Orange Crop in Brazil Expected to Fall 12.9% Amid Greening and Climate Pressures
Anvisa approved, in compliance with a court decision, the toxicological evaluation of fenpropimorph (AGROBEATS). (Official Gazette of Brazil, Res. 2,209 – published on 06/01/26, Anvisa)
Members of the Brazilian Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office and of the National and Mato Grosso Forums to Combat the Impacts of Pesticides carried out technical visits to the Mato Grosso Agricultural Defense Institute and the Mato Grosso State Secretariat for the Environment, in the city of Cuiabá. The meetings focused on inspection mechanisms, sanitary control, environmental monitoring and procedures related to glyphosate use in the state. (Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office)
The Ministry of Environment launched the Pesticide Monitoring Panel for Water Resources and Aquatic Life, a platform designed to track pesticide occurrence in surface waters and assess risks to aquatic life. The tool is part of the National Program for the Reduction of Pesticides and aims to increase transparency of environmental data, while supporting evidence-based public policies. Researcher Larissa Bombardi praised the initiative, but pointed to the need to improve the platform’s methodological criteria. (MMA)
The Pastoral Land Commission recorded 127 rural conflict cases involving pesticide contamination in 2025, down from 276 in 2024. Despite the decline, the organization said the drop may indicate underreporting, fear and intimidation among affected communities. According to the Commission, 630 such cases and 122 records of violence against people were reported over the past 10 years. The State of Maranhão had the most cases in 2025, followed by the States of Pará and Piauí. (Pastoral Land Commission)
Integrated operation seized 50 packages of irregular crop protection products in the city of Novo Horizonte d’Oeste, State of Rondônia. According to the Military Police, the products were found in two pickup trucks, along with mobile phones, satellite internet equipment, checks, a drone and other materials of investigative interest. Three suspects were taken to the Integrated Public Security Unit in Nova Brasilândia d’Oeste. (Military Police of the State of Rondônia)
Brazil’s Lower House of Congress approved a substitute text to Bill No. 699/2023, creating the Fertilizer Industry Development Program, with up to US$ 2 billion in tax credits over five years for new factories, expansion and modernization of plants in Brazil. The bill provides incentives for domestic production of fertilizers, raw materials, bioinputs, biofertilizers and remineralizers; the creation of a specific fund to support projects; credit lines through the Brazilian Development Bank; and gradual mandatory blending targets for domestically produced fertilizers, from 2% up to 10% by 2037. Since the text was amended by the Lower House, the bill returned to the Senate. (Brazilian Lower House of Congress)
Resumption of Chinese urea export quotas may partially ease pressure on nitrogen fertilizers in Brazil, amid the country’s high dependence on imported inputs. In 2025, Brazil imported 45.50 million tonnes of fertilizers, a new historical record, while deliveries to the domestic market totaled 35.86 million tonnes from January to September, up 9.3% from the same period in 2024. In the same year, China overtook Russia as Brazil’s largest fertilizer supplier, shipping 9.76 million tonnes from January to October. In this context, Chinese decisions on quotas, inspections and export restrictions now have a direct impact on costs, purchasing plans and supply security for Brazilian farmers. (ANDA; CNA; Conab)
Production costs for soybeans, corn and cotton increased in the State of Mato Grosso for the 2026/27 crop season, pressured by fertilizers, crop protection products and uncertainty in international markets. (IMEA)
Brazil participated in the 7th BioAgTech World Congress & Expo, held in Valencia, Spain, and reinforced its international agenda on bioinputs, regenerative agriculture and biological innovation. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Brazilian representatives presented topics such as the National Bioinputs Plan, the National Genetic Resources Policy, the regulation of the Bioinputs Law and the Mapa Conecta program. The country was also confirmed as host of the 8th edition of the congress, to be held in the city of Campinas, State of São Paulo, in 2027. (MAPA; BioAgTech World Congress & Expo)
