Suspension of construction licenses granted to Potássio do Brasil (Brazil Potash)
Brazil
Anvisa approves toxicological evaluation of new formulated products – with active ingredients not yet registered in Brazil: spidoxamat (Bayer); and flucarbazone-sodium 700 g/L WG (UPL). (Anvisa)
Adelino Júnior Thomazini is the new commercial director at Grupo Santa Clara. (Santa Clara Agro)
With an investment of approximately US$ 4.5 million, Corteva inaugurated on May 15th, a multidisciplinary laboratory in Mogi Mirim, State of São Paulo. According to Rodrigo Neves, the company’s R&D leader for Latin America, this is the largest Integrated Field R&D Center for Crop Protection and Biotechnology in the world. (Corteva Agriscience)
Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical (Tropical Agricultural Industry) performed a study called “First record of the parasitoid Goniozus legneri on the ‘tip borer’ (Anthistarcha binocularis) of the cashew tree in Brazil”. Researchers highlight that the “tip borer”, a pest that affects cashew tree inflorescences and buds, can be preyed upon by parasitic wasps, an unprecedented discovery. According to Nívia Dias, entomologist and researcher at Embrapa, this research “is essential for us to learn about the creation of this parasitoid in laboratory conditions, in addition to its parasitism rate, so that we know if it really has the potential to control this pest”. Available at https://l1nq.com/vsO7e. (Embrapa)
Federal University of Paraná State has received a patent regarding a product that reduces pesticides on fruit surfaces. Research was carried out in collaboration with the company Labpro Análises e Produtos Químicos. The product is sprayed over fruits, without needing to rinse them. (UFPR; Labpro Análises e Produtos Químicos)
In compliance with a court decision, Anvisa approves toxicological evaluation of acephate 850 + bifenthrin 35 g/kg WG, from Adama. (Anvisa)
Federal Court of Accounts of Brazil – TCU has rejected a request for a consensual solution made by Petrobras in a process investigating a contract with the fertilizer company Unigel. The process analyzes the contract which could result in losses of almost US$ 97.83 million for the State-owned company, according to an analysis by TCU, which pointed out “indications of irregularities” and requested suspension of the agreement. (TCU)
Agrocete, a Brazilian company focused on adjuvants and plant nutrition, announced that it will operate in the biocontrol market, with the launch of three biopesticide products: a nematicide, a fungicide and an insecticide. “Entering the biocontrol area has been part of our strategic planning for the past five years. With the expansion of our portfolio, our intention is for these products to offer synergy with current products”, said Andrea Giroldo, director of marketing and development. (Agrocete)
Agricultural Microbiology Laboratory at the State University of São Paulo in Jaboticabal announces the event “Course on Biological Soil Nutrition”, between September 11th and 13th, 2024, coordinated by researchers Everlon Cid Rigobelo, Luziane Ramos Sales, and Edvan Teciano Frezarin. (Unesp)
Heloisa Carpigiani Mussi is the new commercial director of the fertilizer company Eurochem. Guilherme Terribili is the new Cerrado Biome commercial director. (Eurochem Brasil)
AgroGalaxy released a balance sheet regarding 1Q/2024. According to the company, its business strategy is more focused on specialty fertilizers and bioinputs. The segments represented, respectively, 11.5% and 3% of the sales mix, with an increase of 3.3% in the share of specialty fertilizers when compared to the same period of the previous year. There was a drop in the share of mineral fertilizers, from 29% to 25%. (AgroGalaxy)
On May 13th, the Federal Public Ministry filed a lawsuit to request suspension of construction licenses granted to company Potássio do Brasil (Brazil Potash) by the Institute of Environmental Protection of the State of Amazonas, in Autazes, State of Amazonas. According to the initial petition, the works affect traditional areas occupied by the Mura indigenous people. (MPF)
Fertilizer company Verde AgriTech released financial results of 1Q/2024. According to Cristiano Veloso, founder, president and CEO of the company, “although we were disappointed with the market conditions and the results of 1Q/2024, they were still more than five times higher than the 1Q/2021”. Sales in the 1Q/2024 reached 85 thousand tonnes, compared to 108 thousand tonnes in the 1Q/2023; Revenue in the 1Q/2024 was US$ 5.1 million, compared to US$ 11.1 million in the 1Q/2023. (Verde Agritech)
State of Rio Grande do Sul is ranked #2 consumer of fertilizers in Brazil, according to Jeferson Souza, market analyst at Agrinvest Commodities. “Analyzing the inputs, fertilizer deliveries in Rio Grande do Sul grew by more than 17% last year… making the State the second largest in Brazil, behind only the State of Mato Grosso… The port of Rio Grande is the 3rd largest in receiving fertilizers in Brazil. For May, the lineups predict more than 530 thousand tonnes of NPK already scheduled (total for the month) and, in June, there are 115 thousand tonnes”, said Souza. (Agrinvest Commodities)
