Brazil<\/h3>\n

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Ministry of Agriculture\u00a0approved 11<\/b>\u00a0pesticide\u00a0registrations<\/b> of equivalent technical products. (MAPA)<\/p>\n

Basf announces changes in its agricultural division in Brazil.\u00a0Daniela Ferreroni\u00a0<\/b>is the new sales director;\u00a0Hugo Borsari<\/b>\u00a0is the new marketing director; and\u00a0Mario Lavacca Jr.<\/b>\u00a0will be the director of customer experience and commercial excellence. (Basf Agricultural Solutions)<\/p>\n

The Senate Economic Affairs Committee approved on September\u00a019^{th<\/sup>\u00a0the Bill that creates the\u00a0Fertilizer Industry Development Program – Profert<\/b>. Authored by Senator La\u00e9rcio Oliveira, the Bill No. 699\/2023 received a favorable analysis from Senator Eduardo Gomes and was sent to the Agricultural Commission. The Bill grants tax benefits to encourage the production of fertilizers in Brazil, such as granting a zero rate to certain taxes related to the commercialization or import of inputs necessary for fertilizer production. (Ag\u00eancia Senado)<\/p>\n}

Amanda Pit Nunes\u00a0<\/b>is the new national coordinator of organic products at Santa Clara Agroci\u00eancia. (Santa Clara\u00a0Agroci\u00eancia)<\/p>\n

According to newly-released data from the\u00a0Brazilian\u00a0Federal Revenue Agency, 26 companies account for 46% of federal tax benefits, with each one receiving at least US$ 200 million in tax benefits from the government in 2021 (2022 figures have not yet been released), totaling almost US$ 20.15 billion in taxes that were not collected.\u00a0Among\u00a0the companies, four are in the agribusiness input and machinery\u00a0markets: CNH Industrial, Yara Fertilizers, Mosaic International and Syngenta.\u00a0The main benefits that these companies received are tax reductions for the imports of fertilizers and pesticides<\/b>\u00a0and the Special Customs Regime for Industrial Warehouses under Computerized Control (Recof). (Receita Federal)<\/p>\n

Fertilizer industry is responsible for 15% of the agricultural inputs chain GDP<\/b>, 2.2% of the agribusiness GDP and 6% of the agricultural GDP in Brazil, in addition to contributing to the generation of 28 thousand direct and indirect jobs in the country. (Sinprifert)<\/p>\n

Agrosilvopastoral Health Defense Agency of the State of Rond\u00f4nia – Idaron issued\u00a0a warning about the use of\u00a0fipronil<\/span>\u00a0in the State<\/b>. According to the agency, “the indiscriminate use of pesticides during the flowering season may have caused the death of thousands of bees in the Alto Alegre dos Parecis region… The use of\u00a0fipronil<\/span>-based pesticides in coffee farms has decimated several hives that were raised by a beekeeper and may have been responsible for the death of thousands of wild bees”. According to Idaron’s pesticide program coordinator, Sirley \u00c1vila, \u201cwe are in the flowering season, so the irregular use of pesticides can pose a serious threat to the ecosystem. Ideally, the farmer, before using any pesticide, must consult the responsible agronomist and check whether the insecticide used is ideal for the cultivated crop\u201d. (Idaron)<\/p>\n

The\u00a0illegal pesticide market in Brazil represents more than US$ 3.02 billion per year\u00a0<\/b>and accounts for 25% of the products used on farms. (Idesf)<\/p>\n

“Since the Ministry of Agriculture suspended the need\u00a0for the registration of\u00a0adjuvants in 2017, the market lacks precise and reliable recommendations<\/b>, which establish specific standards and norms… One of the alternatives found by the market has been the search for seals and quality certifications, such as those offered by the IAC Spray Adjuvants Program”, according to Henrique Alves, agricultural solutions marketing manager at Dow. Alves said that the global market for agricultural adjuvants is expected to grow from US$ 3.8 billion in 2023 to US$ 4.8 billion by 2028, with a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 4.7% in the period. In South America, a CAGR of 5.11% is estimated, which could reach US$ 1.2 billion by 2026. (Dow Brasil)<\/p>\n

