Crop Protection and Nutrition – Weekly Update Brazil & Latin America (05/15/25 – 05/21/25)

Ministry of Agriculture published the registration approvals of 74 chemical and biological pesticides. (MAPA, May 20th)

For the first time the State of Bahia will adopt a regional division for the fallow period as well as soybean sowing calendar. The change, valid from the 2025/26 season, was made official by Ordinance SDA/MAPA No. 1271. The measure defines different deadlines for three regions of the State, with the aim of improving the control of soybean Asian rust and improving the use of fungicides. (MAPA)

ICL is launching a biological inoculant based on Azospirillum brasilense, made with the novel strain HM053, with the aim of maximizing the production of plant hormones and biological nitrogen fixation. “We continue to expand our market share in biologicals”, said Bernardo Vieira, manager of biological products. (ICL Group)

Vittia developed a mineral-based multi-site fungicide, indicated against soybean Asian rust, ramularia leaf spot in cotton, black spot in tomatoes, citrus canker in citrus, and coffee rust. According to agricultural engineer Edgar Zanotto, the product is formulated with copper and sulfur. “Its composition contains very fine particles of these minerals, ensuring better fixation on the leaves”. (Vittia)

Anvisa started monitoring pesticide residues in food in May. By December, the Agency plans to collect 3,505 samples to assess the presence of pesticides in 13 food categories. (Anvisa)

Powdery mildew spreads rapidly after wheat plants first emerge. With short and multiple cycles, the fungus Blumeria graminis can compromise up to 62% of productivity. In the 2024/25 season, the Cooperative Wheat Trials Network tested seven fungicide treatments in 11 locations in southern Brazil. All of the products tested were effective, but to varying degrees. The most effective treatments contained only tetraconazole, as well as a mixture of tetraconazole, azoxystrobin, tebuconazole and chlorothalonil. (Cooperative Wheat Trials Network)

Four entities representing fertilizer input operators are demanding guarantees from the Port Authority of Santos to use the public dock at the Port. The companies are responsible for moving 4.6 million tonnes of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), fear losing access to berths 31 to 35.2, on the Right Bank, which may eventually become preferential for lessees. (AMA Brasil)

The Goiás Agricultural Defense Agency will hold a series of lectures on May 21st and 22nd in Sítio d’Abadia and Flores de Goiás. The focus will be on raising awareness about the challenges of citrus farming and the importance of safe use of pesticides on farms. The target audience includes farmers, especially from settlements, and agricultural professionals. The coordinator of the Agrodefesa Citrus Program, Mariza da Silva Mendanha, will present the lecture “Challenges of citrus farming in Goiás with the presence of citrus canker and greening”. Agricultural inspector Arlete Cortês Barreto will address the safe storage of pesticides. (Agrodefesa)

The 2024/25 soybean harvest in the State of Mato Grosso maintained good average yields, driven by regular rainfall. However, the increased incidence of nematodes, such as cyst nematodes (Heterodera glycines) and root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), is a concern. This is the assessment made by Rosângela Silva, a nematology researcher at Fundação MT, during the 25^th Soybean Technical Meeting, promoted by the Foundation. According to Silva, although visible losses were smaller than in the previous harvest, there was an increase in cases in areas with a high incidence of cyst and root-knot nematodes. (Fundação MT)

One of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s missions in China is to attract Chinese interest in setting up a fertilizer factory in the State of Paraná. The discussions are being coordinated by the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira. A contract for technical and financial feasibility studies is expected to be signed with China Chemical. The expectation is for the production of 520,000 tonnes of urea each year. (Government of Brazil)

Laboratory GLP study dossier prices for formulated products in Brazil range from US$ 22,000 up to US$ 45,000, according to Flavio Hirata, partner at AllierBrasil. “The price range is too high. It is important to choose a good laboratory with reasonable prices” said Hirata. (AllierBrasil)

Fertilizantes Heringer reported positive results. Between January and March 2025, Heringer achieved a net profit of US$ 10.53 million, a significant increase when compared to the same period of 2024, when the company had a loss of US$ 25.42 million. According to the company, the positive result was driven by the exchange rate appreciation of the Brazilian Real against the US Dollar, causing the first quarter of the year to end with US$ 51.41 million in positive net exchange rate variation. (Fertilizantes Heringer)

Operation to remove a truck that fell into the Paraná River in the early hours of May 9^th, in the Porto São José district, in São Pedro do Paraná, was resumed on May 12^th. The truck was transporting approximately 39 tonnes of fertilizer and has remained submerged since the accident. (Civil Defense of São Pedro do Paraná)

The Agricultural Defense Agency of the State of Paraná will begin the listing of grape farms in the region. The goal is to learn about the location and characteristics of the orchards in order to plan preventive and educational actions aimed at reducing the drift of pesticides. “We must always seek the path of coexistence and convergence,” said Natalino Avance de Souza, president of IDR-Paraná, emphasizing that the government is also talking to grain farmers, which use herbicides to manage their crops. “We are trying to find a balance, because we cannot turn a blind eye to the main export crops, but we have to take care of the grapes, which are so important for the State of Paraná”. (Adapar; IDR-Paraná)

The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested to close an investigation into an alleged scheme involving the transportation, adulteration and sale of illegal pesticides in the State of Goiás. The decision was forwarded by the Federal Prosecutor, Mario Lúcio de Avelar, to the 5^th Federal Court of the Judicial Section of Goiás, after more than two years of investigations and evidence analysis. According to the  Prosecutor’s Office, the evidence obtained during the investigation was not sufficient to justify filing a criminal complaint against the two businessmen involved. (MPF)

