[email protected] +44 20 8123 2220 (UK) +1 732 587 5005 (US) Contact Us | FAQ |

Molecular Breeding Market by Process (QTL Mapping, Marker-Assisted Selection, Marker-Assisted Backcrossing, and Genomic Selection), Marker (SNP, SSR), Application (Crop Breeding and Livestock Breeding), and Region-Global Forecast to 2023

September 2018 | 156 pages | ID: M99A3ABC7AEEN
MarketsandMarkets

US$ 3,672.50 US$ 5,650.00 -35 %
Offer valid until December 31, 2024!

E-mail Delivery (PDF)

Download PDF Leaflet

Accepted cards
Wire Transfer
Checkout Later
Need Help? Ask a Question
“The molecular breeding market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 17.11% from 2018 to 2023.”

The molecular breeding market is projected to reach USD 3.95 billion by 2023, from USD 1.79 billion in 2018, at a CAGR of 17.11%. It is projected to grow at an exponential rate due to factors such as the rising funds for agrigenomics research, declining cost of genetic solutions, and the benefits imparted by molecular breeding in agricultural yield. However, major factors restraining the growth of molecular breeding are the higher capital investment in comparison to conventional breeding and the lack of infrastructural facilities in the developing economies of Asian countries.

“Among different processes, the genomic selection segment is projected to be the fastest-growing from 2018 to 2023.”

Genomic selection is a recent development in the molecular breeding market, and hence, its awareness and adoption have been gradually increasing, especially across North American and European countries. Genomic selection helps in the rapid selection of superior genotypes and accelerates the breeding cycle. This technology is applicable to the population that has even minor differences from the reference population. Cost and time efficiency are the major factors attributing to the increasing adoption of this technique over the traditional phenotypic selection. The increased accuracy achieved with genomic selection has been attracting key agrigenomic service providers in the global market.

“In terms of application, the cereals & grains segment is estimated to dominate the market in 2018.”

With the increasing global concern on food security and rising demand for crops in various industries, there has been an increasing need to bridge the supply-demand gap, owing to which the demand for crops with the desired traits has been rising among the plant breeders. Owing to the increasing demand for industrial crops such as corn, wheat, and sorghum, the adoption of advanced technologies for these crops is expected to further increase in the coming years. The application of molecular technology is at the nascent stage for livestock, wherein cattle is the predominant livestock that is selected using these techniques.

“North America is estimated to dominate the molecular breeding market in 2018”

The North American market for molecular breeding is driven by the wide-scale application of molecular breeding techniques on crops such as corn and soybean, coupled with the favorable regulations by the US government toward the application of biotechnology in agriculture. The market for molecular breeding in the Asia Pacific region is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2018 to 2023 due to the increasing awareness of the benefits from molecular breeding in meeting crop demand.

The breakdown of the primaries on the basis of company type, designation, and region conducted during the research study is as follows:
  • By Company type: Tier 1 – 30%, Tier 2 –55%, and Tier 3 – 15%
  • By Designation: C-Level – 20%, D-Level – 20%, and Others – 60%
  • By Region: Asia Pacific – 40%, North America –25%, Europe – 20%, and RoW -15%
Others include sales managers, marketing managers, and product managers.

Note: Tier 1: Revenue = USD 1 billion; Tier 2: USD 100 million Revenue USD 1 billion; Tier 3: Revenue = USD 100 million

The global market for molecular breeding is dominated by large players such as Eurofins (Luxembourg), Illumina (US), Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), SGS (Switzerland), and LGC Limited (UK). Other key players in the molecular breeding market include DanBred (Denmark), Intertek Group (UK), LemnaTec (Germany), Charles River (US), Slipstream Automation (New Zealand), and Fruitbreedomics (consortium).

Research Coverage

The report analyzes the molecular breeding market across different applications and regions. It aims at estimating the market size and future growth potential of this market across different segments such as process, marker, application, and region. Furthermore, the report includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key players in the market along with their company profiles, recent developments, and key market strategies.

