“In addition to these two important categories, I see that we will have a relevant expansion in the use of biofungicides…”
José Roberto Pereira de Castro is an agribusiness consultant and advisor, with a degree in agronomy from Esalq/USP, with specializations from FGV.
José de Castro, agribusiness consultant
AgriBrasilis – What is the potential of the bioinputs market?
José de Castro – Bioinputs are agro-industrial products developed from enzymes, extracts (from plants or microorganisms), microorganisms, macroorganisms (invertebrates), secondary metabolites and pheromones, intended for biological control of agricultural pests.
These inputs are also active ingredients aimed at nutrition, plant growth promoters, biotic and abiotic stress mitigators and antibiotic replacements.
We have had rapid growth in the biological inputs sector in Brazil, as well as in several other countries. The Brazilian market reached, in 2023/24, an annual revenue of US$ 918.1 million, considering the categories of inoculants and biological pesticides. The growing demand for more sustainable production systems and products explains this context: the consumer market has been concerned about sustainability and, consequently, it is demanding renewable and safer products from farmers and agro-industries.
All projections for the next 5 years indicate a double digit annual growth rate.
“The Brazilian market reached, in 2023/24, an annual revenue of US$ 918.1 million, considering the categories of inoculants and biological pesticides”
AgriBrasilis – Are these products replacing agrochemicals?
José de Castro – In some cases, yes. In most situations, however, biopesticide products have been used to complement integrated pest and disease management, making plant protection and nutrition more effective.
AgriBrasilis – What are the main myths about bioinputs?
José de Castro – I do not consider that there are myths “per se” about bioinputs. I see that it is important to have an educational work that teaches the particularities of each bioinput and how to appropriately insert these products into agricultural production systems.
For example, we should not simply promote the replacement of chemical pesticides with biological products without considering the differences in application and without an exact understanding of the modes of action, under penalty of having inferior results to those intended.
AgriBrasilis – The bioinsecticides category has just surpassed bionematicides in sales. What are the other market trends?
José de Castro – We can say that the latest numbers indicate a tie between bioinsecticides and bionematicides, both being in equal footing, and growing impressively.
In addition to these two important categories, I think that we will have a significant increase in the use of biofungicides, in addition to the launch of inoculants and biofertilizers that will greatly contribute to increasing the yields of different crops.
AgriBrasilis – What defines a good process for prospection of biological products (bioprospecting) and product development?
José de Castro – It is important to have a broad understanding of what bioprospecting is, in order to obtain the best solutions from our biodiversity.
Bioprospecting is nothing more than the systematic search for organisms, genes, enzymes, compounds, processes and parts of living beings in general that can lead to the development of a product. It is relevant to a wide range of markets and activities, including biotechnology, agriculture, nutrition, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, bioremediation, healthcare, etc.
Speaking specifically about bioinputs, we need to prospect for micro and macroorganisms in different biomes. After collection, there is a need to have well-equipped laboratories and qualified professionals to identify the potential uses of the collected organisms.
AgriBrasilis – Do the farmers plan to use more bioinputs in their crops?
José de Castro – Yes, without a doubt. More than 50% of Brazilian farmers already carry out at least one application of bioinputs during the cultivation cycle. There is a strong growth trend in the user base, product diversity and number of applications.
AgriBrasilis – What skills are needed for professionals who work with bioinputs in agriculture?
José de Castro – I consider it essential for professionals to seek a broad knowledge of the production systems in which they work, regardless of the input category. Only by knowing the needs of farmers and understanding how to manage the system as a whole, can the professionals be seen as “a source of solutions” and be well-regarded in the environment in which they work.
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