Amino oligosaccharin (also known as chitosan oligosaccharide) is rapidly gaining prominence in the agricultural sector as a novel biopesticide and plant growth regulator. With sustained market enthusiasm, it is accelerating its transition from a “niche biopesticide” to an “essential product for green agriculture,” emerging as a breakout growth engine—a powerful new category—for companies seeking to escape intense market competition.
A Versatile Player in New Categories
Amino oligosaccharin is derived from deep-sea snow crab or shrimp shells. Through processes of deacetylation, and demineralization, they are extracted into chitosan, which is then broken down via enzymatic hydrolysis into small-molecule sugar chain polymers with a polymerization degree between 2 and 7. Composed of glucosamine units linked by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds, it features low molecular weight, good water solubility, high activity, and rapid absorption by plants.
It is the only naturally occurring alkaline polysaccharide carrying a positive charge, granting it unique biological functions.
Amino oligosaccharin is highly effective in boosting plant immunity, offering functions for disease prevention and resistance, quality improvement, and yield increase. It demonstrates significant efficacy in controlling viral diseases, suppressing root-knot nematodes, enhancing stress resistance (chilling injury, freezing damage, stunted seedlings, yellowing), alleviating pesticide damage, promoting growth, reducing residues, protecting flowers and fruits, wound repair, and nourishing/protecting root systems.
Mechanism of Action 1: Positively Charged Bacteriostasis. As the only positively charged, alkaline polysaccharide in nature, with a chain length of 2-7 units and a molecular weight between 1000-1200 Da, it carries a large number of positively charged amino groups. These can complex with negatively charged proteases of fungi, bacteria, and viruses, effectively inhibiting pathogen growth and reproduction and reducing their infection capability in plants.
Mechanism of Action 2: Glycan Chain-Induced Immunity. Consisting of 2-6 sugar chains and a molecular weight of 1000-1200 Da, it can enter plant cells and induce the plant’s own immune system, thereby achieving disease prevention and resistance, quality improvement, and yield increase.
In agriculture, it possesses multiple functions including bactericidal and fungicidal activity, antiviral properties, nematode control, growth promotion, and soil improvement. Aligning with the trend towards green agriculture, Amino oligosaccharin can be considered a “versatile player” within the new, segmented product categories and a pivotal point for seeking new, explosive growth.
Sustained Market Growth
The popularity of amino oligosaccharin is first reflected in its continuous market expansion. As a biopesticide, it is low-toxicity and environmentally friendly, fitting the global trend of sustainable agricultural development. Beyond traditional agriculture, its applications are expanding into areas like fruit and vegetable preservation, soil amendment, and seed treatment, further broadening its market potential. The market size has shown a notable upward trend in recent years.
Public data indicates that in 2010, China’s amino oligosaccharin market was approximately RMB 95 million, with consumption around 190 tons. By 2013, the market size had grown to RMB 142 million, with demand reaching about 258 tons. Since 2017, demand has continued to rise, establishing it as a hot product in the biopesticide sector.
Soaring Product Registrations
The sector’s heat is further evidenced by a surge in product registrations. In 1999, Hebei Jiahe Biological Technology Co., Ltd. obtained the first provisional registration for an amino oligosaccharin formulation (a 0.5% aqueous solution). The number of formulation registrations has shown a generally steady upward trend, with a significant increase in formal product registrations starting in 2012 (climbing to 9). The peak period for registrations was between 2013 and 2018, reaching 64. After a slight correction in 2019, product registrations entered a renewed upward channel in 2020 and 2021.
According to the China Pesticide Information Network, as of August 13, 2025, there are 161 approved amino oligosaccharin products valid in China. This includes 3 technical/technical concentrate products and 158 formulated products, indicating sustained registration growth. The active ingredient content ranges from 0.5% to 52%, falling mainly into categories such as fungicides, plant resistance inducers, and plant growth regulators. Among them, 102 products are registered as fungicides, 31 as plant resistance inducers, 14 as plant growth regulators, and 13 as nematicides.
The Industry Enters a “Golden Decade” of Development
The rise of amino oligosaccharin, from a laboratory “chitosan oligosaccharide solution” to a “yield-boosting marvel” in the fields, essentially mirrors China’s agricultural transition towards green, efficient, and sustainable practices.
It addresses the pain points of traditional pesticides—”high residue and easy resistance development”—meets farmers’ core demand for “yield increase and quality improvement,” and aligns with consumers’ urgent need for “safe food.”
Standing at the point of 2025, the popularity of amino oligosaccharin continues, but the industry is entering a “differentiation phase.” Disparities in technology, capital, and channels will become more pronounced. Future competition will revolve around three key areas:
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Technology Iteration: Evolving from “rough degradation” to “precise synthesis.”
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Market Extension: Expanding from “cash crops” to “field crops.”
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Model Upgrade: Shifting from “single-agent products” to “solutions for increasing yield and income.”
