Grain Farming Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Global Industry Analysis: By Type (Dry Pea and Bean Farming, Wheat Farming and Other Grain Farming), By Farming Process (Organic Grain Farming and Traditional Farming), By Application (Food and Beverages, Fodder and Other Applications) and Region

The grain farming market size was valued at US$ 1,126.8 million in 2023 and is projected to reach a value of US$ 2,099.8 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 9.3% from 2024-2030. Moreover, the U.S. grain farming market is projected to grow significantly, reaching an estimated value of US$ 314.96 billion by 2032

The market refers to the planting and harvesting of cereal crops, including wheat, corn, rice, barley, oats, and sorghum. This market forms one of the key sectors playing a critical role in the agricultural sector with provision for food not only for human consumption but also for animals. As the global population continues to grow, the demand for food and beverages rises, driving the need for more grain production. Higher population numbers lead to greater food consumption, necessitating increased gain in farming to meet the demand. Whereas, extreme weather conditions, such as droughts and floods, can negatively impact crop yields and farming operations.

Key Players

The grain farming market share is inclusive of several companies such as Vilmorin & Cie SA, Cargill Incorporated, Associated British Foods PLC, Corteva Inc., Seaboard Corporation, Scoular Company, Ingredion Incorporated, UPL Limited, Nisshin Seifun Group Inc., Gruma SAB de CV, Ardent Mills, KWS Saat SE, Grain Craft, Bay State Milling Co., Blaine Larsen Farms Inc., Hartung Brothers Inc., Noffsinger Manufacturing Co. Inc., Miller Milling Co., Village Farms International, Soufflet SA.

The company is mainly specialized in the production and sale of seeds for different crops. Being a part of the Limagrain Group, Vilmorin & Cie SA is one of the biggest seed companies across the globe. Its specificity is to offer quality seeds to farmers that allow agriculture sustainable and grow yields. Cargill Incorporated is a worldwide market leader in grain farming that operates on an integrated basis to source, store, trade, process, and distribute grains and oilseeds.

Key Takeaways

• North America is the largest market, largely dominated by the US. North American demand constitutes 29.1% of the overall global demand for grain farming
• Based on Type, the Wheat Farming segment holds a 34.3% market share
• Based on the Farming Process, the Traditional Grain Farming segment holds a 59.3% market share
• Based on Application, Food and Beverages segment holds the 46.8% market share

Facts & Figures

• Global wheat production reached 788 million tons in the 2022/2023 season, a 1% increase from the previous year.
• China is the world's largest grain producer, cultivating over 600 million tons of grain in 2021, with rice, wheat, and corn being the major crops.
• India harvested 107 million tons of rice in the 2021-2022 season, making it the second-largest rice producer globally.
• The U.S. produced 15.1 billion bushels of corn in 2021, accounting for 31% of the world’s corn production.
• Brazil became the world's largest soybean producer in 2022, surpassing the U.S., with a total production of 150 million metric tons.
• Russia exported 44.1 million tons of wheat in 2022, accounting for 23% of global wheat exports, making it the largest exporter.
• Global grain production exceeded 2.8 billion metric tons in 2021, with maize, wheat, and rice being the most produced grains.

Key Developments

• In 2024, Cargill acquired two feed mills from Compana Pet Brands, a move the company said allows it to grow alongside the ag retail and large ranching/farming segments in the western and central regions of the United States.
• In 2024, HBC acquired Neiman Marcus Group and merged it with another brand that it owned, Saks Fifth Avenue.
• In 2021, Bushel acquired GrainBridge, a start-up created by Cargill and ADM.

Grain Farming Market Segmentation

By Type: Among the types, wheat farming has the largest market share. Given the fact that it is one of the most widely produced grains around the world, significant production is located in geographic locations like the United States, Canada, Russia, and the European Union. Its extensive use in numerous types of food products like bread, pasta, and pastries makes this segment have a large share of the market. Wheat is also a staple crop for most populations that would ensure a consistent demand and large-scale production.

By Farming Process: The Traditional Farming segment is the largest in the grain farming market. This is because traditional farming has been highly practiced and established for years, especially in regions with large agricultural areas like North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. Traditional farming benefits from economies of scale, established supply chains, and familiarity among farmers. In this case, even though organic grain farming is getting noticed and people are adopting it due to customer demand for sustainable and chemical-free products, still its percentage is relatively small compared to conventional farming.

By Farming Process: The Traditional Farming segment is the largest market. This is because traditional farming has been highly practiced and established for years, especially in regions with large agricultural areas like North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. Traditional farming benefits from economies of scale, established supply chains, and familiarity among farmers. In this case, even though organic grain farming is getting noticed and people are adopting it due to customer demand for sustainable and chemical-free products, still its percentage is relatively small compared to conventional farming.

By Application: The Food and Beverages segment represents the largest market since grains such as wheat, corn, rice, and barley comprise the primary ingredient in many food products including bread, pasta, cereals, and snacks. As such, there is a strong and consistent demand for such food products necessitating high production volumes of the respective grains. In addition, grains are used for beverage production in the form of beers and spirits, so this product category is also quite dominating as well.