Crop Protection and Nutrition - Weekly Update Brazil & Latin America (10/31/24 – 11/06/24)

In compliance with a court decision, Anvisa approves toxicological evaluation of diafenthiuron technical (Rainbow) and pyriproxyfen 200 g/L EC (Perterra). (Anvisa)

Raphael Gonçalves Martins was promoted to the position of market development director at Yara Brasil. (Yara Fertilizers)

National Association of Phytosanitary Products Companies – Aenda has published its activities carried out in October: the association visited, in Shanghai, the company New Sun Crop Science, which is focused on research, development and registration of bioinputs. Furthermore, on October 18^th, the Association’s executive director, Luís Ribeiro, participated in a meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agricultural Inputs Thematic Chamber to debate the National Fertilizer Plan, the Tax Reform, and cases of bankruptcy protection in agriculture, etc. (Aenda)

In the coming years, agribusiness will face tighter operating margins, after a positive cycle from 2019 to 2023, according to a report from Rabobank. “The seed and bioinput markets are expected to face some difficulties… but they should still continue to show good growth rates, maintaining this trend in 2025. The next few years should be a little more difficult for agricultural input companies and for farmers”. (Rabobank)

According to Jeferson Souza, market intelligence analyst at Agrinvest Commodities, Brazil could reach a record in NPK fertilizer deliveries in 2024, with the possibility of reaching 46 million tonnes. (Agrinvest Commodities)

During the Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting, in Basel, Switzerland, the Secretary of Agricultural Defense, Carlos Goulart, presented the overview of the regulation of bioinputs in Brazil and how the Federal Government has worked to expand the sector. Brazil is considered a global leader in the use and production of bioinputs, such as inoculants, biofertilizers and biological products for pest control. “Today, Brazil leads the adoption of organic products in agriculture, with almost 50% of Brazilian farmers using these products”, said Goulart. (MAPA)

Fertilizer company Yara has announced a new organizational structure starting November 1^st. The company created the “Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Directorate”, which will be led by Deise DallaNora. (Yara Fertilizers)

52 entities participated in the elaboration of the proposal for the Bioinputs Bill. It seeks to consolidate Bills No. 658/21 and No. 3668/21, which are being evaluated by the Congress. The objective is to establish a legal framework that meets the specific demands of the bioinputs sector. The signatory entities worked to harmonize understandings between companies, farmers, researchers and regulatory agencies. Among the main points covered are: registration with the Ministry of Agriculture; inoculum registration; incentives for the sector; production of on-farm bioinputs; etc. (Abiove; Abbins)

The fertilizer company Fertilizantes Heringer reduced its loss by 85% in the 3Q of 2024, with a negative balance of US$ 1.57 million, compared to a loss of US$ 10.81 million in 2023, according to results released on November 1^st. (Fertilizantes Heringer)

Fertilizer company Amazon Agrosciences’ employees were rescued after an explosion in São Carlos, State of São Paulo. Two employees were injured on October 31^st. Workers were handling sugarcane molasses with nitric acid when the reaction of the products caused a container to explode. According to the company’s industrial director, the employees did not follow proper procedure, which resulted in the chemical reaction. (Fire Department; Cetesb)

Projections indicate stability in the fertilizer market. According to the Agricultural Fertilizer and Corrective Industry Union of the State of Paraná, the end of 2024 comes with optimism in the market. “With improved logistics and distribution units expanding across the country, fertilizer market remains strong and resilient, closely following demands and ensuring the availability of essential products”, said the president of Sindiadubos, Aluísio Teixeira. (Sindiadubos)

In October, the Ministry of Agriculture carried out four joint inspections with Ibama to combat the use of banned and irregular pesticides. There was an embargo on three pesticides, the seizure of more than 370 tonnes of products and the imposition of fines totaling US$ 1.62 million. (MAPA; Ibama)

The Federal Police of Campinas, State of São Paulo, seized 12.2 tonnes of adulterated fertilizers, with the addition of pesticides. The fertilizer company had registered the products at the Ministry of Agriculture, but banned products were found during the inspection. The presence of chemicals banned by legislation was detected in at least two of the fertilizers and two adjuvants manufactured by the company. (Federal Police)

On October 29^th, the State Agency for Animal and Plant Health Defense – Iagro and the Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy organized lectures for the Association of Agricultural Engineers of Rio Brilhante. The event focused on the new Pesticide Law No. 14785, sanctioned on December 27^th of 2023. The mandatory requirements that must be included in the agronomic recommendation and Iagro’s operations in the region were also discussed. (Iagro; CREA)

According to Conab, the rise in commodity prices and tensions in the Middle East are driving the import of fertilizers into Brazil. Imports reached 4.6 million tonnes in September of 2024, a volume 17.9% higher than the previous year, driven by the increase in soybean and cotton prices, in addition to the dollar exchange rate. The accumulated volume from January to September reached 31.81 million tonnes, representing an increase of 10.9% when compared to the same period in 2023, being the highest record for September. (Conab)

Joel Pagnoncelli was appointed as Head of Division of the Regional Division of Pesticide Inspection, of the General Coordination of Pesticides and Related Products at the Secretariat of Agricultural Defense. Julio Cesar Alves de Lima was relieved of his role. (MAPA)

Labor Committee of the Lower House of Congress has approved Bill No. 3263/23, which requires employers to adopt minimum distances between rural workers’ homes or accommodations and farms and deposits of pesticides stored or used on farms. The approved proposal amends the Rural Labor Law and also establishes the minimum distances must follow the relevant technical standards and the guidelines of pesticide manufacturers. (Agência Câmara de Notícias)

Federal Police launched Operation Apókrypsi on October 10^th. The operation investigates a criminal group involved in money laundering and pesticide smuggling in border regions, especially in Formosa do Oeste, State of Paraná, and Guaíra, State of São Paulo. The investigation was based on financial and asset analyzes of suspects, which generated more than US$ 450 million in recent years. (Federal Police)