Mounting pressure to address climate change and improve soil health is spurring a pronounced shift in global agriculture, as market demand for carbon capture technology continues to rise. The agricultural carbon sequestration sector is now valued at more than $150 million globally in 2024, with expectations to surpass $900 million by 2034, according to multiple industry assessments. Interest has surged as farmers, policy makers, and corporations seek practical solutions that can both store carbon and cut reliance on synthetic fertilisers.
North America leads these developments, supported by government programmes and technological adoption that have made natural-based approaches, such as bioengineered crops and advanced microbial amendments, increasingly attractive to commercial and environmental interests. Against this backdrop, collaborations between plant biotechnology firms and crop science specialists are shaping new avenues for product development and market influence, setting the stage for a competitive and rapidly evolving field.
Biotechnology Partnerships Driving Agricultural Carbon Capture
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The momentum behind biologically based carbon sequestration is evidenced by a recent agreement between Syntopa and Mendel Biotechnology. The arrangement gives Syntopa access to Mendel’s proprietary plant germplasm and intellectual property, establishing exclusive rights for commercial applications arising from the partnership. Hans E. E. Holtan, CEO of Syntopa, remarked, ‘Gaining access to Mendel’s unique and diverse bioenergy crop germplasm, as well as IP related to crop responses and interactions with environmental microbes, represents a significant opportunity for Syntopa. These assets will enable us to accelerate the discovery and development of technologies aligned with our core missions: advancing atmospheric carbon removal and reducing fertiliser dependency—while simultaneously enhancing crop yields.’
This type of collaboration not only increases the scope of research into carbon capture in agriculture but also aligns with wider market movements. The sector has witnessed increased investment in biotech crop solutions able to boost soil health and facilitate greater carbon storage, as outlined by recent market analysis. Products stemming from these partnerships are anticipated to underpin a new segment of agriculture carbon sequestration —with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.7 percent over the next decade.
Industry Context and Competitive Pressures
Biological approaches to carbon capture—including genetically improved crop varieties and microbe-assisted soil enhancements—are being prioritised as the fastest-growing segment within the global carbon sequestration market. According to a 2024 industry report , crop farming currently dominates this sector, representing nearly half the market share, as farmers adopt regenerative practices such as cover cropping, no-till agriculture and biochar integration. This trend is reinforced by advances in the plant biotechnology market, forecast to reach nearly $77 billion globally by 2030, with key competitors like BASF, Corteva, Syngenta and Bayer accelerating their entries into bio-based agritech solutions.
Mendel Biotechnology’s move to partner with Syntopa reflects efforts by mid-sized technology companies to compete with these market leaders by leveraging proprietary germplasm collections and specialised intellectual property. Mendel’s CEO, Oliver J. Ratcliffe, underscored the business rationale: ‘Their company has a very experienced scientific leadership team, and they are making truly remarkable progress towards the development of biologically based products that provide significant benefits in carbon capture. As well as mitigation of climate change, the approach also has the potential to benefit soil health and reduce the dependence of farmers on synthetic nutritional products.’
Scientific Advancements and Measurable Impact
Recent scientific research further contextualises the value of biologically based crop products for carbon sequestration. A large-scale study published in Nature Scientific Reports found that integrating cover crops into typical farming practice not only increases soil carbon over time but also improves overall profitability in temperate climates. These practices—coupled with traits developed from advanced plant biotechnology—are central to industry hopes for scaling up greenhouse gas reduction efforts.
Although the deployment of these technologies is still in the early stages, advancements in monitoring, remote sensing and data analytics are set to improve commercial confidence in biological carbon capture. Industry growth is further spurred by global commitments to net-zero targets, with government incentives and carbon trading schemes supporting corporate adoption across North America, Europe and increasingly the Asia-Pacific region. The agriculture carbon sequestration market is reacting with rapid product innovation and increased competitive intensity as new technologies prove their viability at scale.
Outlook: Realising Opportunity Amidst Global Pressures
With natural-based solutions recognised for both environmental and operational benefits, the agricultural sector’s focus on carbon capture in agriculture now encompasses both large multinationals and smaller, research-driven firms. The exclusive collaboration between Syntopa and Mendel Biotechnology exemplifies how proprietary research, targeted investments, and commercial rights are becoming the battlegrounds for future growth in this sector. As carbon markets expand and the regulatory environment solidifies, firms able to combine scientific credibility with real-world applications will be best positioned to capture both revenue and market relevance.
Ultimately, the trajectory for agricultural carbon sequestration will be defined by the ability to scale up advances from laboratory to farm in ways that demonstrate clear value—both for financial returns and for progress towards climate targets. As biological carbon capture strategies mature, tracking competitive developments and technology adoption across the agricultural supply chain will prove decisive in separating true market leaders from the remainder of the field.