BioConsortia Inc.\u00a0announced that it will begin a “strategic expansion” process in Brazil.\u00a0<\/b>The US company is focused on microbial products that “reduce the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and that protect crops from pests.” The CEO\u00a0Marcus Meadows-Smith said the company decided to accelerate its entry in Brazil “because, even though the country is a world leader in the use of biological products, we believe that BioConsortia’s products can offer a better performance.\u201d (Bioconsortia Inc.)<\/p>\n

Embrapa Clima Temperado (Temperate Climate), in partnership with Partamon, a company focused on integrated pest management, obtained a\u00a0certification for the native wasp (Doryctobracon areolatus<\/i>). The wasp is capable of controlling fruit fly species<\/b>, which can cause damage of up to US$ 36.27 million per year to Brazilian fruit farming. The parasitoid wasp received a Reference Specification (ER 54), classified as a phytosanitary product by the Ministry of Agriculture. According to Embrapa, this is the first phytosanitary product that uses “local biodiversity and 100% local technology”. Considered a biological insecticide, the wasp can achieve a parasitism rate of 40% of the fruit fly larvae. The release of 10,000 wasps\/hectare is recommended. (Embrapa; Partamon)<\/p>\n

Adama announces that its fungicide\u00a0Almada is now being produced in Londrina, State of Paran\u00e1. The active ingredient,\u00a0prothioconazole, was previously imported from Israel, but now\u00a0it is\u00a0manufactured by Adama in Taquari<\/b>, State of Rio Grande do Sul. (Adama)<\/p>\n

172 kg of pesticides were seized\u00a0<\/b>on September 22^{nd\u00a0<\/sup>on BR-050 in the city of Uberaba, State of Minas Gerais. According to the Federal Highway Police, the merchandise was valued at US$ 40.29 thousand and did not have a tax receipt. It is suspected that the products contain the insecticide emamectin benzoate. (PRF)<\/p>\n}

State of Paran\u00e1 Agricultural Defense Agency – Adapar started Operation Agro+, which carries out\u00a0inspections of agricultural sprayers on farms<\/b>\u00a0in the State. So far,\u00a0260 pieces of equipment have been inspected,\u00a0in the cities of Astorga and Marialva. “Three years ago, we carried out initial works in Marialva to inspect sprayers, as it is an area with a high risk of pesticide drift. From 2021 to 2022, we noticed a 50% improvement in the quality of the equipment analyzed, in addition to a reduction in problems with drift”, according to Adapar’s plant health manager, Renato Young Blood. (Adapar)<\/p>\n

The National Union of Agricultural Aviation Companies and the Brazilian Institute of Agricultural Aviation launched\u00a0a campaign with the objective of “stopping prejudice against agricultural aviation”<\/b>. According to the executive director of both institutions, Gabriel Colle, \u201cthe general population’s lack of knowledge about the processes and tools used in agriculture, especially in large-scale production, has always been a breeding ground for stereotypes.” (Sindag; Ibravag)<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Senate\u00a0Environment Committee\u00a0approved the substitute for the Bill that regulates production, import, registration, commercialization, use, inspection, research, experimentation and incentives for the production of bioinputs in agriculture, including those produced by farmers for their own use. The Bill aims to encourage the transition from the use of pesticides to bioinputs. The\u00a0Legal Framework for Bioinputs, Bill No. 3668\/2021<\/b>, received an alternative text proposed by the rapporteur, senator Veneziano do R\u00eago, with the approval of four amendments. The Bill was sent to the Chamber of Deputies [Brazilian Lower House of Congress] for further analysis. (Ag\u00eancia Senado)<\/p>\n

Rapporteur of the\u00a0Pesticide Bill No. 1459\/22 at the Senate\u00a0Environment Committee<\/b>, senator Fabiano Contarato, presented an analysis about it on September 20^{th<\/sup>. “We note that the Bill’s text from the Chamber of Deputies [Brazilian Lower House of Congress] is, in general, constitutional, both materially and formally… There are, however, reservations regarding specific provisions that will be highlighted during the course of this analysis”, according to Contarato. The Bill was included in the agenda of the Environment Commission meeting, scheduled for September 27th<\/sup>. (Federal Senate)<\/p>\n}

