Spain Forage Seed Market Analysis
The Spain Forage Seed Market size is estimated at USD 40.65 million in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 48.75 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
The Spain forage seed market supports livestock farming by providing essential feed crops including alfalfa, corn, and sorghum. These crops deliver optimal protein content, digestible fiber, and essential nutrients while demonstrating resilience across Spain's Mediterranean, oceanic, and continental climate zones. The market growth stems from increasing demand for meat and dairy products, combined with the expansion of organic farming practices that emphasize sustainable and chemical-free cultivation methods. In 2022, Spain had 20,600 farmers engaged in cow's, sheep's, and goat's milk production, alongside more than 1,500 authorized milk collection and processing centers. The country's consumption of milk and dairy products reached 5,000 million liters, valued at EUR 8.6 billion (USD 9 billion), according to Grupo Cooperativo Cajamar.
The market benefits from advances in seed technology, particularly in developing varieties with enhanced drought tolerance, disease resistance, and improved biomass production. Spain's varied geography, ranging from coastal plains to mountainous regions, enables the cultivation of diverse forage crops, strengthening the market's growth potential. The country also maintains comprehensive seed preservation initiatives through gene banks for breeding programs and sustainability efforts, focusing on preserving indigenous varieties and developing climate-resilient cultivars. In 2022, Spain contributed 111 maize seed samples to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, demonstrating its commitment to global seed conservation efforts.
Spain Forage Seed Market Trends
Surging Appetite for Animal Products Fuels Demand for Forage Cereal Seeds
Spain ranks as Europe's third-largest meat consumer, following Portugal and Norway. According to Spain's Ministry of Agriculture, the daily per capita meat consumption is expected to reach 1,349 grams in 2024. The country's meat consumption pattern shows a clear preference for poultry, which represents the highest consumption at 38 grams per capita daily, followed by pork and beef products. In 2023, Spain's consumption of meat and pork products reached 1.01 million metric tons, marking a 1.5% increase from the previous year, as reported by the Interprofessional INTERPORC based on data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) and the National Institute of Statistics.
The substantial increase in meat consumption across Spain has generated a significant demand for high-quality animal feed, subsequently driving the forage cereals seed market's expansion. According to USDA Grain's Country Report, Spain's total grain consumption in the Marketing Year 2023-2024 is currently projected at over 34.6 million metric tons. Animal feed accounts for over 75% of the country's demand. Therefore the growing cereal consumption by the animal feed sector in the country is boosting the demand for forage cereals like corn and sorghum in the forecast period.
Growing Livestock Population is Fueling Fresh Forage Segment
Spain's expanding livestock population has increased the demand for fresh forage in the agricultural sector. According to EUROSTAT, the number of dairy cows increased from 808.86 thousand animals in 2021 to 810 thousand in 2022. This growth in livestock population has created a higher demand for fresh forage, impacting feed production and supply chains across the country. According to USDA, in MY 2024-2025, the area planted for fresh forage in Spain is expected to recover and amount to 105,000 Ha. The projected area increase is attributed to non-irrigated growing regions, namely Castile and Leon.
Spain's fresh fodder production for Marketing Year 2024-2025 is expected to reach 1.2 million metric tons, driven by increased planted area and improved yields. According to USDA reports, early spring precipitation and mild temperatures have improved soil moisture levels and yield expectations for both first and second cuts. These favorable weather conditions have positively influenced crop development and overall production capacity. Therefore, the substantial expansion in livestock numbers, particularly in the dairy and poultry segments, is anticipated to drive market growth during the forecast period, creating sustained demand for fresh forage products.
Spain Forage Seed Industry Overview
The Spain forage seed market operates with high concentration, dominated by key players including Semillas Fito, DLF Seeds Ltd, Tropical Seeds, UPL (Advanta Seeds), and Corteva Agriscience. These companies primarily employ mergers and acquisitions, expansions, partnerships, and product launches as their main business strategies. Competition in the market extends beyond product quality and promotion, with companies implementing strategic initiatives to increase their market share. The market witnesses significant acquisition activities as companies aim to expand their forage seed operations.
Spain Forage Seed Market Leaders
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DLF Seeds Ltd
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Advanta Seeds
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Tropical Seeds
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Corteva Agriscience
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Semillas Fito
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Spain Forage Seed Market News
- June 2024: DLF Seeds A/S acquired Florimond Desprez's alfalfa seed breeding and commercial operations through a signed agreement. The acquisition includes Florimond Desprez's breeding program, varieties, seed stocks, and commercial agreements related to alfalfa activities.
- September 2023: DLF acquired Corteva Agriscience's alfalfa breeding program, which includes its global alfalfa germplasm and breeding operations, the Alforex Seeds brand, and associated trademarks. The acquisition encompasses Hi-Gest alfalfa technology, Hi-Ton performance alfalfa, Hi-Salt salinity tolerant alfalfa, and msSuntra hybrid. technology, along with current commercial alfalfa varieties.
Spain Forage Seed Industry Segmentation
Forage seeds are seeds grown specifically for feeding livestock. They are planted to create pastures and hayfields. The Spain Forage Seed Market is segmented by crop type (cereals, legumes, and grasses) and by product type (fresh forage and stored forage). The report offers the market size and forecasts in terms of value (USD) and volume (metric tons) for all the above segments.
Crop Type | Cereals | Forage Corn | |
Forage Sorghum | |||
Other Cereals | |||
Legumes | Alfalfa | ||
Other Legumes | |||
Grasses | |||
Product Type | Fresh Forage | ||
Stored Forage |
Spain Forage Seed Market Research FAQs
How big is the Spain Forage Seed Market?
The Spain Forage Seed Market size is expected to reach USD 40.65 million in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 3.70% to reach USD 48.75 million by 2030.
What is the current Spain Forage Seed Market size?
In 2025, the Spain Forage Seed Market size is expected to reach USD 40.65 million.
Who are the key players in Spain Forage Seed Market?
DLF Seeds Ltd, Advanta Seeds, Tropical Seeds, Corteva Agriscience and Semillas Fito are the major companies operating in the Spain Forage Seed Market.
What years does this Spain Forage Seed Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the Spain Forage Seed Market size was estimated at USD 39.15 million. The report covers the Spain Forage Seed Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Spain Forage Seed Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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Spain Forage Seed Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 Spain Forage Seed market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Spain Forage Seed analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.