Embrapa’s Agroenergy Unit celebrated its 20th anniversary with the announcement of new projects focused on bioenergy, bioinputs and the sustainable use of biomass. The initiatives include Bioinova, a network project with US$ 2.77 million from the Financier of Studies and Projects to develop solutions in renewable fuels, energy and bioinputs; MapCanola, aimed at mapping areas suitable for expanding canola as a second crop; and BIOFAB-DF, a platform for the development and validation of low-carbon microbial bioinputs. The unit also launched an innovation hub to connect public research with tech-based companies. (Embrapa; Finep)
The Brazilian Bioinputs Association and the Associated Group for Sustainable Agriculture launched the campaign “Which side are you on?”, in support of the regulation of Law No. 15070/2024, which regulates bioinputs in Brazil. According to the entities, the lack of a regulatory decree leaves farmers who adopt on-farm production without the legal certainty expected under the new law. The campaign will run throughout June, featuring testimonies from farmers on the use of bioinputs in production systems and regenerative practices. (ABBINS; GAAS)
The crop protection market for peanuts in the State of São Paulo remained stable in the 2025/26 season, despite an increase in average input prices. Average prices rose 3% in the total market, with increases of 5% for fungicides, 4% for herbicides and 2% for insecticides. However, this increase was offset by lower treatment intensity, an indicator that considers technology adoption by area, the average number of field applications and the number of products used in tank mixes. The sharpest declines were recorded for fungicides, down 9%, and herbicides, down 14%. According to Kynetec, lower application intensity limited market growth, following a 25% decline between the 2023/24 and 2024/25 crop seasons. (Kynetec Brasil)
Europe is seeking support from Brazilian science to anticipate citrus greening, the main phytosanitary threat to global citrus production. The Citrus Busters project, funded by the European Union with € 6.5 million (US$ 7.57 million) over four years, brings together institutions from Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Greece and Brazil to develop diagnosis, prevention and biocontrol strategies against Huanglongbing and other citrus diseases. The Sylvio Moreira Citrus Center, part of the Agronomic Institute, will receive about € 450 thousand to take part in the research, drawing on Brazil’s experience in managing the disease. (Citrus Busters; Embrapa)
Delayed phosphate purchases have raised concern for the 2026/27 crop season in Minas Gerais and São Paulo. According to an Agrinvest Commodities analysis cited by João Victor Silva Bernardes, fertilizer technical sales coordinator at Syagri Agronegócios, almost 70% of the phosphate market for 2026/27 soybean planting would still be open in both states, while only 2% of purchases for the 2027 second corn crop had been completed, compared with a historical average of 25%. The delay reflects expectations of lower prices, although the global market remains under pressure from raw material costs and supply restrictions. Mosaic withdrew its 2026 phosphate production guidance and announced partial curtailments in Louisiana, Bartow and Brazil; Morocco’s OCP also brought forward maintenance, affecting up to 30% of its second-quarter production capacity. (Agrinvest Commodities; Syagri Agronegócios; The Mosaic Company)
Netafim and Yara announced a partnership to expand fertigation and precision irrigation in Brazil, focusing on crops such as coffee, citrus, sugarcane, and fruit and vegetables. The initiative includes the creation of a fertigation training center at Yara’s unit in Sumaré, State of São Paulo, as well as regional technology demonstration and training hubs for farmers, distribution channels, and agronomists. The companies believe the technology may gain ground amid rising water stress, pressure for more efficient use of water, fertilizers and energy, and the still-low adoption of more advanced irrigation systems in the country. (Netafim; Yara)
Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture published Ordinance SDA/MAPA No. 1631/2026, setting the implementation schedule for the Pesticide Information System, an electronic platform for pesticide registration and post-registration procedures. According to Lilian Gonçalves, registration coordinator at Bequisa Indústria Química do Brasil, the rule provides for mandatory migration of applications, centralized electronic filing, and new responsibilities for registrant companies. Lidia Cristina Jorge dos Santos, partner at Figueiredo e Santos Sociedade de Advogados, said the system is a long-awaited advance, but should still raise debates about its alignment with Law No. 14785/2023, especially regarding components, queues and the regulatory transition. (MAPA; Lilian Gonçalves; Figueiredo e Santos Sociedade de Advogados)