A patent request\u00a0from Embrapa Agroenergia was approved for the\u00a0\u201cProduction Process of Calcium Carbonate and Kraft Lignin Nanocomposite from Gaseous Emissions\u201d<\/b>, with exclusive commercial exploitation for the next 20 years. The process uses CO_{2<\/sub>\u00a0to produce a product capable of fixing pesticide and fertilizer molecules, which can provide a gradual release of the products. (Embrapa Agroenergia)<\/p>\n}

Fertilizer purchases for the 2023\/24 season are facing delays.\u00a0<\/b>Many farmers have not yet purchased the inputs and the last opportunities to purchase will happen in the coming days of September, according to the Safras & Mercado analyst Ma\u00edsa Romanello. “On the demand side, we have a concentration of purchases in the 2H of the year. Farmers have waited for prices to drop further, so purchases are delayed compared to previous years, concentrated in the next six months”, said Romanello.\u00a0According to Jeferson Souza, fertilizer analyst at Agrinvest, the international prices of urea and phosphorus are rising, which makes purchases for the off-season in Brazil difficult. “Right now, especially for the 2024 off-season corn, we need to pay very close attention, not only to prices, but also to logistics. For now, the situation is not alarming…”, said Souza.\u00a0(Safras & Mercado; Agrinvest Commodities)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Latin America<\/h3>\n

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\u201cWe\u00a0should\u00a0once again focus on soybean fertilization\u201d<\/b>, said Mart\u00edn D\u00edaz Zorita, professor at the National University of La Pampa, in\u00a0Argentina<\/b>. \u201cPhosphorus has fallen at a rate of one part per million per year over the past seven years… 70% of the Pampas region has phosphorus deficiencies and widespread nitrogen and sulfur limitations\u201d, said Zorita. \u201cSoybean must be better fertilized… it is necessary to identify the limiting elements with an ecologically correct soil diagnosis, to inoculate every year using rhizobia and to apply combined fertilization strategies of macro and micronutrients”. (Argentine Soybean Chain Association; National University of La Pampa)<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout fertilizers we will harvest less, but without insecticides or herbicides we will harvest\u00a0nothing”, said the agronomist and consultant Miguel Kolar\u00a0regarding\u00a0the\u00a0limitations imposed by the government on the entry of inputs<\/b>\u00a0in\u00a0Argentina<\/b>.\u00a0\u201cThe entry of products that are at customs is not allowed. The same happens with tractors and harvester machines. The agricultural season happens, but they don’t give you the machines”, said Kolar. (Grupo Agroperfiles<\/a>)<\/p>\n

According to researchers from the University of Buenos Aires,\u00a0Argentina, glyphosate\u00a0can change\u00a0the microbial composition of the intestine of bee larvae.\u00a0<\/b>\u201cWe believe that this imbalance may be the cause of the changes that occur during the development of these insects,\u201d said researcher Walter Farina. (UBA)<\/p>\n

A\u00a0manufacturing facility for urea and NPK fertilizers<\/b>\u00a0will be opened in\u00a0Bolivia\u00a0<\/b>by the end of September, in Cochabamba. According to Franklin Molina, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy, almost 30% of the new factory’s production will be destined for the Brazilian market. The plant will have the capacity to produce approximately 60 thousand tonnes per year of NPK and slow-release granulated urea. (Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy)<\/p>\n

Fertilizer prices in\u00a0Colombia\u00a0have maintained a downward trend for 13 months<\/b>, showing the biggest drop in July, with a decrease of 9.47%. Prices fell by 30.4% in the past year. Pesticides showed a decrease of 1.26% in July, but had an increase of 1.81% in the past year. (Ministry of Agriculture)<\/p>\n

The General Directorate of Agricultural Services of\u00a0Uruguay<\/b>\u00a0has\u00a0<\/b>issued a warning about the misuse of fipronil in the country. According to the institution, due to reports of irregular applications of the pesticide in grape-farming regions, inspection activities were initiated on September 15th. The use of liquid fipronil formulations was banned<\/strong> in the country in 2009. (Ministry of Agriculture)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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READ MORE:<\/p>\n

Fighting Pests with RNA Pesticides in Brazil<\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Argentina: \u201cWithout insecticides or herbicides, we will harvest nothing” Brazil Ministry of Agriculture\u00a0approved 11\u00a0pesticide\u00a0registrations of equivalent technical products. (MAPA) Basf announces changes in its agricultural…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":19721,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,23],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n