Crop Protection and Nutrition – Weekly Update Brazil & Latin America (03/26/26 – 04/01/26)

Agrochemicals, Fertilizers
Published on: March 31, 2026

Multiple Herbicide-Resistant Weed Case Reported in Paraguay, HRAC-BR Warns

Brazil

In compliance with court decisions, Anvisa has approved the toxicological evaluations of ethiprole (CHDS), diclosulam (Solus) e glufosinate-ammonium salt (Rainbow). (Official Gazette of Brazil, Res. No. 1218, 1219 and 1255 from 03/30/2026, Anvisa)

Agroallianz has announced Cristiane Gerbasi as new CFO. She brings over 25 years of experience in the sector and has held strategic job positions across strategic areas in Brazil. (Agroallianz)

Inspection by MAPA in the State of São Paulo, resulted in seizure of 5,046 liters of irregular fertilizers. The inspection revealed a lack of quality control, missing detailed production orders, and the risk of cross-contamination due to the joint manufacturing of adjuvants and fertilizers without proper separation. In addition to the physical seizures, MAPA intensified the monitoring of online and phone sales, advising farmers to verify the origin of the inputs to avoid physiological and nutritional damage to crops. (MAPA)

The Executive Management Committee of the Foreign Trade Chamber (Gecex-Camex) deliberated on the reduction to zero on the import tariff for several strategic inputs for agribusiness due to the absence or insufficiency of local production. Among the measures directly impacting the sector, the tax exemption for fungicides and insecticides, in addition to the elimination of tariffs for hops used in beer manufacturing. (Gecex)

Embrapa Environment has consolidated its open innovation approach focused on bio-inputs and biological control, formalizing partnerships with several companies to develop mycopesticides, biocontrol agents based on fungi such as Trichoderma and Beauveria bassiana, and solutions for pests like soybean Asian rust and whitefly. The unit is also advancing in the mass production of fungal blastospores through submerged liquid fermentation and the bioprospecting of entomopathogenic microorganisms. (Embrapa)

Clayton Veiga has assumed the presidency of Ihara Defensivos Agrícolas, a position previously held by Julio Borges. Additionally, André Nannetti has assumed the role of Vice President. (Ihara)

Marcos Guimarães has taken over as the Head of Seed R&D at Syngenta Seeds. (Syngenta)

Fertilizer prices in 2026 had a sharp increase driven by the conflict in the Middle East, with urea up 76% year-to-date and MAP (monoammonium phosphate) surpassing US$ 800 per tonne. Given this scenario of high costs and tight margins for farmers, the projection for fertilizer deliveries in Brazil for 2026 is a retraction, falling from a record 49 million to approximately 47.2 million tonnes. (Rabobank)

The Court of Justice of the State of Paraná denied Belagrícola’s request to suspend a decision that prevents the consolidation of debts from different companies within the group under a single out-of-court restructuring plan. As a result, the company must either adjust its strategy by submitting individual plans or shift to judicial reorganization. (TJPR)

The Goiás State Secretariat for Environment and Sustainable Development signed an agreement with the State Health Department to monitor the presence of pesticides in rivers, streams, and lakes across the state. The initiative includes sampling at strategic points over the next three years, as well as the sharing of data and methodologies between the agencies. (Semad-GO)

The Agricultural Defense Agency of the State of São Paulo included new crops, such as persimmon and broccoli, in the next cycle of the State Program for Pesticide Residue Analysis in Plant Products (PEARA-POV). The initiative envisages the collection of around 350 samples by July and expands monitoring of compliance in pesticide use, with a focus on food safety and traceability. (Government of São Paulo)

Syngenta Biologicals partnered with Harven Agribusiness School, based in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, to develop an educational project aimed to training professionals from the agribusiness, with focus on bioinputs and sustainability. The initiative seeks to expand technical capacity in response to the growth of the biologicals market in Brazil. (Syngenta; Harven Agribusiness School)

The Secretariat of Agriculture of the Rio Grande do Sul State warned about the risks of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri), an aggressive weed already confirmed in the States of São Paulo and Santa Catarina. The species, still absent in the state, can cause yield losses of up to 79% in soybeans and 91% in maize, in addition to showing high dissemination capacity and herbicide resistance. Authorities recommend reinforcing preventive measures and immediately reporting suspected cases to prevent its spread. (Seapi-RS)

The Ministry of Agriculture published the list of 48 pesticide registration approvals, which included technical products and pre-mixes. (Official Gazette of Brazil, Act No. 16, March 27th, 2026, MAPA)

Researchers from São Paulo State University and the Federal University of São Carlos identified essential oils may act in the control of the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), one of the main agricultural pests. The study showed that compounds extracted from lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum) can cause up to 80% mortality of the insect under laboratory conditions. In addition to their insecticidal action, the oils also demonstrated the ability to repel the pest and reduce oviposition. (UFSCar) 

Latin America

The National Institute of Agricultural Technology has modernized its analytical capabilities with the acquisition of the Waters SYNAPT XS HDMS mass spectrometer. This high-resolution ion mobility instrument is the only one in the country used in agriculture and the agri-food industry. It allows the visualization of the spatial distribution and behavior of pesticide molecules and contaminants directly on the surface of food products. Through advanced technologies, the equipment achieves unprecedented levels of precision in Argentina to identify how these inputs and metabolites are distributed across agro-bioindustrial matrices. (INTA)
The National Health and Agrifood Quality Service of Argentina provided training to maritime shipping agencies on the new features of the Waste Management System, aiming to optimize the traceability and treatment of regulated waste from abroad, in accordance with Res. 645/2021. The focus of the Regulated Waste Program lies on materials derived from animal or vegetable origin, which represent phytosanitary risks due to the potential presence of diseases or pests that could compromise national agricultural and livestock health. (Senasa)
The Government of Mexico, under the presidency of Julio Berdegué Sacristán, initiated in Michoacán the free distribution of 40,270 tonnes of fertilizers, an investment of US$ 31.1 million that will benefit 74,180 farmers across 113 municipalities. Now consolidated as a constitutional right, the Fertilizers for Well-Being (Fertilizantes para el Bienestar) program aims for food self-sufficiency and covers an area of 134,328 hectares for various crops. In addition to the input, the state recorded the success of the support for white corn, benefiting 7,737 small-scale farmers, while national distribution already reaches 10 federal entities, reaffirming President Claudia Sheinbaum’s commitment to food sovereignty and the direct delivery of resources to the agricultural sector. (Government of Mexico)
HRAC-BR reported a case of herbicide multiple resistance of the weed Euphorbia heterophylla (wild poinsettia) in Paraguay, involving ALS, PROTOX, and EPSPS inhibitor groups. In Brazil, there are records of biotypes with single or double resistance, but not yet with resistance to all three mechanisms of action. The organization reinforced the importance of adopting integrated weed management practices to contain its spread and preserve herbicide effectiveness. (HRAC-BR)
Peru’s Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation will allocate 14,765 tonnes of island guano (a natural organic fertilizer derived from seabird droppings and rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) in 2026, to benefit 13,731 smallholder farmers across 23 regions. With an investment of US$ 5.7 million, the input will be extracted from locations such as the Macabí and Santa islands and sold at subsidized prices, aiming to increase the productivity of crops such as coffee, potatoes, and maize across more than 27,000 hectares. (Midagri)