Key Benefits of Buying the Report:

The report will help the market leaders/new entrants in this market by providing them the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall molecular breeding market and its subsegments. This report will help stakeholders to better understand the competitor landscape, gain more insights to position their businesses better, and devise suitable go-to-market strategies. The report will also help stakeholders to understand the market and provide them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.
1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1.2 MARKET DEFINITION
1.3 STUDY SCOPE
1.4 PERIODIZATION CONSIDERED
1.5 CURRENCY CONSIDERED
1.6 STAKEHOLDERS

2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2.1 RESEARCH DATA
  2.1.1 SECONDARY DATA
  2.1.2 PRIMARY DATA
    2.1.2.1 Key industry insights
    2.1.2.2 Breakdown of primary interviews
2.2 MARKET SIZE ESTIMATION
2.3 DATA TRIANGULATION
2.4 RESEARCH ASSUMPTIONS
2.5 LIMITATIONS

3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4 PREMIUM INSIGHTS

4.1 OPPORTUNITIES IN THE MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET
4.2 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, BY APPLICATION, 2017
4.3 NORTH AMERICA: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, BY MARKER & COUNTRY, 2017
4.4 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, BY PROCESS & REGION, 2017
4.5 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SHARE, BY KEY COUNTRY

5 MARKET OVERVIEW

5.1 INTRODUCTION
5.2 EVOLUTION
5.3 MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS
  5.3.1 GROWTH IN THE USAGE OF COMMERCIAL SEEDS
  5.3.2 INCREASING TRADE OF ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES
5.4 MARKET DYNAMICS
  5.4.1 DRIVERS
    5.4.1.1 Rise in funds for agrigenomics
    5.4.1.2 Exponential fall in the cost for genomic solutions
    5.4.1.3 Technological advancements ensure strong market growth
    5.4.1.4 Growing number of partnerships, collaborations, and acquisitions
  5.4.2 RESTRAINTS
    5.4.2.1 High cost of molecular breeding in comparison to conventional breeding techniques
    5.4.2.2 Infrastructural restraints
      5.4.2.2.1 Lack of laboratory infrastructure
      5.4.2.2.2 Availability of few validated markers
      5.4.2.2.3 Dearth of skilled professionals
    5.4.2.3 Lesser awareness and misconception about molecular breeding programs
  5.4.3 OPPORTUNITIES
    5.4.3.1 Emerging markets
    5.4.3.2 Unregulated environment for molecular breeding
    5.4.3.3 Opportunities in livestock breeding
  5.4.4 CHALLENGES
    5.4.4.1 Developing economies restrict the adoption of molecular breeding
5.5 PATENT ANALYSIS
5.6 SUPPLY CHAIN ANALYSIS

6 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, BY PROCESS

6.1 INTRODUCTION
6.2 MARKER-ASSISTED SELECTION (MAS)
6.3 QTL MAPPING
6.4 MARKER-ASSISTED BACKCROSSING (MABC)
6.5 GENOMIC SELECTION
6.6 OTHER PROCESSES

7 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, BY MARKER

7.1 INTRODUCTION
7.2 SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISM (SNP)
7.3 SIMPLE SEQUENCE REPEATS (SSR)
7.4 OTHER MARKERS

8 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, BY APPLICATION

8.1 INTRODUCTION
8.2 CROP BREEDING
  8.2.1 CEREALS & GRAINS
    8.2.1.1 Corn
    8.2.1.2 Wheat
    8.2.1.3 Rice
    8.2.1.4 Other cereals & grains
  8.2.2 OILSEEDS
    8.2.2.1 Soybean
    8.2.2.2 Other oilseeds
  8.2.3 VEGETABLES
  8.2.4 OTHER CROP TYPES
8.3 LIVESTOCK
  8.3.1 CATTLE
  8.3.2 POULTRY
  8.3.3 OTHER LIVESTOCK

9 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, BY REGION

9.1 INTRODUCTION
9.2 NORTH AMERICA
  9.2.1 US
  9.2.2 CANADA
  9.2.3 MEXICO
9.3 EUROPE
  9.3.1 GERMANY
  9.3.2 FRANCE
  9.3.3 NETHERLANDS
  9.3.4 UK
  9.3.5 REST OF EUROPE
9.4 ASIA PACIFIC
  9.4.1 AUSTRALIA
  9.4.2 CHINA
  9.4.3 INDIA
  9.4.4 JAPAN
  9.4.5 REST OF ASIA PACIFIC
9.5 REST OF THE WORLD (ROW)
  9.5.1 BRAZIL
  9.5.2 SOUTH AFRICA
  9.5.3 ISRAEL
  9.5.4 OTHERS IN ROW