Ministry of Agriculture published, on May 21st, the Act No. 22 of deliberations in the area of post-registration of pesticides, containing 3 cancellations of registration requests, 2 registration cancellations, 36 import authorizations, etc. (MAPA)
BP Bunge invested US$ 4.31 million in a liquid fertilizer factory that aims to supply the group’s own demand. The facility was inaugurated in Orindiúva, State of São Paulo. The objective is to make better use of sugarcane by-products and save on the use of chemical fertilizers. In addition to liquid foliar fertilizers, the factory will enrich vinasse produced as residue from the processing of sugarcane. Rogério Bremm, agricultural director at BP Bunge, said that, in addition to this unit, the company is already planning to build two more: one in the State of Minas Gerais and another in the State of Goiás. “Those will be similar projects and should require the same investment as the first factory”. (BP Bunge)
Andréa Leamari is the new commercial director at ICL, a fertilizer and specialty chemicals company. (ICL Group)
Fertilizer Purchasing Power Index reached 0.99 in April of 2024. This represents a drop of 3% when compared to March. The moment is favorable for purchasing the input, since the lower the indicator, the better the exchange ratio for the farmer. (The Mosaic Company)
Magda Chambriard, new president of Petrobras promises to accelerate the completion of the Três Lagoas Fertilizer Factory (UFN3), which has been paralyzed since 2015. Since Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s election as president, there is an expectation that construction of the plant will resume. The works were interrupted when they were around 80% completed, and the resumption is happening at a slow pace. Magda Chambriard was director of the National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels during Dilma Rousseff’s government. (Petrobras)
Some municipalities in the State of Maranhão are banning the aerial spraying of pesticides. Recently, Caxias was the 5th municipality to approve a law prohibiting the practice. Law provides for a fine of US$ 9.79 thousand for anyone who violates the ban. (Caxias Municipal Government)
Leandro Grassi, specialist in phytopathology, will give a lecture on bioinputs used in the control of phytonematodes at the Brazilian Plant Health Congress. Congress will take place between August 21st and 23rd, at the Federal University of Viçosa, State of Minas Gerais. (Conbraf)
Igor Lima is the new director of marketing and business strategy – corn at Bayer. (Bayer Crop Science)
Anvisa is collecting food samples in 24 States and the Federal District for the Pesticide Residue Analysis Program in Food. “The choice of food mainly considers the basic Brazilian diet, according to data from the IBGE Family Budget Survey, and the foods monitored currently represent around 80% of food consumption by the Brazilian population”. (Anvisa)
Congressman George Lins presented Bill No. 299/2024 in the State of Amazonas Legislative Assembly, which aims to ban aerial spraying of pesticides in the State. Lins suggests amendment to State Law No. 3803, from 08/29/2012. According to him, aerial spraying poses risks to native vegetation in the Amazon Forest. (ALE-AM)
Study performed by researchers from Unesp, UFSCar and UFV sought to evaluate effects of imidacloprid, pyraclostrobin and glyphosate on the native stingless bee species Melipona scutellaris. “We observed that, both in combination and alone, pesticides seriously interfered with bee behavior, caused damage to the ‘fat body’ [an organ related to the bee’s immune system] and compromised the activities of both proteins important for the immune system and cell survival”, according to researcher at the Center for Agricultural Sciences at UFSCar, Cliver Fernandes Farder-Gomes. Available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123783. (UFSCar; Unesp; UFV)
Research from Federal University of Mato Grosso evaluated water samples from the Araguaia River and detected contamination by eight types of pesticides. “In general, these pesticides are in low concentration, but what drew the most attention in this study is that we found environmental contamination in all sub-basins that we studied, showing that contamination is widespread here in the region”, said the researcher Dilermando Pereira Lima. Available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envadv.2024.100497. (UFMT)
Hinove, a manufacturer of special fertilizers with headquarters in Araraquara, State of São Paulo, has announced that it should increase production by 50% in 2024, reaching 450 thousand tonnes. With the expansion, the company expects to earn US$ 200 million in 2024, 54% more than in 2023. (Hinove)
Cost of fertilizer freight increased 21% between 2010 and 2022, according to a study performed by the Logistics Research and Extension Group at the Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture. (EsalqLog/USP)
Fertilizers Heringer presented a net loss in the 1Q/2024 of US$ 28.24 million. Ebitda in the 1Q was negative US$ 10.21 million, but with an improvement of 62.7% when compared to the same period of 2023. Net revenue reached US$ 190.11 million, a reduction of around 30% when compared to the 1Q/2023. (Fertilizantes Heringer)
UPL announced Robison Serafim as its new CFO (Chief Marketing Officer) in Brazil. (UPL)
