“If the regulatory body takes too long to approve a product for commercialization, authorization may only come when that technology is already outdated…”
Solon C. Araujo is managing partner of SCA Consulting and Training and the first president of ANPII Bio – the National Association for the Promotion and Innovation of the Biologicals Industry. An agronomist graduated from the Federal University of Pelotas, he holds an Executive MBA in Marketing and a Full MBA from FGV. He established inoculant factories in Brazil and worked on the development and promotion of inoculant products.
Solon C. Araujo, first president of ANPII Bio
Regulatory agencies, which are essential in all organized societies, are often viewed merely as bureaucratic structures responsible for establishing rules to ensure harmonious relations between government and society. However, especially in sectors subject to constant technological change, the regulatory body goes beyond the role of a simple “stamp-approving” authority and becomes one of the three drivers of technological development, alongside academia, in research and companies, in technology development.
For technological development to reach society by making new products available to the public, it is not enough for research institutions to stay current with technological advances or for industries to develop large-scale production technologies if the regulatory body delays authorizing products for commercialization. Such delays may result in technologies becoming outdated by the time they are finally approved for market entry.
It is important for regulatory agencies, either through their own structures or partnerships with other organizations, to maintain a “technology radar” with up-to-date information on global developments in their sector, tracking advances and upcoming innovations so they can prepare to evaluate new products and processes in a timely manner.
In the specific case of biological inputs, a sector experiencing rapid growth worldwide, constant updating is essential for Brazil to maintain its technological leadership and position as one of the largest users of these products. The use of biological inputs contributes to the competitiveness of Brazilian agriculture, as seen with inoculants in soybean cultivation, which virtually eliminate the need for nitrogen fertilizers, generating significant savings for farmers, society and the environment.
At the time I write this article, the regulation of the Biological Inputs Law, Law No. 15,070/2024, is under discussion. This is a critical moment, a watershed that will shape the future of research, production and the use of biological products in Brazilian agriculture.
In the biological inputs sector, regulating too late may mean regulating a technology that has already lost part of its value. In an industry driven by microorganisms, new formulations, industrial processes and efficiency gains in the field, regulatory timing is also competitiveness.
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