10 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

10.1 OVERVIEW
10.2 COMPANY SHARE ANALYSIS AND RANKINGS
10.3 COMPETITIVE SCENARIO
  10.3.1 MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
  10.3.2 EXPANSIONS & INVESTMENTS
  10.3.3 AGREEMENTS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND JOINT VENTURES

11 COMPANY PROFILES

(Business overview, Products offered, Recent Developments, SWOT analysis, MNM view)*

11.1 EUROFINS
11.2 THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC
11.3 ILLUMINA INC.
11.4 SGS
11.5 LGC GROUP
11.6 DANBRED
11.7 INTERTEK
11.8 LEMNATEC
11.9 CHARLES RIVER
11.10 SLIPSTREAM AUTOMATION
11.11 FRUITBREEDOMICS

*Details on Business overview, Products offered, Recent Developments, SWOT analysis, MNM view might not be captured in case of unlisted companies.

12 APPENDIX

12.1 DISCUSSION GUIDE
12.2 KNOWLEDGE STORE: MARKETSANDMARKETS’ SUBSCRIPTION PORTAL
12.3 AVAILABLE CUSTOMIZATIONS
12.4 RELATED REPORTS
12.5 AUTHOR DETAILS

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 USD EXCHANGE RATES, 2014–2017
Table 2 LIST OF IMPORTANT PATENTS FOR MOLECULAR BREEDING, 2013–2018
Table 3 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY PROCESS, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 4 MARKER-ASSISTED SELECTION: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 5 QTL MAPPING: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 6 MARKER-ASSISTED BACKCROSSING: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 7 GENOMIC SELECTION: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 8 OTHER PROCESSES: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 9 FEATURE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SNP, SSR, AND OTHER MOLECULAR MARKERS
Table 10 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY MARKER, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 11 SNP: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 12 SSR: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 13 OTHER MARKERS: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 14 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 15 MOLECULAR BREEDING APPLICATION MARKET SIZE FOR CROPS, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 16 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR CROPS, BY TYPE, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 17 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR CEREALS & GRAINS, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 18 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR CEREALS & GRAINS, BY CROP, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 19 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR CORN, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 20 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR WHEAT, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 21 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR RICE, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 22 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR OTHER CEREALS & GRAINS, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 23 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR OILSEEDS, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 24 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR OILSEEDS, BY CROP, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 25 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR SOYBEAN, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 26 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR OTHER OILSEEDS, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 27 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR VEGETABLES, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 28 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR OTHER CROPS, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 29 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR LIVESTOCK, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 30 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR LIVESTOCK, BY TYPE, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 31 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR CATTLE, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 32 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR POULTRY, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 33 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR OTHER LIVESTOCK, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 34 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY REGION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 35 NORTH AMERICA: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY COUNTRY, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 36 NORTH AMERICA: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY PROCESS, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 37 NORTH AMERICA: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY MARKER, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 38 NORTH AMERICA: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR CROPS, BY TYPE, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 39 NORTH AMERICA: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR LIVESTOCK, BY TYPE, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 40 US: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 41 CANADA: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 42 MEXICO: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 43 EUROPE: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY COUNTRY, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 44 EUROPE: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY PROCESS, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 45 EUROPE: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY MARKER, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 46 EUROPE: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR CROPS, BY TYPE, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 47 EUROPE: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR LIVESTOCK, BY TYPE, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 48 GERMANY: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 49 FRANCE: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 50 NETHERLANDS: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 51 UK: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 52 REST OF EUROPE: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 53 ASIA PACIFIC: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY COUNTRY, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 54 ASIA PACIFIC: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY PROCESS, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 55 ASIA PACIFIC: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY MARKER, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 56 ASIA PACIFIC: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR CROPS, BY TYPE, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 57 ASIA PACIFIC: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR LIVESTOCK, BY TYPE, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 58 AUSTRALIA: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 59 CHINA: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 60 INDIA: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 61 JAPAN: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 62 REST OF ASIA PACIFIC: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 63 ROW: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY COUNTRY, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 64 ROW: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY PROCESS, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 65 ROW: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY MARKER, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 66 ROW: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR CROPS, BY TYPE, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 67 ROW: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE FOR LIVESTOCK, BY TYPE, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 68 BRAZIL: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 69 SOUTH AFRICA: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 70 ISRAEL: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 71 OTHERS IN ROW: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SIZE, BY APPLICATION, 2016–2023 (USD MILLION)
Table 72 MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS, 2013–2018
Table 73 EXPANSIONS & INVESTMENTS, 2013–2018
Table 74 COLLABORATIONS, AGREEMENTS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND JOINT VENTURES, 2015–2018

