Mexico Eyes Regulation as Bioinputs Market Gains Ground

Mexico is seeing rapid growth in the bioinputs market. However, the absence of a regulatory framework poses challenges for ensuring product quality, supporting innovation, and expanding use among producers aiming for more sustainable and resilient agriculture.

FAO defines agricultural bioinputs as any product of plant, animal, or microbial origin capable of enhancing crop productivity, quality, or health. According to the organization, these products can help reduce agriculture’s dependence on synthetic agrochemicals, lower input costs in the face of high and volatile prices, cut greenhouse gas emissions and soil and water pollution, increase biodiversity, and boost the resilience of agricultural systems to climate change.

The workshop, Exchange: Toward the Construction of a Regulatory Framework for Bioinputs in Mexico, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) and FAO Mexico, in collaboration with the World Bank, brought together representatives from the federal and state governments, producers, companies developing and marketing bioinputs, as well as researchers and sector experts. The goal was to foster a space for dialogue and knowledge exchange on the use and regulation of bioinputs in the country.

Throughout the event, participants addressed the main challenges and opportunities for strengthening the development and use of bioinputs in Mexico, focusing on regulation, market development, and the promotion of innovation. Héctor Robles, General Coordinator of Innovation and Agroecological Transition, SADER, highlighted the country's progress in adopting agroecological practices. “The progress of the Production for Well-Being program is clear. We have gone from 20,000 to 200,000 producers in agroecological transition. The goal is to reach 1 million producers, which will require refining processes and strengthening partnerships with various stakeholders,” he said.

Silvio Simonit, Representative, FAO Mexico, emphasized Mexico’s potential to become a global leader in bioinputs. “Mexico has everything it takes to lead in bioinputs: vast biodiversity, a strong scientific and productive sector, and dynamic agriculture. With the right policies and effective regulation, the country can consolidate its position in this growing market,” he stated.

In this context, there are clear examples of the effectiveness of bioinputs within Mexico’s agricultural industry. Marcel Morales, Director of Biofábrica Siglo XXI, which specializes in the production of biofertilizers, highlighted the latest validation conducted during the 2024-25 sugarcane harvest at FIRA’s Tezoyuca Center in Morelos. Results showed that a 30% reduction in chemical fertilizer combined with the use of biofertilizers increased yield from 95 to 121t/ha. Likewise, production costs per hectare dropped by MX$2,400 (US$121.63), plant health improved by 70%, and profitability was 78% higher than when using 100% chemical fertilizers.

Morales pointed out that for the past five years, FIRA has been conducting rigorous evaluations of bioinputs across crops such as maize, wheat, berries, agave, citrus, grasses, and sugarcane at its five Technological Development Centers. He also noted that the institution is set to launch a financing program to promote the use of biofertilizers, offering producers support of up to 80% of the input costs.

“In the face of market volatility driven by tariffs and rising prices of chemical inputs, especially fertilizers, 80% of which Mexico imports, we must aim not only for food sovereignty but also for sovereignty in the production of sustainable inputs,” Morales emphasized.

Diego Arias, Representative, World Bank, stressed the importance of a regulatory framework for sector development. “The bioinputs market is expanding, and Mexico has a great opportunity. A clear and accessible framework will drive adoption, reduce costs, and strengthen food security,” he said.

On the other hand, representatives of bioinput-producing companies questioned the role of the Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS), the body responsible for granting registrations. They argued that the agency must evolve and adapt to new needs in the bioinputs sector. They also stressed the need to design appropriate legislation that would facilitate production and commercialization for interested parties.

They noted that obtaining a sanitary license can take up to two years, while registering a product can take eight to nine years, meaning it may take up to a decade to bring a bioinput to market. Additionally, they pointed out that although the current administration has supported free fertilizer distribution to farmers through the Fertilizers for Well-Being program, which has a budget of MX$17 billion, it focuses solely on chemical fertilizers, overlooking biofertilizers. This approach, they argued, contradicts the agroecological transition agenda put forth by President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Globally, the bioinputs market is expected to double by 2030, growing from US$10 billion to US$20 billion. In Latin America, the use of these products has expanded significantly, with an average annual sales growth rate of 15%, contributing to the region’s economic dynamism, according to FAO. In Mexico, projections indicate that the market will grow from US$634 million to US$2 billion by the end of the decade, the World Bank reported.