Growing instances of adverse weather conditions will positively influence the need for nonwoven crop covers. The jump in the levels of soil and water pollution has resulted in the surging requirement to counter pests and harmful substances across the agricultural sector. Nonwoven fabric crops are extensively used to protect crops, fruits, and vegetables from risky frosts, hailstorms as well as heavy gusts of winds. They also limit the entry of insects into these plant bodies.

Apart from these factors, the crop covers help to reduce the need for chemical treatment for the plants. They offer water and air permeability to the roots of the crops in order to mitigate the instances of maintenance at the upcoming stages of the yield. Furthermore, nonwoven agricultural crop covers render prevention from excess UV rays and facilitate organic farming practices.

As per a recent research report, the global nonwoven crop cover market size could grow at a significant CAGR by 2026.

Customization benefits from rolled crop covers

Industry share of roll nonwoven crop covers will witness considerable expansion due to their increasing preference in comparison to tube and sheet-cut counterparts. The size of the rolls can be customized as per consumer requirements. Furthermore, nonwoven fabrics are over 80% transparent and are uniformly structured, and are found to be better packaged in the form of rolls.

On the other hand, the uses of non-woven crop covers across the crop protection application segment will foster significant gains. This is owing to their robust capabilities in offering better gas exchange and lower suffocation to the roots. The covers are widely used as covering materials in garden farming, greenhouse, and garden beds. This is because the fabric provides an optimal microclimate for plant growth and minimizes the duration of maturing.

The application of nonwoven fabric crop covers in frost protection is likely to reach a prominent growth rate. This can be attributed to their increasing adoption to render safety from frostbites, hailstorms as well as heavy gusts of winds.

Asia Pacific as a leading producer

Asia Pacific is anticipated to see substantial demand for the nonwoven crop cover in the coming years. This can be attributed to the presence of a prominent agricultural sector that has led to the increasing use of the products.

Also, leading manufacturers across some developing countries are working on enhancing their products to offer better productivity and results. Citing an instance, India-based agricultural plastics manufacturer, Ray Colors, made use of Chimassorb, a light stabilizer from BASF to produce PP non-woven fabrics to cover crops, plants, and vegetables.

Manufacturers of nonwoven fabric crop covers are looking forward to new product developments, and capacity expansions to increase their customer reach. These firms are also keen on strategic collaborations like acquisitions and partnerships in order to broaden their product portfolio.

For instance, Berry Global Group, in July 2019, acquired RPC Group Plc (RPC) to provide value-added protective solutions and mark its name as a leading plastic packaging company across the world. First Quality Non Wovens Inc., Mitsui Chemicals, Kimberly Clark Corp., and Akitieselskabet Schouw & Co. Group are few other product manufactures worldwide.