Residue Testing Market Report 2025

The residue testing market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $4.99 billion in 2024 to $5.31 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to food safety regulations, increased pesticide usage, consumer awareness, quality assurance in agriculture, stringent veterinary drug controls, environmental pollution concerns, public health concerns.

The residue testing market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $7.32 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to focus on microbial residue testing, global harmonization of standards, consumer demand for transparency, preventive residue management, climate change impact on residue levels. Major trends in the forecast period include rapid testing technologies, blockchain for traceability, strategic collaborations in testing services, customization of testing protocols, multi-residue analysis methods, mycotoxin detection.

The rising occurrences of chemical contamination in food processing industries are set to drive the growth of the residue testing market. Chemical contamination, involving the presence or addition of chemical substances in foods, necessitates thorough inspection, testing, and certification for purification. This is where residue testing plays a crucial role. As an illustration, in May 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that nearly 1 in every 10 people, totaling 600 million individuals, falls ill after consuming contaminated food. Additionally, approximately 420,000 people succumb to the effects of contaminated food each year, resulting in the loss of 33 million healthy life years. The escalating incidents of chemical contamination are thus contributing to the expansion of the residue testing market as a vital component of ensuring food safety.

The rising demand for processed food is expected to drive the growth of the residue testing market. Processed food refers to food items that have undergone mechanical, physical, thermal, or chemical transformations during manufacturing. As demand for processed foods increases, so does production, leading to complex supply chains and the use of various agricultural inputs. The globalization of the food supply chain amplifies the need for stringent residue testing to meet regulatory standards, especially as processed foods are widely traded internationally. For example, in April 2024, a report by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) noted that total industry foodservice sales, including prepared food and beverages, accounted for 26.9% of in-store sales in 2023, up from 25.6% in 2022, with prepared food sales growing by 12.2%. Therefore, the rising demand for processed food is fueling the residue testing market's growth.

Major companies in the residue testing market are developing mobile residue testing labs designed specifically for tea leaf testing to improve efficiency and accuracy in detecting pesticide residues and contaminants. These mobile labs allow for on-site testing, which reduces the turnaround time for results and enables immediate corrective actions if unsafe levels are found. This development highlights the growing importance of quality assurance in the tea industry. For instance, in June 2024, Eurofins Agro Laboratories, a Luxembourg-based company, launched a mobile residue testing lab that enhances the efficiency of quality control processes. The lab uses advanced testing technologies like High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to accurately analyze chemical compositions, including caffeine and polyphenol levels, which are key indicators of tea quality.

Major companies in the residue testing market are focusing on developing low-cost, rapid pesticide detection kits tailored specifically for the tea industry, enabling tea farmers and producers to quickly assess pesticide levels on their crops. These rapid detection kits are specialized tools designed to quickly and accurately identify pesticide residues on both fresh and dried tea leaves, delivering results within 30 to 60 minutes, including sample preparation time. For instance, in August 2024, the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM), an Indian-based education institute, developed a low-cost, rapid pesticide detection kit. This kit uses a biosensor based on the inhibition effect principle, incorporating specific enzymes and chromogenic nano reagents for precise pesticide screening. The kit is user-friendly and includes essential components such as a small pestle and mortar, buffer solutions, droppers, Eppendorf tubes, and biosensor-impregnated cellulosic strips, making it an effective tool for tea farmers to ensure the safety and quality of their products.

In September 2022, Stirling Square Capital Partners LLP, a UK-based private equity firm, acquired Eurofins Digital Testing for $240.88 million. With this acquisition, Stirling Square aims to broaden its portfolio by leveraging Eurofins's specialized expertise in residue testing services, including pesticide residue testing, a critical component for ensuring food safety and compliance with international standards. Eurofins Scientific SE, the parent company, is a Luxembourg-based global leader in bioanalytical services, offering a wide range of testing solutions, including comprehensive residue testing for various industries such as agriculture and food production.

Major companies operating in the residue testing market are Eurofins Scientific SE, Bureau Veritas SA, SGS SA, Intertek Group PLC, Symbio Laboratories Pty Ltd., ALS Limited, AsureQuality Limited, Microbac Laboratories Inc., QTS Analytical Ltd., NSF International, Arbro Pharmaceuticals Private Limited, Fera Science Limited, AB Sciex LLC, Trilogy Analytical Laboratory Inc., Waters Agricultural Laboratories Inc., Neogen Corporation, Mérieux NutriSciences Corp., Romer Labs Division Holding GmbH, TÜV SÜD AG, Nelson Laboratories LLC, Pacific BioLabs Inc., Pace Analytical Services LLC, Avomeen Analytical Services, Brooks Applied Labs LLC, EMSL Analytical Inc., Exova Group Limited, Food Safety Net Services, IEH Laboratories & Consulting Group, Maxxam Analytics, Micro Quality Labs Inc., Midwest Laboratories Inc., RJ Lee Group Inc., Silliker Inc., SRC Analytical Laboratories, Summit Environmental Technologies Inc., TestAmerica Laboratories Inc., Whitehouse Laboratories.

North America was the largest region in the residue testing market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the residue testing market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the residue testing market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Residue testing plays a crucial role in ensuring the compliance of agricultural products with both domestic and international market standards and safety regulations. This process involves the detection and quantification of chemical substances in products through rigorous testing and analysis.

The primary methodologies employed in residue testing include chromatography, spectroscopy, immunoassay, and other relevant techniques. Chromatography, specifically, serves as a pivotal method for the separation of chemicals into distinct components. In the context of residue testing, chromatography is instrumental in assessing pesticides and their residues. Its application extends to the examination of pesticide residues, toxins, heavy metals, food allergens, and various other contaminants. This testing is essential across a spectrum of industries, including meat and poultry, dairy products, processed foods, fruits and vegetables, cereals, grains and pulses, as well as nuts, seeds, and spices. Through these comprehensive testing methods, businesses can ensure the quality and safety of their products, aligning them with market access requirements and safeguarding against regulatory non-compliance.

The residue testing market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides residue testing market statistics, including residue testing industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a residue testing market share, detailed residue testing market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the residue testing industry. This residue testing market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The residue testing market includes revenues earned by entities by providing residue testing through ionization, liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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