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SEGMENTATION
Figure 2 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, BY REGION
Figure 3 MOLECULAR BREEDING: RESEARCH DESIGN
Figure 4 BREAKDOWN OF PRIMARY INTERVIEWS: BY COMPANY TYPE, DESIGNATION, AND REGION
Figure 5 MARKET SIZE ESTIMATION METHODOLOGY: BOTTOM-UP APPROACH
Figure 6 MARKET SIZE ESTIMATION METHODOLOGY: TOP-DOWN APPROACH
Figure 7 DATA TRIANGULATION
Figure 8 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, BY PROCESS, 2018 VS. 2023
Figure 9 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET SHARE, BY MARKER, 2018
Figure 10 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, BY APPLICATION, 2018 VS. 2023
Figure 11 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET: REGIONAL SNAPSHOT
Figure 12 INCREASED FUNDING IN AGRIGENOMICS RESEARCH TO DRIVE MARKET GROWTH
Figure 13 CEREALS & GRAINS ACCOUNTED FOR THE HIGHEST ADOPTION RATE AMONG CROP GROWERS IN 2017
Figure 14 NORTH AMERICA: STRONG DEMAND FOR SNP MARKERS FROM CROP BREEDERS IN 2017
Figure 15 NORTH AMERICA DOMINATED THE MARKET ACROSS ALL MOLECULAR BREEDING SERVICES IN 2017
Figure 16 US: IMPORTANT MARKET FOR MOLECULAR BREEDING, 2017
Figure 17 EVOLUTION OF BREEDING TECHNOLOGIES
Figure 20 CANADA: ANIMAL GENETIC EXPORTS (FOR BREEDING PURPOSE), 2013–2017 (USD MILLION)
Figure 21 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET: DRIVERS, RESTRAINTS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHALLENGES
Figure 22 DECLINE IN GENOME SEQUENCING PRICES, 2002–2014 (USD MILLION)
Figure 23 R&D EXPENDITURES, BY COUNTRY, 2017 (USD MILLION)
Figure 24 NUMBER OF PATENTS APPROVED FOR MOLECULAR BREEDING, BY KEY COMPANY, 2017–2018
Figure 25 GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS: PATENT APPROVAL FOR MOLECULAR BREEDING, 2017–2018
Figure 26 SUPPLY CHAIN ANALYSIS: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET
Figure 27 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, BY PROCESS, 2018 VS. 2023 (USD MILLION)
Figure 28 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, BY MARKER, 2018 VS. 2023 (USD MILLION)
Figure 29 MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, BY APPLICATION, 2018 VS. 2023 (USD MILLION)
Figure 30 INDIA IS PROJECTED TO WITNESS THE STRONG GROWTH DURING THE FORECAST PERIOD
Figure 31 NORTH AMERICA: MARKET SNAPSHOT
Figure 32 ASIA PACIFIC: MARKET SNAPSHOT
Figure 33 KEY DEVELOPMENTS BY LEADING PLAYERS IN THE MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, 2013–2018
Figure 34 COMPANY SHARE ANALYSIS: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, 2017
Figure 35 COMPANY RANKING: MOLECULAR BREEDING MARKET, 2017
Figure 36 EUROFINS: COMPANY SNAPSHOT
Figure 37 THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC: COMPANY SNAPSHOT
Figure 38 ILLUMINA INC.: COMPANY SNAPSHOT
Figure 39 SGS: COMPANY SNAPSHOT
Figure 40 LGC GROUP: COMPANY SNAPSHOT
Figure 41 INTERTEK: COMPANY SNAPSHOT
Figure 42 CHARLES RIVER: COMPANY SNAPSHOT


More Publications