The Brazilian government defined 31 priority actions under the National Pesticide Reduction Program for 2026 and 2027, without establishing an immediate ban on crop protection products. The measures include creating a list of highly hazardous active ingredients, updating revaluation procedures, revising rules to reduce risks from aerial spraying, strengthening oversight, expanding public health surveillance and promoting alternatives such as bioinputs. The program was established by Decree No. 12538/2025 and aims to progressively reduce pesticide use, focusing on products classified as more hazardous. (Government of Brazil)
The 2026/27 orange crop in the citrus belt in the States of São Paulo and Minas Gerais was estimated at 255.20 million 40.8 kg boxes, down 12.9% from the previous crop and 14.7% below the average of the last decade. According to Fundecitrus, the decline reflects climate variability, higher citrus greening pressure, lower fruit set, and increased fruit drop. The disease has also raised management costs: according to Silvio Cezar Gregório, commercial manager at Fortgreen, citrus farmers who previously carried out up to 12 applications per year are now making approximately 40 to preserve yields and profits. (Fundecitrus; Fortgreen; Invaio Sciences)
Ourofino Agrociência announced changes in its leadership structure. Alessandro Flamini has taken over as CEO, while Marcelo Abdo will serve as administrative board member and institutional director. According to the company, the change is part of a planned succession process, aligned with corporate governance practices and the company’s sustainable growth plans. (Ourofino Agrociência)
Researchers from the Federal University of Paraná, Embrapa Wheat, and Embrapa Soybean published a review on integrated stink bug management in soybean-maize systems in tropical regions. The study states that crop succession creates “green bridges” that provide food and shelter for stink bugs throughout the year, favoring population outbreaks. The authors recommend landscape-scale management, including monitoring, economic thresholds, reduced soybean harvest losses, control of volunteer plants, tolerant cultivars, seed treatment, biological control and chemical applications only when necessary. (UFPR; Embrapa)
Brazil’s soybean crop protection market grew 6% in the 2025/26 season, reaching US$ 10 billion, according to Kynetec Brazil’s FarmTrak Soybean study. The report also highlighted growth in nematicides, which rose 28% from the previous season to US$ 320 million, equivalent to 3.2% of the total market. Potential treated area with nematicides increased 40% to 31.46 million hectares, while adoption of these products reached 49% of soybean acreage. (Kynetec Brasil)
The State of Rio Grande do Sul remains free of the bacterium that causes Huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening, according to monitoring by the State Secretariat of Agriculture. The 2025 survey was carried out in orchards across 77 municipalities, with 374 traps installed to identify the insect vector Diaphorina citri. A total of 4,326 trap readings were conducted between November 2025 and March 2026; although 88 insects were confirmed as Diaphorina citri, no samples contaminated with the bacterium associated with the disease were detected. (Seapi)
Brazil’s specialty fertilizer and biofertilizer sector expects to resume growth in 2026, after revenue fell 5.5% in 2025 to US$ 5.07 billion. According to the Brazilian Association of Plant Nutrition Technology Industries, geopolitical instability, possible restrictions in NPK fertilizer supply, and higher prices may encourage greater adoption of specialty nutrition technologies. The association sees room for approximately 10% revenue growth this year, although first-quarter sales were still below the same period in 2025. (Abisolo)
The cost of the input package for Brazil’s 2026/27 soybean crop is 20% above the five-year average. In May, farmers had to spend the equivalent of 33.2 soybean bags/ha to purchase seeds, crop protection products, and fertilizers, 5.7 bags more than the historical average. The purchasing period for the next crop season has not yet ended, keeping pressure on farmers’ cost planning. (Agrinvest Commodities)
Latin America
Argentina’s Agricultores Federados Argentinos – AFA agricultural cooperative acquired Nutrien’s crop protection formulation plant in Casilda, Santa Fe province, for US$ 3 million. According to cooperative president Darío Marinozzi, the deal was signed on May 29th. The unit adds to AFA’s existing agrochemical plant in Ramallo and its biologicals facility, expanding the cooperative’s presence in agricultural inputs. The transaction comes amid Nutrien’s asset reorganization in Argentina and AFA’s plan to invest more than US$ 150 million in a bioethanol plant. (Agricultores Federados Argentinos)
