“…we believe in the growth of the biological inputs market in the medium/long term…”
Marcelo Pessanha is CEO of Crop Care, a holding company controlled by Fundo Pátria Investimentos which focuses on acquiring special input industries for agriculture.
Pessanha is an agricultural engineer graduated from Faculdade Dr. Francisco Maeda, with an MBA in Marketing and Business Management from Fundação Dom Cabral.
Crop Care is part of the same platform as Lavoro, the largest distributor and redistributor of agricultural inputs in Latin America.
Marcelo Pessanha, CEO of Crop Care
AgriBrasilis – Do you think that bioinputs are “here to stay”?
Marcelo Pessanha – It is safe to say that bioinputs are the future of agriculture. Several studies show exponential market growth. According to Kynetec’s FarmTrak research, the bioinputs market generated US$ 827 million in Brazil in the 2022/23 harvest, an increase of 52% compared to the previous period, of US$ 547 million.
The use of biodefenses increased from 3.6% to 4% of total transactions verified in the plant defense sector. The treated area grew by 19%, and bioinputs filled an area equivalent to 112.831 million hectares in 2022/23, in the main producing regions, compared to 94.736 million in 2021/22. This proves the potential of the bioinputs market and shows that every year farmers accept these solutions more.
AgriBrasilis – What are the most used products?
Marcelo Pessanha – There is a variety of biological products used in Brazilian agriculture. According to CropLife Brasil, the most used biological inputs in the 2022/23 harvest were:
Bionematicides:
- Bacteria: Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thuringiensis, Pseudomonas fluorescens
- Fungi: Pochonia chlamydosporia, Beauveria bassiana
- Protozoa: Steinernema carpocapsae, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora
Bioinseticides:
- Bacteria: Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus sphaericus
- Fungi: Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Lecanicillium lecanii
- Virus: Nucleopolyhedrovirus
- Others: Entomopathogenic nematodes
Biofungicides:
- Bacteria: Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Trichoderma harzianum
- Fungi: Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma virens, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis
- Others: Plant extracts
Biofertilizers:
- Bacteria: Azospirillum brasilense, Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli, Bradyrhizobium japonicum
- Fungi: Trichoderma harzianum, Aspergillus niger
It is important to highlight that these are just some examples of the used microorganisms. The bioinputs market is constantly expanding, and new products and technologies are being developed.
These products have proven efficiency, performing as well as chemical products. The vast majority of them are also cheaper than traditional inputs, in addition to offering a “green-footprint”, i.e., they are environmentally friendly and help maintain sustainable crops.
AgriBrasilis – What problems still delay the development of the sector?
Marcelo Pessanha – There are several challenges for the development of the sector, including regulation. The bioinputs market is complex. Therefore, there is a need for more effective regulation, which is also flexible and guarantees the regularization of new products and new technologies quickly and safely.
The professionalization of the sector needs to continue advancing, especially for farmers who produce their own bioinputs on the farm. Without systematic quality monitoring and ensuring that the correct microorganisms are maintained, the effectiveness of products is compromised, generating false understandings about control and benefits.
AgriBrasilis – What is expected from the Legal Framework for Bioinputs, Bill nº 3.668/2021?
Marcelo Pessanha – The Legal Framework for Bioinputs, Bill nº 3,668/2021, is a bill that regulates the use of bioinputs in Brazilian agriculture. The project was approved by the Federal Senate in September 2023 and is now being analyzed by the Chamber of Deputies.
The Bill is expected to bring a series of benefits to the Brazilian agricultural sector, including:
To promote the transition to a more sustainable agriculture:
- Bioinputs are safer for human and environmental health than chemical inputs. The Legal Framework for Bioinputs should encourage the use of bioinputs, contributing to the sustainability of the agricultural sector.
To increase the competitiveness of the Brazilian agricultural sector:
- Bioinputs are a cheaper alternative to chemical inputs. The Legal Framework for Bioinputs should facilitate access to bioinputs, making them more competitive and contributing to the competitiveness of the agricultural sector.
To generate jobs and income:
- The production and use of bioinputs generate jobs and income in the countryside. The Legal Framework for Bioinputs should boost the development of this market.
In short, we believe that the Bioinputs Legal Framework is an important initiative for the agricultural sector. The project has the potential to promote the transition to more sustainable agriculture, increase the sector’s competitiveness and generate jobs and income.
AgriBrasilis – What is Crop Care’s role in the agricultural inputs sector? Is Agrobiológica the company’s main focus today?
Marcelo Pessanha – Crop Care is a Brazilian holding company that operates in the chemical and biological inputs and special fertilizers market. In addition to Agrobiológica Sustentabilidade, an innovative platform for biological and on-farm solutions, the company’s portfolio includes other companies, such as: Perterra and K2, which have an extensive portfolio of post-patent agrochemicals; Union Agro, one of the leaders in special fertilizers; and Cromo Química, specialized in the production of high-performance adjuvants and enhancers for agriculture.
Through partnerships with distributors and cooperatives, and direct access to agricultural companies, Crop Care is present in large producing regions in Latin America.
Currently, Agrobiológica represents the largest share of Crop Care’s investments, mainly due to its scalability capacity and because we believe in the growth of the biological inputs market in the medium/long term.
AgriBrasilis – You said that “eight out of ten farmers already use special fertilizers”. Could this adoption grow even further?
Marcelo Pessanha – Certainly, and not only in the case of new adopters, but also in the growth of adoption by those who are already users. Unlike traditional NPK, biofertilizers contain beneficial microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or other organisms, designed to improve soil quality, increase nutrient absorption by plants and, consequently, increase agricultural productivity. We can mention: the greater fixation of Nitrogen, as well as the transformation of atmospheric “N” into Nutritional “N”, in a cheap and efficient way; the increase in soil organic matter; the solubilization and availability of phosphorus for plants; pathogen suppression; and stimulating plant growth.
Special biofertilizers are an important part of sustainable agriculture, as they help to reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers, minimizing environmental impacts. They also improve soil health and contribute to agricultural productivity in a more sustainable way.
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