Court of the State of Mato Grosso has granted bankruptcy protection (similar to US’ Chapter 11) to Grupo Boffo. The decision was given by the judge of the 4^th Civil Court of Sinop, Giovana Pasqual de Mello. With activities in the cities of Paranaíta, Apiacás and Alta Floresta, the group has debts that exceed US$ 10.59 million. The group is formed by farmers Marcos Aurélio Boffo and Larissa Carolina Dantas Vieira Boffo, in addition to the company MB Armazéns Gerais, which operate in the agriculture and livestock sectors and provide storage services for grains and agricultural inputs. (4^th Civil Court of Sinop)

The fertilizer market is moving at a fast and unstable pace, with price fluctuations that can directly impact farmers’ planning. In the phosphate segment, the prices of monoammonium phosphate and diammonium phosphate have risen. The increase is associated with the reduced supply of these products on the international market. This increase in prices may lead farmers to seek alternatives with lower phosphorus concentrations. (StoneX Consultoria)

The April 2025 Fertilizer Purchasing Power Index reached 1.13, up 5% from March, reflecting falling commodity prices and rising fertilizer prices. The higher the index, the worse the purchasing power of farmers. (The Mosaic Company)

Microbiologist Mariangela Hungria, from Embrapa’s Soybean Unit and member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, became the first Brazilian woman to receive the World Food Prize, the largest international award dedicated to food and agricultural science. (World Food Prize)

According to Francila Calica, head of institutional relations, science and sustainability at Bayer, Chinese demand has driven the transformation of Brazilian agriculture. She advocates for the intensive use of biotechnology and modern agricultural practices to ensure sustainability and yields. She highlights Brazil’s ability to cultivate up to three crops per year in the same area, even under strong pressure from tropical pests and diseases. (Bayer Crop Science)

According to Agroconsult, the adoption of biotechnology resulted in an increase of 21.2 million tonnes in Brazilian grain production over the last decade. In addition, it generated US$ 52.36 billion in economic value and significant reductions in water use, pesticides and carbon emissions. (Agroconsult)

Costs of pesticides to control weeds in sugarcane crops can reach 8% of the total amount invested for each harvested tonne. The costs for sugarcane farms in the 2023/24 season reached US$ 25/tonne harvested. The 8% related to the use of pesticides is part of the 27% spent on agricultural inputs, which includes fertilizers (11%), seedlings (4%), soil correctives (3%) and others (1%). (Taranis do Brasil)

The combination of bioactivator and foliar nutrition has proven to be efficient for second-crop corn. In addition to reducing production costs for farmers, the technique optimizes investments in chemical fertilizers and in the application of pesticides. “Foliar nutrition is especially important at critical moments in the corn cycle, when the plant has a greater demand for nutrients… Bioactivators stimulate physiological and biochemical processes, in addition to increasing growth capacity and resistance. Aminoacids, peptides, algae extracts and beneficial microorganisms make corn more efficient in capturing and using nutrients”, said Carolina Ruv, R&D coordinator at UnionAgro. (UnionAgro)

K+S announced changes in its regional sales leadership roles. Douglas Caldeira took over the sales department in the State of Goiás, while Fernando Martiniano will now work in the State of Mato Grosso. (K+S)

According to Felipe Jordy, BiondAgro’s intelligence and strategy manager, Brazil’s successful trade relations with China have brought significant gains, but have also placed the country’s agricultural sector in a position of high exposure to geopolitical and health risks. Jordy advocates market diversification and strengthening the country’s agricultural inputs industry as strategic measures to ensure greater resilience. “A solid partnership does not mean absolute dependence. The future of Brazilian agriculture requires strategic autonomy and international resilience”. (BiondAgro)

ICL ended the 1Q25 with sales of US$ 1.8 billion, compared to US$ 1.735 billion in the 1Q24. Adjusted net income totaled US$ 110 million. Adjusted EBITDA was US$ 359 million. Potash sales fell to US$ 405 million, compared to US$ 423 million in the previous year. Sales volume increased by 19 thousand tonnes, driven by Brazil and China. The crop solutions division grew revenue 3.3%, to US$ 495 million. EBITDA increased to US$ 47 million, with growth in Brazil, North America and Asia. (ICL Group)

Palmer’s pigweed (Amaranthus palmeri) is a concern for farmers and requires integrated management. Resistance to glyphosate and easy spread make it essential to use chemical, cultural and preventive strategies to avoid yield losses and increased costs in the field. “Due to the high quantity of seeds produced per plant and their small size, the spread to areas that are not yet contaminated can occur easily. Management of the species should include the use of both pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicides”, said Anderson Cavenaghi, professor and researcher at the Várzea Grande University Center. According to Cavenaghi, the pigweed is already resistant to glyphosate and ALS inhibitors, such as chlorimuron and imazethapyr. (Sindiveg)

Ministry of Agriculture published the withdrawing of 12 pesticide registration requests and cancelling of 1 product registration in response to the request of the applicant companies. (MAPA, May 16th)

The Brazilian Association of Bioinput Industries seeks to bring together the Brazilian biological inputs sector and the Chinese market. During a recent official visit to the Chinese Embassy in Brasília, representatives of the organization presented the potential of the sector to the Counselor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Xiang Yu, and discussed possible strategic partnerships between the countries. (Abinbio)