retail stores to promote their alternative meat products, while traditional meat-processing companies are also investing in alternative protein innovations.
The industry is embracing a range of technology groups, including plant-based alternatives, insect proteins, precision fermentation, biomass fermentation, cell-based meat and molecular farming, with a focus on creating sustainable and nutritious food products. Israel, for example, aims to reduce animal protein consumption and invest in innovative food companies to promote sustainable food systems.
Predictive models in precision agriculture show huge growth, led by the United States and Asia
The analysis of data from 1,500 international patent families in the Predictive models in precision agriculture field reveals a significant recent annual growth rate of +27.1%, indicating a surge in interest in the subject matter. North America, particularly the United States, leads in patent filings, followed closely by Asia, with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea showing significant growth. Various countries worldwide are investing in evidence-based science programs for effective conservation and climate-smart practices in agriculture.
The top players in the predictive models sub-domain, dominated by corporate actors, include companies from the United States, Germany and Japan, focusing on innovative technologies for crop prediction and management.
The application of predictive models within AgriTech is expanding globally, with a focus on soil management, plant culture and animal husbandry, while also showing potential for FoodTech applications. In addition, emerging technologies such as honey bee colony monitoring and flood discharge prediction are gaining momentum in the field.
Autonomous devices in precision agriculture exhibit high patent growth, driven by China, the United States and Germany
The Autonomous devices in precision agriculture field is experiencing a notable increase in interest, with a recent annual growth rate of +10.4%. China, the United States and Germany are the main providers of solutions for autonomous guidance, with Deere leading the way in the United States. Various strategies are being implemented globally to promote the digitalization of agriculture and increase sustainable productivity. The use of Autonomous devices in precision agriculture is growing rapidly, with a focus on soil management, crop harvesting and food processing to improve efficiency and productivity within the industry.