Argentina’s National Agri-Food Health and Quality Service seized and destroyed 51 Murraya paniculata plants, known as orange jasmine, at a facility in Buenos Aires province. The action followed the monitoring of regulated products on digital platforms and aimed to prevent the spread of Huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening. According to the agency, the production, planting, sale, and transport of the species are prohibited throughout Argentina, as the plant hosts the disease and is preferred by the insect vector Diaphorina citri. (Senasa)
In Argentina, Entre Ríos approved Resolution No. 34/2026, establishing the Good Practices Protocol for phytosanitary products under Law No. 11178. The rule defines procedures for use, notification, inspection and reporting of non-compliance involving crop protection products, but drew criticism from the Entre Ríos teachers’ union, which said a specific protocol for cleaning rural schools after nearby spraying was left out. According to the provincial government, the protocol includes digital controls, digital agronomic recommendations and weather-related criteria for applications. (Government of Entre Rios; Entre Ríos Teachers’ Union)
Researchers at Universidad Santo Tomás, in Chile, completed a project that produced broad-spectrum biofungicide prototypes to control fungi affecting cherry orchards. The technology is based on native bacteria, mainly from the genera Bacillus and Pseudomonas, as well as antifungal metabolites. In preliminary tests, some strains inhibited the growth of phytopathogens such as Botrytis cinerea and Monilinia fructicola. The project, supported by the multinational company Anasac, advanced to experimental formulation work, including liquid and wettable powder versions, but the source does not report product registration or commercial launch. (Universidad Santo Tomás; Anasac)
Chile launched the Papa Huella Cero project to reduce agrochemical use in potato production in the La Araucanía region. Led by the Carillanca center of the Agricultural Research Institute, with funding from the Foundation for Agricultural Innovation, the initiative includes an investment of approximately US$ 165 thousand and will run for 36 months. The project will support 200 farms in seven municipalities, using digital tools, technical training, agroecological practices and measurement of the environmental impact of crop protection products through the Environmental Impact Quotient methodology. (Government of Chile)
Chile’s Agricultural and Livestock Service updated rules on the authorization of microbial, natural, and semiochemical pesticides. Resolution No. 3960/2026 modifies previous regulations to incorporate and update special authorization procedures, which includes natural, semiochemical, biological pesticides, natural substances and products that are identical to or based on already authorized substances. According to Alejandro Fernández Fuenzalida, regulatory affairs manager at Quimetal Industrial, this measure strengthens regulatory recognition of active and natural substances approved in the USA or the EU, while maintaining the Agricultural and Livestock Service’s authority to analyze, reject, or cancel authorizations when substances are questioned or subject to unfavorable decisions. (SAG; Quimetal Industrial)
The Government of Colombia proposed a memorandum of understanding with Venezuela to stabilize fertilizer prices and protect national agricultural production. According to Colombia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy, the initiative seeks to establish a partnership between Monómeros, a petrochemical fertilizer producer and subsidiary of Venezuela’s state-owned Pequiven, and a subsidiary formed by Colombia’s state-owned companies Ecopetrol, from the oil and gas sector, and Gecelca, from the power generation sector. The agreement would focus on input purchases, contract blending of fertilizer mixtures and stronger distribution in the Colombian market. The plan also includes an investment of approximately US$ 270 million by Ecopetrol to subsidize fertilizers for small farmers in 2026, in response to higher international input prices and climate risks associated with El Niño. (Colombia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy)
Costa Rica extended by two years the deadline for companies to submit the technical documentation required to maintain registrations of molecules used in agrochemicals. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the measure prevents the cancellation of 137 technical-product registrations, which support the formulation of 1,780 agricultural products. The decision seeks to preserve farmers’ access to products for pest and disease control in coffee, pineapple, citrus, sugarcane, melon, watermelon, onion and other crops. (MAG)
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