Researchers from the State University of São Paulo have demonstrated that nitrogen fertilization in sorghum can be positive for soybeans grown in succession. “Results demonstrated that nitrogen fertilization using 50 kg/ha in sorghum resulted in significant increases in the protein content of soybeans, with increases of 15% and 38% in the CT [Conventional Treatment] and NT [No-Till] systems, respectively. In addition, protein productivity increased by approximately 34% in CT and 45% in NT”. Available at doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2024.127206. (Unesp)
Research aims to facilitate control of the boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis). According to Embrapa and the University of Brasília, boll weevil larvae that received diets containing Cry23Aa + Cry37Aa toxins had mortality rates of almost 100%. Researchers developed GMO cotton plants by introducing genes that stimulate the production of these toxins. Available at doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112079. (Embrapa; University of Brasilia)
Projeto Polinizar (Project Pollinate), by Cofco International, aims to protect beehives close to sugarcane farms. The project identifies apiaries close to the company’s sugarcane farms. Subsequently, mapping is carried out via satellite and, after analysis by a field team, data is transmitted to the GPS of the plane responsible for spraying. The aircraft are equipped with an automatic locking system that stops spraying when identifying the approach of hives to avoid applying insecticides around bees. (Cofco International)
Ministry of Agriculture has approved the registration of the first two aminoacid biofertilizers obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis in Brazil. The two formulations were developed by DominiSolo in partnership with the Federal Technological University of the State of Paraná. (DominiSolo; UTFPR)
Latin America
Mauro Alberton is the new Latin America marketing and business development leader at Sumitomo. (Sumitomo Chemical)
BASF announces a new product line of bioadjuvants to optimize biological pesticides. “Adjuvants are chemical compounds that are safe to be used together with biological agents and that will improve the action of pesticides and biopesticide products, supporting a more sustainable agriculture”, according to André Karadi, marketing analyst at BASF for South America. (BASF)
Agroterrum, a company based in Santa Fe, Argentina, carried out a “commercial tour” with its main customers in China, on a technical visit to Rainbow’s factories in Qingdao and Weifang. (Agroterrum)
Researchers from National Agricultural Technology Institute of Argentina are performing research to adapt crops capable of metabolizing phosphite (HPO3), an inorganic compound that may be capable of providing phosphorus to plants. Phosphite has a greater range and availability at different pH levels and less interaction with soil particles than phosphate (HPO4), which can mean greater agricultural efficiency. “It [phosphite] cannot be absorbed by plants”, said Sergio Feingold, research coordinator. Development of plants capable of metabolizing phosphite was based on identification of a bacterial gene that oxidizes phosphite into phosphate, which can be absorbed by plants. “The incorporation of this gene in plants allows for crops… capable of exclusively using phosphorus in the form of phosphite”, said Feingold. Furthermore, “foliar application of phosphite to crops is a known stimulator of systemic plant resistance against pathogens and pests”. (INTA)
In the last 20 years, the volume of agrochemical imports has increased fivefold in Bolivia. In 2023, 152.6 thousand tonnes were imported. Santa Cruz is the department with the highest demand: it accounts for 96% of fungicides, 97% of herbicides and 90% of imported insecticides. (Fundación Tierra; Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade)
“Currently, through the application of the Andean rules (Decision No. 804 and Resolution No. 2075), it takes an average of 4 – 4.5 years to approve a registration after the request to the National Agricultural Health and Food Safety Service, and then to the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Health”, according to Jorge Aranibar, president of the Association of Suppliers of Agricultural and Livestock Inputs, Goods and Services of Bolivia. “Registering a pesticide costs between US$ 8,000 and US$ 10,000”. (Aprisa)
Lack of dollars is harming the import of agrochemicals in Bolivia. The country has been experiencing a dollar shortage for more than a year. “We are going through complex situations due to weather conditions that have affected our production since last year. Furthermore, the lack of dollars made inputs more expensive”, according to Edilberto Osinaga, director of the Oriental Agricultural Chamber. (ANF; CAO)
District of Pejuajó, Mexico, has banned the spraying of pesticides less than 300 m from the city for six months. (Fiscalía Federal de Pehuajó)
General Directorate of Agricultural Services of Uruguay informs about new classification and regulations for registration of bioinputs for agricultural use, which covers botanical products (extracts and oils), semiochemicals, biological control agents, etc. (Ministry of Agriculture)
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